Illinois State head football coach Denver Johnson announced senior tight end/fullback Mike Larson as the recipient of the Fred Cleland Award, an honor that Johnson has reinstituted to the Redbird football program.
The Cleland Award is named in honor of a two-year Redbird football letterwinner who passed away prior to the 1970 season after sustaining a neck injury during the teams final preseason scrimmage.
Obviously Fred Cleland meant a lot to this football program and institution, Johnson said. I dont have the understanding as to the reasoning and circumstances of why the honoring of this award was lost, but I feel its important to reestablish the continuity of this program from one generation to the next.
The award was given annually from 1971 to 1980 to the football player who best exemplified Clelands qualities and was an inspiration to the team. Former athletic trainer Bob Kief, who was by Clelands side, is pleased with Johnsons decision.
Freddie was just a fine kid, Kief said. He was really too small to play college ball, but he had a heck of a heart. Like coach (Larry) Bitcon said at his funeral the big heart that allowed him to make it as a player failed him on the one yard line, and we all lost. It is great that the ISU athletic department is bringing back this honor and I applaud Denver for reinstituting an award that should have never been forgotten.
For Johnson, selecting Larson as the recipient of the reinstituted Cleland honor was an easy one.
Mike suffered a personal tragedy in his family with the passing of his father at an untimely age, Johnson said. That is a very difficult thing for anyone to go through, much less a student-athlete with all the demands and pressures. Coupled with injury, there were a menu of things that went wrong for Mike during that period of time.
Larsons life changed on March 11, 2003 when he received a phone call informing him that his single father, Michael Sr., had died in an automobile accident changing his life and the lives of his then 19-year-old sister and 13-year-old brother forever.
Receiving the Cleland honor means a lot to me, especially with coach Johnson recognizing the tough time I went through in my life, Larson said. It means a lot to me that the coaches were there for me and supported me. The year has flown by, but now that Ive had a chance to reflect on it, I have a greater appreciation for what the coaching staff has done to make me a better player and person.
In 1981, Bob Otolski renamed the Fred Cleland Award the Citizenship Award and the honoring of the award was ended in 1988.
Mike struggled at times last spring, but he showed great fortitude and great courage, Johnson said. He fought through that difficult period of time becoming a stronger and better man. Every coach on the staff and every player on the team had the chance to observe Mike through this and he has gained the admiration and respect of everyone involved with our program.
Larson played in all 12 games last season with 10 starts. He gathered 14 catches for 175 yards and a touchdown, while logging six rushes for 37 yards.
