Player News - Tyler Morrissey a Cliff Harris Award Finalist

Junior linebacker Tyler Morrissey has been named a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award which is presented to the small college defensive player of the year. The award was created by the Little Rock Touchdown Club and is presented to the top defensive player among NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA schools as chosen by head coaches and a committee of college and professional football greats.

Morrissey was named first team All-PSAC East and PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year, first team All-ECAC and ECAC Defensive Player of the Year, and All-Super Region 1 and second team All-American by the Division 2 Conference Commissioner's Association and the Associated Press. He finished the season with 137 total tackles (2nd in the PSAC) including 14.0 tackles for loss (6th in the PSAC), five quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles (both in the playoffs).

Tyler Morrissey nominated for Cliff Harris Award (Photo Ron Hockman)

The original list of 138 nominees included 51 from Division II, 55 from Division III and 32 from NAIA schools. Morrissey is one of 30 finalists from Division II which includes 19 seniors, 10 juniors and 1 sophomore. The Cliff Harris Award winner will be announced on December 23 and the trophy will be presented to the recipient at the Little Rock Touchdown Club’s annual awards banquet on January 11, 2018.

The three finalists from the PSAC are:

• DE Marcus Martin - Slippery Rock
  
• LB Tyler Morrissey - West Chester
  
• S Max Redfield - Indiana
  

Cliff Harris Award - Cliff Harris Award finalists for best defensive player in DII, DIII and NAIA football announced

West Chester Athletic Site - Morrissey Named Cliff Harris Award Finalist

Team News - Coach Zwaan Help Homeless Students

Head coach Bill Zwaan was recently featured for his efforts to help West Chester University's homeless students during the holidays through the Promise Program which is a campus support program for homeless and foster youth.

Daily Local News - WCU helps homeless students during winter break

Fox29 - Program helps homeless college students over the holidays

Washington Post - At the holidays, university officials realized: Some students don’t have a home to go home to

Team News - Golden Rams receiving votes in Final AFCA Poll

The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) released their final Division II poll of the 2017 season and West Chester was listed as "others receiving votes" and were 28th in points. The Golden Rams finished the season 9-4 with two wins over Shippensburg (10-2) which appears at #25 in the final AFCA poll.

West Chester opens the 2018 season when they visit Bentley.

American Football Coaches Association - Texas A&M-Commerce Ends 2017 at No. 1

Player News - Tyler Morrissey a Cliff Harris Award Nominee

Junior linebacker Tyler Morrissey has been named a nominee for the Cliff Harris Award which is presented to the small college defensive player of the year. The award was created by the Little Rock Touchdown Club and is presented to the top defensive player among NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA schools as chosen by head coaches and a committee of college and professional football greats.

Morrissey was named first team All-PSAC East and PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year, first team All-ECAC and ECAC Defensive Player of the Year, and All-Super Region 1 and second team All-American by the Division 2 Conference Commissioner's Association. He finished the season with 137 total tackles (2nd in the PSAC) including 14.0 tackles for loss (6th in the PSAC), five quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles (both in the playoffs).

Tyler Morrissey nominated for Cliff Harris Award (Photo Ron Hockman)

Among the 138 nominees, 51 are from Division II, 55 are from Division III and 32 are from NAIA schools. Finalists will be announced on December 20, with the Cliff Harris Award winner being announced on December 23. The trophy will be presented to the recipient at the Little Rock Touchdown Club’s annual awards banquet on January 11, 2018.

The nominees from the PSAC are:

• CB Zuril Hendrick - Edinboro
  
• LB Luke Hrapchak - California
  
• DE Marcus Martin - Slippery Rock
  
• LB Tyler Morrissey - West Chester
  
• S Max Redfield - Indiana
  

Cliff Harris Award - 2017 Nominees

West Chester Athletic Site - Morrissey Named AP Little All-American; Lands On Cliff Harris Award List As Well

Player News - Tyler Morrissey Named AP All-American

Junior linebacker Tyler Morrissey has been named to the second team Associated Press Division II All-America Team. He becomes the first Golden Ram to receive recognition from the Associated Press since Andrew Cohen in 2015. He is one of seven players from the PSAC to get a nod from the AP and the only one from the PSAC East.

Tyler Morrissey registered 14.0 tackles for loss this season (Photo Ron Hockman)

Prior to this award, Morrissey was named first team All-PSAC East and PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year, first team All-ECAC and ECAC Defensive Player of the Year, and All-Super Region 1 and second team All-American by the Division 2 Conference Commissioner's Association. He finished the season with 137 total tackles (2nd in the PSAC) including 14.0 tackles for loss (6th in the PSAC), five quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles (both in the playoffs).

The Associated Press - The Associated Press Division II All-America Team

West Chester Athletic Site - Morrissey Named AP Little All-American; Lands On Cliff Harris Award List As Well

Player News - Paulison and Morrissey Named All-American

Junior linebacker Tyler Morrissey and junior punter Brendan Paulison were both named second team All-American by the Division 2 Conference Commissioner's Association.

Morrisey was named first team All-PSAC East and PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year. He finished the season with 137 total tackles (2nd in the PSAC) including 14.0 tackles for loss (6th in the PSAC), five quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles (both in the playoffs).

Tyler Morrissey was involved in 137 tackles this season (Photo Ron Hockman)

Paulison was also a first team All-PSAC East selection. He averaged 44.1 yards per punt (3rd in the country), booming 17 of his 61 punts for more than 50 yards while dropping 23 of them inside the opponent's 20-yard line. The Golden Rams were second in the nation in net punting, as Paulison limited opponents to only 25 returns.

Brendan Paulison is one of the top punters in the country (Photo Ron Hockman)

The Division II Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.

West Chester joins Assumption and Slippery Rock as the only Super Region 1 schools with multiple representatives named.

West Chester Athletic Site - Morrissey and Paulison Named Second Team All Americans by DII CCA

Team News - Cheyney Drops Football Program

According to the PSAC, Cheyney University has announced that they are dropping their football program, however, there has yet to be such an announcement from Cheyney itself. If true, and if there are no other changes within the conference or scheduling agreements between the PSAC and another conference, the Golden Rams will be seeking to fill a home game on October 13, 2018 and a away game on October 19, 2019.

PSAC Site - PSAC Statement on Cheyney Football

Player News - Karpinski and Host Honored for Academics

Two West Chester Golden Ram players have received honors for their performance on the field and in the classroom this season. Senior wide receiver Tyler Karpinski (Finance/Accounting) and senior offensive lineman Alex Host (History) were both named to the 2017 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Football Team.

The Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Football team is voted on by the sports information directors of the 30 colleges and universities in the Philadelphia area. In order to be eligible for Academic All-Area honors, an athlete must be in at least his second year at the institution and hold a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better.

West Chester Athletics - Karpinski & Host Named Philly-SIDA All-Academic

Player News - Zwaan, Morrissey, James headline ECAC Awards for WCU

Junior linebacker Tyler Morrissey was named ECAC Defensive Player of the Year, freshman wide receiver Rasheem James was named ECAC Offensive Rookie of the Year and head coach Bill Zwaan was named ECAC Coach of the Year as the The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced their Division II Football Awards for 2017.

Morrissey was also named to the All-ECAC First Team and was joined by senior defensive end George Shipp and senior cornerback Shaquille James. The Golden Rams were represented on offense by senior running back Jarel Elder, senior wide receiver Tyler Karpinski, and sophomore offensive lineman Frank Tranzilli. Finally, all three special teams players heralded from West Chester: sophomore kicker Andrew Chegia, junior punter Brendan Paulison, and sophomore return specialist Jarey Elder. In addition, junior defensive end Diquan Gilbert was named honorable mention.

ECAC Site - ECAC Announces DII Football Major Awards & All-ECAC Teams

West Chester Athletic Site - Football Places 10 Players on All-ECAC Team; Three Major Award Winners

Player News - Trio of Golden Rams Named All-Region

Three Golden Rams have been named Division 2 Conference Commissioner's Association All-Super Region 1. Junior linebacker Tyler Morrissey and junior punter Brendan Paulison were both named to the first team defense while senior running back Jarel Elder was named to the second team offense.

Morrisey was named first team All-PSAC East and PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year. He finished the season with 137 total tackles (2nd in the PSAC) including 14.0 tackles for loss (6th in the PSAC), five quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles (both in the playoffs).

Tyler Morrissey was involved in 137 tackles this season (Photo Ron Hockman)

Paulison was also a first team All-PSAC East selection. He averaged 44.1 yards per punt (3rd in the country), booming 17 of his 61 punts for more than 50 yards while dropping 23 of them inside the opponent's 20-yard line. The Golden Rams were second in the nation in net punting, as Paulison's limited opponents to only 25 returns.

Brendan Paulison is one of the top punters in the country (Photo Ron Hockman)

Elder was first team All-PSAC East and named PSAC East Offensive Player of the Year. He rushed for 1,230 yards (3rd in the PSAC) and 15 touchdowns (3rd in the PSAC) and averaged 94.6 yards per game (4th in the PSAC). Elder was third on the Golden Rams in receiving with 23 catches for 339 yards and two touchdowns. Including his kick returns, he averaged 163.8 all-purpose yards per game (14th in the country).

Jarel Elder scored 17 touchdowns this season (Photo Ron Hockman)

The Division II Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.

Paulison and Morrissey now move on to the D2CCA national ballot for All-American consideration. The D2CCA All-American teams are scheduled to be released Wednesday, December 13.

West Chester Athletic Site - Three Golden Rams Named DII CCA All-Super Region 1