From our friends at IU Media Relations:
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana junior wide receiver James Hardy earned the 2007 Anthony Thompson MVP Award, head coach Bill Lynch announced at the team banquet on Sunday afternoon at the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center. Lynch also recognized the team's 16 seniors, including captains Josiah Sears (fullback) and Tracy Porter, while handing out 12 additional season-ending awards.
A semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, Hardy shattered career and single-season receiving marks in 2007. Hardy is the Hoosiers' all-time receiving leader in touchdowns (36), yards (2,690) and receptions (186). He is the only wide receiver in Indiana history to surpass 2,500 career yards, 175 career receptions and 35 career touchdowns.
The Fort Wayne, Ind., native completed the 2007 regular season with 1,075 yards, 16 touchdowns (second nationally), 74 receptions, 89.6 yards per game and 14.5 yards per grab. Hardy set new single-season school records in touchdowns and receptions while finishing second in yards and becoming just the fourth Hoosier to reach the 1,000-yard mark. He caught a TD grab in 11 of 12 games, which is a school record, and finished tied for third on the Big Ten\0xB9s single-season list with his 16 TDs.
Hardy's 14-career 100-yard games and 10 multi-TD games are each school records, and he was the lone wide receiver in the country to record a touchdown in each of his first eight games this season. His nine-game touchdown streak (dating back to the 2006 finale) set a new school record. Hardy held the previous record of six along with Jade Butcher (1967-69). He opened the 2005 season with a scoring grab in each of the first six games as well and is the only receiver in school history to collect a scoring strike in six straight games on two separate occasions. ---------- Care to comment on Hardy's season? Is he the Hoosiers' MVP?
