AP and staff reports

CLEVELAND (AP) – Marshall quarterback Chad Pennington and Miami of Ohio running back Travis Prentice each were named to the All-Mid-American Conference first team for the third straight year on Monday.

Tuesday, November 30, 1999

CLEVELAND (AP) – Marshall quarterback Chad Pennington and Miami of Ohio running back Travis Prentice each were named to the All-Mid-American Conference first team for the third straight year on Monday.

Pennington, who has 1,006 career pass completions, was one of 18 players from the undefeated Thundering Herd to make the conference’s all-star team.

Pennington is favored to win the league’s Player of the Year at Thursday’s conference banquet.

Western Michigan, which had the second-most players on the All-MAC team with eight, plays Marshall on Friday for the league championship.

Prentice finished his career at Miami with a Division I-A record 73 rushing touchdowns.

Marshall entered the MAC just three years ago and has won the league title in each season. The Herd, East Division champions, are favored to win a third straight title Friday when they play host to West Division champion Western Michigan.

The Herd beat Western 31-17 just three weeks ago.

Joining Pennington on the All-MAC first team offense are senior center Jason Starkey, senior offensive lineman Mike Guilliams and junior lineman Jimmy Cabellos, wide receivers James Williams, a senior, and Nate Poole, a junior, and senior running back Doug Chapman.

Senior outside linebacker John Grace and senior defensive lineman Giradie Mercer led the first team defensive selections.

Also on the first unit were junior lineman Paul Toviessi, senior defensive back Rogers Beckett and junior defensive backs Daninelle Derricott and Maurice Hines.

Marshall landed five more players on the second team, all on defense.

Senior outside linebacker Andre O’Neal and sophomore Max Yates were joined on the second unit by junior defensive lineman Jimmy Parker and senior Ron Puggi, and freshman punter Curtis Head.

Marshall’s Bob Pruett is the favorite to be selected the league’s Coach of the Year.

Pruett,now in his fourth season, signed a seven-year rollover contract last Wednesday that would keep him at Marshall through the 2007 season.

His annual salary this year is $132,000 and includes incentive pay based on game attendance and for promotional activities. Pruett will also receive additional income from television and radio programs.