Football Team Names Ignacio MVP; Crawford Awarded LaCroix Trophy

Captain Dave Ignacio was named Harvard football's most valuable player yesterday, and senior Dave Crawford was selected as the winner of the LaCroix Trophy for "enthusiasm, sportsmanship, loyalty, and team spirit."

Senior roverback Ignacio was selected by his teammates to receive the Crocker Award in recognition of the MVP honor, Crawford was chosen by a special three-man selection committee headed by freshman coach Henry Lamar.

Ignacio, the only defensive back ever to captain the Harvard squad in the two-platoon era, was the statistical leader among defensemen this fall with 71 tickles and five interceptions. Ignacio was also cited for making the key defensive play in several games.

In Crimson wins over Columbia and Penn, Ignacio pulled in opposition passes in the final moments to preserve two and one-point victories.

Ignacio's biggest play of the season came last Saturday against Yale. In a play which Eli Coach Carmen Cozza called the "turning point of the game," Ignacio blocked a punt which resulted in Harvard's winning touchdown.

Ignacio returned intercepted passes for a total of 96 yards this season. "I haven't seen anybody all season who is Ignacio's equal," Harvard defensive coordinator Carl Schutte said yesterday.

In his three years of varsity football, Crawford has been unable to earn a starting assignment. He remained in the program as a member of the junior varsity and as a backup runner for the varsity.

"Dave is as much like Bill LaCroix as anyone can possibly be," Lamar said. "He has never run a single play without going as hard as he can, and he's never given anything but his very best effort."