Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page B7

FRIDAY, DEC. 13, 2013 WWW.FREEP.COM 7B COLLEGE FOOTBALL Dennard wins the Jim Thorpe Award for best defensive back Character players are Creighton's goal Ex-Drake coach gets 5-year contract "Winning is a by-product of doing things right," Chris Creighton Said. MARK BIALEKSPECIALTO THE FREE PRESS FROM PAGE 1B "It means everything," Dennard said, "just not for me, for the team and also Spartan nation. Just to put Michigan State back up where we're supposed to be. We believe we're an elite program." Dennard was MSU's second finalist for the Thorpe, joining Todd Krumm in 1987 a member of the last MSU team to earn a Rose Bowl bid.

Dennard will lead MSU against No. 5 Stanford (11-2) in the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Dennard also earned All-America first-team honors Thursday, being named to the Walter Camp first team. MSU sophomore defensive end Shilique Calhoun was a second-team pick, as he was for the USA TODAY All-America team.

Dennard has four interceptions and 10 pass breakups to lead MSU. He also has 59 tackles and two forced fumbles, and he stifled everything that came his way in Saturday's 34-24 win over Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game. MORE HONORS: MSU redshirt freshman left tackle Jack Conklin was named a first-team All-America on Thursday by the College Football News on Scout.com. Sophomore center Jack Allen earned second-team honors last season, and junior guardcenter Travis Jackson was a second-team pick in 2011. MAXWELL OPENS UP: The Big Ten Network's final episode of "The Journey" was all MSU and Ohio State, leading into MSU's 34-24 win over the Buckeyes for the Big Ten title, with footage of the game and MSU's raucous post-game celebration.

It traced the season of both teams and included the first media interview with MSU senior quarterback Andrew Maxwell since he lost his job to Connor Cook. Maxwell told of the emotional meeting when Dantonio told him it was Cook's job. And he also told of a talk he had with MSU grad assis- AWARD WINNERS Thorpe (defensive back): Dar-queze Dennard, MSU. Bednarik (defensive player): Aaron Donald, Pitt. Biletnikoff (receiver): Brandin Cooks, Oregon St.

Groza (kicker): Roberto Aguayo, Florida St. Guy (punter): Tom Hornsey, Memphis. Maxwell (top player): AJ McCarron, Alabama. O'Brien (QB): Jameis Winston, Florida St. Outland (interior lineman): Aaron Donald, Pitt.

Doak Walker (running back): Andre Williams, Boston College. Rimington (center): Bryan Stork, Florida St. NOTABLE THORPE WINNERS 2012: Johnthan Banks, Miss. St. 2011: Morris Claiborne, LSU.

2010: Patrick Peterson, LSU. 2009: Eric Berry, Tennessee. 2008: Malcom Jenkins, Ohio St. 2001: Roy Williams, Oklahoma. 1998: Antoine Winfield, Ohio St.

1997: Charles Woodson, U-M. 1988: Deion Sanders, Florida St. 1987: Bennie Blades, Miami tant Rob Harley. "He put it very bluntly," Maxwell said of Harley. "He said, 'Don't make this suck more than it has to.

The situation is what it is. Externally, things aren't changing. So if things are getting worse for you, it's your The way Maxwell handled the situation was "a moment of growth for this entire football team," Dantonio said on the episode. GREEN FOR ROSE: MSU equipment coordinator Bob Knickerbocker told the Lansing State Journal that MSU is expected to wear its normal green home jerseys for the Rose Bowl, with Rose Bowl patches on them. Knickerbocker isn't sure if alternative helmets or pants will be discussed.

coach. Today is about Eastern Michigan football," said Creighton, who built his Drake Bulldogs into an FCS power in the Pioneer Football League, sharing conference crowns in 2011-12. Creighton, whose contract is for five years at $400,000 annually, replaces Ron English, who was fired with three games left this season for using inappropriate language, according to EMU, while addressing his players. English went 11-46 and 7-30 in Mid-American Conference play in his four-plus seasons at EMU. "Winning is a by-product of doing things right," said Creighton, a former college quarterback who runs a prostyle offense.

"I want to be a leader of young men and want to create a culture an atmosphere where we can become the where we can do things others didn't think possible. How long it takes to build that culture has mostly to do with the guys who are here." Creighton said he would bring in some of his staff from Drake but didn't discount keeping members of the English regime. He admitted he didn't know much about EMU's football legacy other than it was a MAC program and that it has struggled recently. After meeting with By Mike Brudenell Detroit Free Press Sports Writer Chris Creighton says he won't tolerate profanity on the football field or in the locker room. And he expects players to form strong bonds among him, his staff and one another.

Creighton was introduced in Ypsilanti on Thursday as the new football coach at Eastern Michigan and quickly let it be known he intends to build character in resurrecting the downtrodden Eagles, who went 2-10 this season (1-7 in the MidAmerican Conference), and change a losing football history at EMU. Creighton, 44, the coach at Drake in Des Moines, Iowa, the past six years, was welcomed at EMU's Convocation Center by players, EMU staff and students. The EMU marching band played the school's song, and cheerleaders lined the way to the stage, where Creighton joined EMU president Susan Martin and athletic director Heather Lyke. Creighton, who had met for an hour with his team before his formal introduction, was supported by his wife, Heather, and his three children, Hallie, Kate and Luke, from the first row of seats. "Today is not about a head MEET CHRIS CREIGHTON Who: New Eastern Michigan football coach.

Age: 44. Salary: Five-year contract at $400,000 per year. Hometown: San Francisco. College: All-America quarterback for Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Experience: Went 44-22 at FCS Drake (2008-13), 63-15 at Division III Wabash, Ind.

(2001-07) and 32-9 at NAIA Ottawa, (1997-2000). He led Drake to back-to-back Pioneer Football League co-championships in 2011-12. media, Creighton said he was headed to Thursday night's Detroit Free Press Dream Team football banquet in Dearborn to meet with high school coaches. "We are going to start right here in Michigan," Creighton said of his recruiting plans. "I'm going to start tonight by meeting high school coaches and work from there.

Great programs, except for maybe the elite programs, where they go literally everywhere around the country and pick guys the great programs are built when they draw a circle where it is 114 hours to three hours away from that location. We want to be the best we can right at home." What types of players is he looking to recruit? "Character players you have to be able to trust," Creighton said. "You can't have relationships with someone you don't trust. I think that's probably the foundation. You've got to look guys in the eye and him look back at you." Jeep mm 2014 JEEP CHEROKEE 2014 RAM EXPRESS CREW CAB 9-speed automatic 31 mpg Power Seat 'Remote Entry 20" Wheels Hemi Dual Exhaust 2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4X4 2013 DODGE DART SXT 3.6 Pentastar V-6 8-speed auto 6-speed auto 2.0 dohc 17" wheels Power seat'Remote entry SALE S' SALE PRICE 13,990 rmut Cfl-ElL III 2014 CHARGER SXT REDLINEl 2014 JEEP PATRIOT LATITUDE Auto UConnect Remote Start 20" wheels 8-speed auto V-6 engine w28 mpg Ufa WSm NB149Btf SALE PRICE NO PAYMENTS FOR 90 DAYS iliKSlil NO NUMBER NEEDED 5f .2014 GRAND CARAVAN 2014 CHRYSLER 200 LIMITED 17" Wheels' 6-Speed Auto Flex Fuel Leather UConnect V6 SALE PRICE 4,999 IV PRICE BLUE BOOK $1 YOURTRAD 2014 DODGE JOURNEY LIMITED 2014 CHRYSLER 300 ,1 Leather Remote start Heated seats wheel loaded V6 Navigation Moon Roof s15490 'SALE PRICE KbSeIV iB CHOOSE 1 1tli WIRY HMOMSE 2014 DODGE CHARGER RT AWDEr 2014 CHRYSLER TOWN COUNTRY TOURING Spoiler 19" Wheels Paddle Shifters Package Leather DVD J0MSA FlQt ctr'roar' I "SALE PRICE 2014 DODGE DURANGO AWD IlHi 2013 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT Egiji Hard Top Air Pentastar 8-Speed Auto Popular Equipment Group PRICE sia757 SALE PRICE INCLUDED WITH EVERY TRADE-IN $1 ,000 over Kelly Blue Book for your trade.

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