In this season of giving and receiving, it’s fitting that Indiana’s Dan Feeney has received some prestigious awards, considering all he has given to the Hoosiers.
Feeney, an Orland Park resident who is IU’s starting right guard, has anchored an offensive line that ranks first in the Big Ten and ninth in the country in fewest sacks allowed with 13. Feeney and his fellow blockers have also helped the Hoosiers rank first in the conference and 16th in the country in total offense (490.8 yards), first in the conference and 24th in the country in passing (285.9 yards) and first in the conference and tied for 22nd in the country in scoring (36.2 points).
The Hoosiers also rank second in the Big Ten and tied for 30th in the country in rushing offense (204.8 yards).
For his significant contributions this season, Feeney was chosen to the Associated Press, CBS Sports, SI.com and ESPN.com All-American teams.
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Feeney and teammate Jason Spriggs are the fifth and sixth offensive linemen in Indiana history to receive All-American recognition and the first since 1967.
“It’s a great honor,” Feeney said. “There’s been a lot of hard work and my teammates have pushed me to be the best I could be. This just shows how far our team has come on a national level.
“I was definitely striving for this. I wanted to win something because I’ve put in a lot of hard work and we got rewarded. My O-line brothers pushed me to where I wanted to be. I wouldn’t have accomplished this without them.”
Feeney, a 2012 graduate of Sandburg, also was chosen to the All-Big Ten first team this season. Feeney, who played left tackle in high school, has been a three-year starter at right guard for the Hoosiers, who are making their 10th bowl appearance all-time and first since the 2007 Insight Bowl.
This season, Feeney has not allowed a sack in 431 passing attempts. In 36 games and 2,617 snaps in his career, the 6-foot-4, 310-pound redshirt junior has given up just one sack. Feeney appeared on the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award watch lists.
“We definitely lead the charge in the offensive line,” Feeney said. “We’re the heartbeat of the offense. We try to break down defenses both physically and mentally.
“I love being an offensive lineman. It’s a lot of fun playing in the trenches. You can’t beat it. I try to be good at everything and not have any weaknesses at all. I just want to be well-rounded in all the aspects of my game. Run blocking is the most fun. I love to get in people’s faces and dominate them.”
Feeney and the Hoosiers (6-6) will have one more opportunity to dominate an opponent this season as they take on Duke (7-5) in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 26 at 2:30 p.m. at Yankee Stadium in New York City.
“We’re going to have to adjust and tweak a couple of things and see what they’re doing,” Feeney said. “But it isn’t anything we’ve never faced. We’ll be all right.”
Feeney said he will have 20 family and friends in attendance at the game.
“I’m a big-time baseball fan,” Feeney said. “I played my whole life growing up. It’s a big-time honor to play in Yankee Stadium.”
Morehead State women’s soccer: Mokena resident Teig Palmateer was chosen to the All-Ohio Valley Conference second team this season. The senior defender appeared in all 21 matches for the Eagles, making 15 starts. The Lincoln-Way North graduate had a goal and three assists.
St. Ambrose football: Orland Park native Matt Cotiguala has been named to the 2015 AFCA NAIA Coaches’ All-American Team. Cotiguala connected on 23-of-25 field-goal attempts this season and was a perfect 28-for-28 on extra points.
Cotiguala set NAIA national records for field-goal percentage (.920) and field goals made per game (2.3) this season. His 23 field goals were a single-season record at St. Ambrose and are the second-most by a kicker in a season in NAIA history.
Mike Walsh is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.