Fever’s Whitehead named offensive MVP
Steven Whitehead felt he deserved to be named the MVP of the Indoor Football League for the 2015 season.
But he also admitted he probably wouldn’t get it.
He was right — Nebraska quarterback Jameel Sewell was selected as the IFL MVP on Thursday.
But Whitehead ended up being named Offensive MVP for the league.
Whitehead led the IFL in receiving yards (1,032) and receptions (81). He also added 17 TD receptions, ranking second in the IFL.
Whitehead was a threat on the ground as well, rushing for a career-high six touchdowns. Whitehead is the 11th player in IFL history to top 1,000 receiving yards in a single season and is the first wide receiver to be named Offensive Player of the Year.
“It’s an honor,” he said. “It’s a tribute to the work we’ve done, not only for myself but Coach (Adam) Shackleford and the rest of the guys. I most proud of that despite the injuries we had at quarterback, I was still able to do what I did. There is no telling what could have happened if (starter) Houston (Lillard) had stayed healthy.”
Whitehead announced this season that this would be his last as a player, so he could focus on his family and his personal training business.
At the beginning of the season, he liked the idea of showing the kids he trained what he was doing, and they might understand him more.
“I liked the do what I say thing. I had a good time doing that,” said Whitehead. “Those kids have pushed me more than they’ll ever know. And once I started focusing on the internal, rather than things I couldn’t control, I had a big season. It caps off my career. I always felt slighted and short changed at all levels (because of his size, 5-foot-8, 180 pounds).”
Whitehead wasn’t the only Fever player to win an award on Thursday.
Kicker Brady Beeson won the Adam Pringle Award, named after a very influential and highly respected member of the former West Michigan Thunderhawks, and is given to the player or coach who exemplified outstanding service and dedication to their surrounding community.
Beeson helped spearhead a benefit involving the Tri-Cities Fever and Colleen’s Dream Foundation. Beeson partnered with the Foundation and former NFL kicker Billy Cundiff to bring awareness to ovarian cancer in the Tri-Cities community. Over $46,000 was raised.
“The goal here was certainly to raise money for young researchers in Seattle, and spread awareness throughout the Tri-Cities community,” Beeson posted on Facebook. “However, the fact that I am lucky enough to have received this award means that I achieved my ultimate goal in this fundraiser — to have our voice heard throughout the IFL and other parts of the country.”
Sewell led Nebraska back to the IFL title gam,e, and he also won the MVP award in 2013.
Other award winners: Kurtiss Riggs of Sioux Falls was Coach of the Year; defensive lineman Jermiah Price of Cedar Rapids was named Defensive MVP; Bemidji’s Mulku Kalokoh was Special Teams Player of the Year; Nebraska running back Waymon James was Offensive Rookie of the Year; and Billings defensive back Michael Green was named Defensive Rookie of the Year.
This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 11:01 PM with the headline "Fever’s Whitehead named offensive MVP."