June 8, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Rosevelt Colvin and Stephanie White-McCarty have been named Purdue's Athletes-of-the-Year, it was announced today. The two were selected by a vote of athletic department administrators from a pool of candidates derived from each Athlete-of-the-Month, plus each sport's Most Valuable Player.
Both Colvin and White-McCarty concluded outstanding four-year careers as Boilermakers in 1998-99, capped by winning their last collegiate game and being drafted by the pros. It marks the second straight Athlete-of-the-Year honor for White-McCarty.
Colvin, a 6-3 defensive end for the football team, was named first team All-Big Ten by both the conference coaches and media and was voted team Most Valuable Player by his teammates. He was one of the football squad's two nominees for the Red Mackey Award (fifth year of scholarship aid). The senior co-captain started all 13 games for the Boilermakers and set school season records with 15 sacks and four blocked field goals. He had 21 tackles for loss to rank fifth on the school season list. He recorded 50 total tackles, including 35 solo stops, five pass breakups, three fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown) and one interception. Colvin received the team's Pop Doan Award (outstanding play in the Indiana game) for defense after blocking a field goal and recording four tackles for loss, including a sack. He was named Defensive MVP of the Alamo Bowl after totaling five tackles, including two sacks, to go with a blocked field goal and a forced fumble in Purdue's 37-34 win over No. 4-ranked Kansas State. Colvin was chosen in the fourth round (111th pick overall) of the NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.
Other male athletes receiving votes were Drew Brees (football), Cris James (tennis), Vilmos Kovacs (swimming), Jason Marshall (tennis), Ike Olekaibe (track and field), Jason Silverstein (wrestling) and Chris Spurrier (track and field).
White-McCarty, a 5-11 guard/forward for the women's basketball team, received the Wade Trophy as the outstanding collegiate women's basketball player and was a unanimous first team All-American. She was Academic All-American-of-the-Year, Big Ten Player-of-the-Year, Most Valuable Player of the Big Ten Tournament and a member of the NCAA Women's Final Four All-Tournament team. The senior co-captain started all 35 games for the Boilermakers and averaged a team-leading 20.2 points (good for 23rd in the nation), 5.4 rebounds (third on team) and 4.5 assists (tops on team) in 35.9 minutes per game. She ranked second on the team with 78 steals. White-McCarty scored in double figures in every game and recorded the first triple-double in school history with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against Indiana at home. The Boilermakers won the first national championship in school history with a 62-45 win over Duke on March 28, 1999. White-McCarty was chosen in the second round (21st pick overall -- third collegiate player drafted) of the WNBA draft by the Charlotte Sting.
Other female athletes receiving votes were Jennifer Embry (tennis), Ukari Figgs (basketball), Sam Mercier (softball) and Toyinda Smith (track and field).
Both Colvin and White-McCarty now are in the running for the Big Ten Jesse Owens and Suzy Favor Athletes-of-the-Year, which will be voted on by conference media and announced June 23, 1999.