Fowler, Rybak take home top honors at football banquet
2/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 22, 2008
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Seniors Drew Fowler and Garrett Rybak were named co-recipients of the Brian Bullard Memorial Award Friday night at the 26th Annual Air Force Football Banquet at the Broadmoor West Rocky Mountain Ballroom.
The Bullard Award, established in 1984 and voted on by the football team, is based on the criteria that typifies the late Brian Bullard - unselfishness, 110 percent effort, total team commitment and pride in his role on the team whether he's a starter or not. Bullard was a 1982 graduate of Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs. He attended the Academy the following year and played on the football team for two years. During Thanksgiving vacation in 1983, Bullard and his girlfriend, fellow cadet Dianne Williams, died from carbon monoxide poisoning while returning from a trip to Kansas in a snow storm.
Fowler led the Falcons in tackles for the second consecutive season, collecting 119 total tackles to rank third in the Mountain West Conference. A two-time all-conference selection, Fowler earned first-team all-Colorado honors by the National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter for the second straight year in 2007. The Clayton, N.C., product recorded 14 tackles against Utah, including a fourth-and-goal stop on the Air Force one yard line in the final minutes to preserve a Falcon victory. Fowler notched a season-best 16 stops vs. Navy and recorded five double figure tackle games on the season. Fowler ended his career with 319 total tackles and was selected to play in the East-West Shrine all-star game in January.
Rybak recorded 54 tackles in 2007, including 33 unassisted which was tops among Air Force cornerbacks. Rybak also had two interceptions; four pass breakups a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on the year. A native of Victoria, Texas, Rybak recorded a season-best eight tackles, forced a fumble and recovered one in Air Force's upset of TCU. His interceptions came against Utah and Wyoming, two game-altering plays that led to Air Force victories.
Fowler and Rybak are the first co-recipients of the award since 2003 when Monty Coleman and Joe Schieffer shared the honor. The only other co-recipients were named in 2000 when Nate Beard, Matt Dayoc and Mike Gallagher won the award.
Brian Bullard Memorial Award Winners
2007 Drew Fowler, Garrett Rybak2006 Gilbert Perez2005 Denny Poland2004 John Rudzinksi2003 Monty Coleman, Joe Schieffer2002 Tom Heier2001 Zach Johnson2000 Nate Beard, Matt Dayoc, Mike Gallagher1999 Charlie Jackson1998 Mike Tyler1997 Chris Gizzi1996 Lee Gutherie1995 Brandon Wilkerson1994 Steve Russ1993 Will McCombs1992 Grant Johnson1991 Kette Dornbush1990 Bill Price1989 Lance McDowell1988 Anthony Roberson1987 Rip Burgwald1986 Pat Evans1985 Pat Malackowski1984 Steve Kelly
