Mendenhall receives Silver Football award

Illinois junior running back Rashard Mendenhall was named the recipient of the Silver Football as the Big Ten Most Valuable Player. The award is given annually by the Chicago Tribune. To be eligible, a player must be selected as his team's MVP. The Illini banquet is tonight, when other teams awards are announced.

Mendenhall was earlier named as the Big Ten's offensive player of the year. In his first season as a starter, the former Niles West star set single-season records with 1,526 yards rushing, 16 rushing touchdowns and 18 touchdowns overall.

He became the first Illini player to receive the award since Don Thorp in 1983. Other Illini to earn the silver football were Jim Grabowski in 1965, Dick Butkus in 1963, Bill Burrell in 1959 and Alex Agase in 1946.