Mid States

[Football] Liam Kelly named recipient of Bob Jurevitz Award

Senior linebacker Liam Kelly was named the recipient of the Bob Jurevitz Award at the St. Ambrose University Fall Sports Banquet Saturday.The annual award, established in the summer of 2011, is named after Bob Jurevitz, a former St. Ambrose football great who passed away in November 2011 after a battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease. It is presented to a St. Ambrose football player who best exemplifies the characteristics Jurevitz displayed both on and off the playing field. The award recipient is selected by the SAU football coaching staff and the Jurevitz family.Bob Jurevitz Award recipients2011 – John Michaletti2012 – Alex Berg2013 – Mitch Overstreet2014 – Ryan Byrne2015 – Keaton Jurevitz2016 – Mitch Negangard2017 – Jim Morrissey2018 – Dillon Valdez2019 – Ryan Zitkus2020-21 – Liam KellyKelly, from Chicago, earned all-Mid-States Football Association Midwest League honorable mention this season after recording 47 total tackles, including seven tackles for loss. He intercepted two passes.Kelly's name now will be etched on a plaque inside the Lee Lohman Arena lobby, which is updated every year to list the all-time recipients of the award.Bob Jurevitz was one of the most-prolific and hardest-working running backs in SAU history. He remains the second-leading rusher in school history, accumulating 5,126 yards on the ground during his career from 1982-85. He was the state of Iowa's all-time leading collegiate rusher at the time of his graduation in 1986.The four-year team captain and team MVP scored a Bee-best 64 touchdowns in his career. During his senior season in 1985, he rushed for 1,424 yards and a still-school-record 27 touchdowns. He was inducted into the SAU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.A plaque honoring Jurevitz and a framed #44 jersey are permanently displayed in the SAU football locker room visible to every player entering and leaving the room.Along with the Bob Jurevitz Award, the SAU football team presented its Champion of Character Award to Bernard Buhake (right). The award is based on five core values – integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.