Patterson Earns MAC’s Top Honor, Leipold Named MAC Coach of the Year
12/15/2020 11:00:00 AM | Football
BUFFALO, NY – The Mid-American Conference announced its postseason awards on Tuesday and the Bulls were honored with a number of major honors. Running back Jaret Patterson earned the Vern Smith Leadership Award given annually to the top player in the MAC and was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year. Head Coach Lance Leipold was named MAC Coach of the Year.
Patterson is the first player in program history to win the prestigious Vern Smith Leadership Award. He is just the second UB player to win MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors, joining former quarterback Tyree Jackson who won the award in 2018.
Patterson has assembled a historic season through only five games. He leads the nation in rushing, averaging 203 yards per game and has scored 18 rushing touchdowns, third in the country. With 1,025 yards on the season, the junior running back became just the 12th player in FBS history to rush for 1,000 yards in the first five games of the year.
Leipold was named the MAC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. He also won the award in 2018. Leipold has led Buffalo to a 5-0 record and a MAC East Division Championship. The Bulls lead the nation in scoring (51.8 ppg) and rushing yards per game (344.6). He is the first UB head coach to win the honor multiple times. Former head coach Turner Gill won the award in 2007.
The Bulls will play Ball State in the MAC Championship at Detroit's Ford Field on Friday night.
Patterson is the first player in program history to win the prestigious Vern Smith Leadership Award. He is just the second UB player to win MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors, joining former quarterback Tyree Jackson who won the award in 2018.
Patterson has assembled a historic season through only five games. He leads the nation in rushing, averaging 203 yards per game and has scored 18 rushing touchdowns, third in the country. With 1,025 yards on the season, the junior running back became just the 12th player in FBS history to rush for 1,000 yards in the first five games of the year.
Leipold was named the MAC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. He also won the award in 2018. Leipold has led Buffalo to a 5-0 record and a MAC East Division Championship. The Bulls lead the nation in scoring (51.8 ppg) and rushing yards per game (344.6). He is the first UB head coach to win the honor multiple times. Former head coach Turner Gill won the award in 2007.
The Bulls will play Ball State in the MAC Championship at Detroit's Ford Field on Friday night.
Players Mentioned
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