EMORY, Va. - Emory & Henry College honored its football team on Saturday, January 22 with a banquet for 375 players, parents and guests. The 13 seniors from this year's team received special attention during the celebration. Head Coach Don Montgomery and the each player's position coach talked about each senior at length, telling humorous and inspirational stories about the accomplishments and careers of each one. 

Following the coaches speech, each senior came to the podium with their parents and talked about what the experience of playing football at E&H has meant to them. This year's seniors are Fred George (WR), Anthony Sims (WR), Eric Tilson (OL), Caleb Jennings (RB), Brad Lester (OL), Reston Hedrick (OL), Ryan Flanary (OL), Al Childress (OL), CJ Hodges (LB), Steven Fitzin (DL), Steven Callahan (DE), Rakeen Rutherford (DB) and Derrick Patterson (DL).

The players told humorous stories about the coaches, while talking about the value of their overall experience as an E&H student-athlete and about how much influence the coaches have had on their lives. Two players had written poems about their experience in athletics at E&H.  In addition to the funny stories, there were moving stories that brought the room to tears about how the game of football and the relationship each player had formed with his coaches had helped them thru difficult personal times.

Heralded running back Caleb Jennings, who will graduate as a two-time All-American, was selected as a 2010 D3 Football All-Region 1^st-Team player, was a Lanier Award finalist (best player in Virginia) and a Gagliardi Award nominee (best player in the nation) for this past season. Eight players received All-ODAC honors including Jennings (1^st Team RB), Daniel Woods (1^st Team DB), TJ Frazier (2^nd Team P), Daniel Preston (2^nd Team DL), Eric Tilson (2^nd Team OL), Matt Turchin (2^nd Team PK), Rakeem Rutherford (Hon. Mention DB) and Dustin Beck (Hon. Mention QB). Jennings and Woods were also Virginia All-State selections.

The evening's program also highlighted the academic achievement of the student-athletes. Fifty-one football players received a 3.0 or higher GPA during fall semester and 23 of them carry a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Head Coach Don Montgomery, cited as a role model and inspiration repeatedly by his graduating players, announced the winner of this year's Dave Thomas 12th-Man Award winner. The award, recognizing individuals who make unusual and outstanding contributions to the football program, is named in honor of Dave Thomas who gave over 35 years of service to the College and to the football program. The 2010 winner of the Dave Thomas 12th-Man Award is 1988 E&H graduate Dr. Lee Willis.

The program closed with a highlight video that captured the high points of the 2010 season in which the Wasps finished at 5-5.

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