The Big East announced its All-Big East teams and various players of the year. No shock that Larry Fitzgerald was named Big East Offensive Player of the Year, and was a unanimous selection for the first team, All-Big East Squad. Punter, Andy Lee, was named Co-Special Teams Player of the Year with Punt Returner, DeAngelo Hall of Virginia Tech.

On the All-Big East first and second teams Pitt placed QB Rod Rutherford and P Andy Lee were unanimous choices for first team and Offensive Tackle, Rob Petitti, made the first team (mind boggling to think that a member of Pitt’s lines made either the first or second team). Tight End Kris Wilson was a second team selection. Any other conference, he would have been first team, but he had the misfortune to be in the same conference as Kellen Winslow, Jr.

There were 8 unanimous selections for the first team. Pitt had 3, Miami had 3 and WVU and VT each had 1.

Looking over the choices for first and second team, I’d say the only surprise was that West Virginia’s Quincy Wilson beat out Syracuse’s Walter Reyes to join Kevin Jones of VT in the backfield of the first team. I wonder if the fact that Reyes actually seemed to be held in check by the Pitt defense as opposed to Wilson and Jones was the difference?

Larry Fitzgerald was also named a first team All-American by The Sporting News. Believe it or not The Sporting News named a member of Pitt’s defensive line and offensive line to some of its all- teams.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Brian Bennett, the Panthers’ second-leading tackler (118), was named second-team freshman All-American and the freshman defensive player of the year in the Big East. Redshirt freshman offensive guard John Simonitis was named to the publication’s Big East All-Freshman team.

These are nice things, but it also reminds me why this season was such a disappointment.