Nov. 30, 2001

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland offensive tackle Matt Crawford has been selected as the recipient of the 2001 Brian Piccolo Award, Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford announced today.

The Piccolo Award has been given annually since 1972 in memory of the late Brian Piccolo to the "most courageous" football player in the ACC. Piccolo was the ACC Athlete of the Year in 1965 and played for the Chicago Bears before his career was cut short when he was stricken with cancer.

Crawford sustained a severe injury to three of four major knee ligaments on November 7, 2000. More specifically, Crawford suffered complete tears of the anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and complete posterior cruciate. The Moravia, N.Y., product underwent multiple ligament reconstruction and extensive rehabilitation during the months of November through August.

Despite the pain from the initial joint stiffness and tendonitis, Crawford was able to return to the starting lineup by the opening of preseason camp in August, a mere nine months after the surgery. This season he has started all 11 games, was named second-team All-ACC and was a key member of an offensive line that provided the up-front blocking for the highest scoring team in school history.