Dec. 2, 2009

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Missouri Valley Football Conference has expanded its "Silver Anniversary Team" to include three additional student-athletes who last week were named first-team all-league for a third-straight year. Southern Illinois punter Scott Ravanesi was one of the three players added to the 67 previously selected.

In addition to fan voting which helped determine the team composition, any student-athlete who earned first-team honors three or more times was an automatic selection. Among the now 70 players selected to the Silver Anniversary Team, 27 earned first-team honors three times. Missouri State's Clay Harbor, Western Illinois' Patrick Stoudamire and Ravanesi joined South Dakota State's Danny Batten, UNI's James Ruffin, and Youngstown State's Mychal Savage as players who were active in 2009 who earned selection to the Silver Anniversary Team.

In the league's first 24 seasons, league members have combined for two national championships, four national championship game appearances, and 14 national semifinal trips. Valley Football student-athletes and coaches have earned 19 different National Player or Coach of the Year designations, and the league had a myriad of student-athletes who collected All-America honors and earned national academic distinction.

Founded in 1985 as the Gateway Football Conference, the Missouri Valley Football Conference is celebrating its 25th season of FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) football during the 2009 season. Team composition for the league's Silver Anniversary Team was determined by a committee and fan voting. Nearly 2,500 votes were cast on-line from July through mid-October. The conference office, with consultation from institutional personnel, compiled the list of honorees on the ballot.

The six Salukis already named to Silver Anniversary Team were: quarterback Joel Sambursky, running back Arkee Whitlock, wide receiver Cornell Craig, return specialist Craig Turner, kicker Craig Coffin and defensive back Alexis Moreland.