ST. LOUIS -- 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.  As part of a season-long celebration, the conference is paying tribute to its all-time greats by selecting a Silver Anniversary Team.

 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.

 In addition, fans voted to determine an Offensive and Defensive MVP of the league's "All-Select NFL Team." (The full team was announced in July, and that release is attached for reference.)  UNI's Kurt Warner, currently with the Arizona Cardinals, and Western Illinois' Rodney Harrison, who retired this season after an illustrious career, were tabbed Offensive and Defensive MVPs, respectively.  Warner, a four-time Pro Bowler, two-time NFL MVP, and Super Bowl XXXIV MVP, entered the 2009 campaign ranked No. 3 all-time in career passer rating, completing 2,327-of-3,557 passes for 28,591 career yards and 182 career TDs.  Harrison, meanwhile, is the only player in NFL history with 30+ sacks and 30+ interceptions, is a two-time Pro Bower, and played on four Super Bowl teams in his career.

 Among the 67 players selected to the Silver Anniversary Team, 24 earned first-team honors three times, including UNI's Ty Talton, who remains the only student-athlete in league history to receive first-team designation four-straight seasons.  During the league's first 24 seasons, eight student-athletes won back-to-back Offensive or Defensive Player of the Year plaudits, and each of those players is represented.  LB Boomer Grigsby of Illinois State remains the only player in league history to win the MVFC's top honor three times, and he headlines a list of four Redbirds on the Silver Anniversary Team.

 UNI, which has more conference championships (14) and playoff appearances (14) than any other team in league history, has the most players on the Silver Anniversary Team, with 19.  Western Illinois, which has the second-most in both categories, also has the second-most honorees on the team (16).  All nine current members, plus two past members, have representation on the 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.

OFFENSE (active players do not include honors or statistics from 2009 season)

QB Ryan Helming UNI 1997-00
3-time all-league (HM-1998, 1st-1999, 1st-2000); 2-time All-American (2nd-1999, 1st-2000); No. 1 all-time pass yards (9,089), TDs (77)

QB Russ Michna Western Illinois 2000-03
2-time all-conference (1st-2002, 1st-2003); 2-time Offensive Player of the Year (2002, 2003)

QB Sean Payton  Eastern Illinois 1985-86
2-time all-conference (1st-1985, 1st-1986); 2-time All-American (HM-1985, HM-1986); 1-time Offensive Player of the Year (1986)

QB Joel Sambursky Southern Illinois 2002-05
4-time all-league (HM-2002, 2nd-2003, 1st-2004, 1st-2005); 1-time Offensive Player of the Year (2004); No. 6 all-time pass yards (7,894); No. 3 all-time TD passes (65); No. 3 total offense (8,994)

QB Eric Sanders UNI 2004-07
3-time all-league (2nd-2005, 2nd-2006, 1st-2007); 1-time All-American (3rd-2007); No. 1 all-time completions (714), percentage (.6959); No. 2 all-time passing yards (9,012) and TDs (70)

QB DeAndre Smith Missouri State 1987-90
2-time all-conference (1st-1989, 1st-1990); 1-time All-American (1st-1990); 2-time Offensive Player of the Year (1989, 1990); No. 1 all-time rushing TDs for QB (36); Gateway "Offensive Player of the Decade (1985-94)"

QB Kurt Warner UNI 1990-93
1-time all-conference (1st-2003); 1-time Offensive Player of the Year (1993)

RB Herb Donaldson Western Illinois 2005-08
3-time all-league (2nd-2006, 1st-2007, 1st-2008); 2-time All-American (3rd-2007, 1st-2008); 1-time Offensive Player of the Year (2008); No. 1 all-time rushing (4,746); No. 7 all-time scoring (308); No. 3 all-time rushing TDs (50)

RB Willie High Eastern Illinois 1992-95
3-time all-conference (1st-1993, 1st-1994, 1st-1995); 2-time All-American (HM-1994, 1st-1995); No. 5 all-time rushing yards (4,231)

RB Corey Lewis UNI 2005-08
2-time all-league (1st-2007, 2nd-2008); 2-time All-American (HM-2007, HM-2008); No. 8 all-time rushing (4,003)

RB P.J. Mays Youngstown State 2000-02
2-time all-conference (1st-2001, 1st-2002); 2-time All-American (HM-2001, 2nd-2002); 1-time Offensive Player of the Year (2001); No. 10 all-time rushing (3,476); No. 7 all-time rushing TDs (42)

RB Aaron Stecker Western Illinois 1997-98
2-time all-conference (1st-1997, 1st-1998); 2-time All-American (1st-1997, HM-1998); 1-time Offensive Player of the Year (1997)

RB Arkee Whitlock Southern Illinois 2004-06
3-time all-league (2nd-2004, 1st-2005, 1st-2006); 2-time All-American (1st-2005, 1st-2006); No. 1 all-time all-purpose yards (5,602);
No. 2 all-time TDs scored (52); No. 4 all-time rushing (4,242)

RB David Wright Indiana State 1992-95
4-time all-league (1st-1992, 1st-1993, 2nd-1994, 1st-1995); 1-time All-American (2nd-1992); No. 4 all-time all-purpose yards (5,341)

TE J.R. Niklos Western Illinois 1998-01
3-time all-conference (HM-1999, 1st-2000, 1st-2001); 2-time All-American (HM-2000, HM-2001)

TE Brad St. Louis Missouri State 1996-99
3-time all-conference (1st-1997, 1st-1998, 1st-1999); 1-time All-American (1st-1999)

WR Eddie Berlin UNI 1997-00
4-time all-conference (HM-1997, 2nd-1998, 2nd-1999, 1st-2000); 1-time All-American (1st-2000); No. 1 all-time receptions (249);
No. 2 all-time receiving yards (3,735); No. 3 all-time TD receptions (34)

WR Cornell Craig Southern Illinois 1996-99
3-time all-conference (2nd-1997, 2nd-1998, 1st-1999); 1-time All-American (1st-1999); 1-time Offensive Player of the Year (1999);
No.  3 all-time receptions (207); No. 4 all-time receiving yards (3,508); No. 2 all-time TD receptions (37)

WR Mike Furrey UNI 1997-99
3-time all-league (1st-1997, 1st-1998, 1st-1999); 3-time All-American (2nd-1997, 2nd-1998, 1st-1999); No. 2 all-time receptions (242); No. 3 all-time receiving yards (3,544); No. 5 all-time TD receptions (27)

WR Laurént Robinson Illinois State 2003-06
2-time all-league (1st-2005, 2nd-2006); 1-time All-American (1st-2005); 1-time Offensive Player of the Year (2005); No. 5 all-time receptions and yards (192 for 3,007)

WR/RS Kenny Shedd UNI 1989-92
3-time all-league (2nd-1990, 1st-1991, 1st-1992); 2-time All-American (2nd-1991, 1st-1992); No. 10 all-time receiving yards (2,243); No. 7 all-time TD receptions; No. 1 all-time TD returns (punts, kickoffs) (7)

WR Dedric Ward UNI 1993-96
3-time all-conference (1st-1994, 1st-1995, 1st-1996); 3-time All-American (HM-1994, 1st-1995, 1st-1996); 2-time Offensive Player of the Year (1995, 1996); No. 1 touchdown receptions (43); No. 6 all-time receptions (176); No. 1 all-time receiving yards (3,876)

RS Craig Turner Southern Illinois 2004-07
3-time all-conference (1st-2005, 1st-2006, 1st-2007); 1-time All-American (HM-2007); No. 1 all-time punt return yards (1,117);
No. 3 all-time returns for TD (5)

OL Buster Ashley Western Kentucky 2001-04
4-time all-conference (2nd-2001, 1st-2002, 1st-2003, 1st-2004); 3-time All-American (1st-2002, 1st-2003, 1st-2004)

OL Stafford Davis Illinois State 2002-05
4-time all-conference (2nd-2002, 2nd-2003, 1st-2004, 1st-2005); 1-time All-American (1st-2005)

OL Fred Layne Western Illinois 2001-04
3-time all-conference (1st-2002, 1st-2003, 1st-2004); 1-time All-American (2nd-2003)

OL Brad Meester UNI 1996-99
4-time all-conference (2nd-1996, 2nd-1997, 1st-1998, 1st-1999); 2-time All-American (2nd-1998, 1st-1999)

OL Chad Rinehart UNI 2004-07
3-time all-conference (1st-2005, 1st-2006, 1st-2007); 2-time All-American (2nd-2006, 1st-2007)

OL Brad Samsa Youngstown State 2005-08
3-time all-conference (2nd-2006, 1st-2007, 1st-2008); 2-time All-American (2nd-2007, 1st-2008)

OL Rich Seubert Western Illinois 1997-00
2-time all-conference (HM-1999, 1st-2000); 1-time All-American (2nd-2000)

OL Frank Winters Western Illinois 1985-86
1-time all-conference (1st-1986); 1-time All-American (1st-1986)

PK Travis Brawner Missouri State 1997-99
3-time all-conference (1st-1997, 1st-1998, 1st-1999); 2-time All-American (1st-1997, HM-1998)

PK Craig Coffin Southern Illinois 2002-06
2-time all-conference (2nd-2004, 2nd-2006); 1-time All-American (1st-2006); No. 1 all-time scoring (379); No. 6 all-time field goals (50)

PK Brian Mitchell UNI 1989-91
3-time all-conference (1st-1989, 1st-1990, 1st-1991); 2-time All-American (1st-1990, 1st-1991); No. 2 all-time field goals (59)

PK Taylor Rowan Western Illinois 2005-08
2-time all-league (1st-2007, 1st-2008); 1-time All-American (1st-2008); No. 1 all-time consecutive PATs (129); No. 3 all-time PATs (160)

DEFENSE (active players do not include honors or statistics from 2009 season)

DL Danny Batten South Dakota State 2008-present
1-time all-conference (1st-2008); 1-time All-American (HM-2008)

DL Dan Brandenburg Indiana State 1992-95
3-time all-conference (1st-1993, 1st-1994, 1st-1995); 2-time All-American (1st-1994, 1st-1995); No. 4 all-time sacks (32)

DL Harry Deligianis Youngstown State 1997
1-time all-conference (1st-1997); 1-time All-American (1st-1997); 1-time Defensive Player of the Year (1997)

DL Shannon Jackson Indiana State 1996-99
4-time all-conference (HM-1996, 1st-1997, 2nd-1998, 1st-1999); 2-time All-American (3rd-1997, 3rd-1999); No. 10 all-time sacks (24)

DL James Jones UNI 1987-90
3-time all-conference (HM-1988, 1st-1989, 1st-1990)

DL John Jurkovic Eastern Illinois 1986-89
3-time all-league (1st-1986, 1st-1988, 1st-1989); 3-time All-American (HM-1986, 1st-1988, 1st-1989); 2-time Defensive Player of the Year (1988, 1989)

DL Kyle Mitchell Indiana State 2002-05
4-time all-conference (HM-2002, 1st-2003, 1st-2004, 1st-2005); No. 8 all-time sacks (25.5)

DL Mike O'Brien Western Illinois 2000-03
3-time all-conference (1st-2001, 1st-2002, 1st-2003); 2-time All-American (HM-2001, 1st-2003)

DL James Ruffin UNI 2006-present
2-time all-conference (1st-2007, 1st-2008); 1-time All-American (1st-2008); 1-time Defensive Player of the Year (2008)

DL Mychal Savage Youngstown State 2005-07, present
2-time all-conference (1st-2006, 1st-2007); 1-time All-American (3rd-2007)

LB Andre Allen UNI 1991-94 
3-time all-league (HM-1992, 1st-1993, 1st-1994); 2-time All-American (2nd-1993, 1st-1994); 2-time Defensive Player of the Year (1993, 1994)

LB William Freeney UNI 1990-92
3-time all-league (HM-1990, 1st-1991, 1st-1992); 2-time All-American (2nd-1991, 1st-1992); 2-time Defensive Player of the Year (1991, 1992)

LB Boomer Grigsby Illinois State 2001-04
4-time all-league (HM-2001, 1st-2002, 1st-2003, 1st-2004); 3-time All-American (1st-2002, 1st-2003, 1st-2004); 3-time Defensive Player of the Year (2002, 2003, 2004); No. 1 all-time career tackles (580)

LB Edgerton Hartwell Western Illinois 1998-00
3-time all-league (2nd-1998, 1st-1999, 1st-2000); 2-time All-American (1st-1999, 1st-2000); 2-time Defensive Player of the Year (1999, 2000); No. 7 all-time tackles (472); Buck Buchanan Award Winner (2000)

LB James Milton Western Illinois 1995-98
2-time all-league (2nd-1997, 1st-1998); 1-time All-American (1st-1998); 1-time Defensive Player of the Year (1998); Buck Buchanan Award Winner (1998)

LB Bryce Paup UNI 1986-89
3-time all-conference (2nd-1987, HM-1988, 1st-1989); 1-time All-American (1989)

LB Matt Pedersen UNI 1996-99
3-time all-conference (1st-1997, 1st-1998, 1st-1999); 3-time All-American (2nd-1997, 2nd-1998, 2nd-1999)

LB Lee Russell Western Illinois 2000-03
4-time all-conference (2nd-2000, 2nd-2001, 1st-2002, 1st-2003); 2-time All-American (HM-2001, 1st-2003); No. 6 all-time tackles (475)

LB James Terry Youngstown State 2004-07
3-time all-conference (1st-2005, 1st-2006, 1st-2007); 1-time All-American (HM-2007)

LB Jason Williams Western Illinois 2005-08
3-time all-conference (HM-2006, 1st-2007, 1st-2008); 2-time All-American (1st-2007, 1st-2008); No. 1 all-time forced fumbles (14)

DB Bryan Cox Western Illinois 1987-90
3-time all-league (2nd-1987, 1st-1989, 1st-1990); 1-time All-American (1990); Gateway "Defensive Player of the Decade (1985-94)"

DB Rodney Harrison Western Illinois 1991-93
2-time all-conference (1st-1992, 1st-1993); 2-time All-American (2nd-1992, 1st-1993)

DB Ray McElroy Eastern Illinois 1991-94
3-time all-conference (1st-1992, 1st-1993, 1st-1994); 1-time All-American (3rd-1994)

DB Alexis Moreland Southern Illinois 2001-04
3-time all-conference (1st-2002, 1st-2003, 1st-2004); 3-time All-American (2nd-2002, 1st-2003, 1st-2004)

DB Nick Schommer North Dakota State 2008
1-time all-conference (1st-2008); 1-time All-American (3rd-2008)

DB Dwyte Smiley Youngstown State 1997-99
3-time all-conference (1st-1997, 1st-1998, 1st-1999); 2-time All-American (2nd-1997, 1st-1998, HM-1999)

DB Jeff Smith Illinois State 1985-88
3-time all-conference (1st-1985, 1st-1986, 1st-1987); 2-time All-American (HM-1986, 2nd-1987); No. 2 all-time career interceptions (21)

DB Adrion Smith  Missouri State 1990-93
3-time all-conference (1st-1991, 1st-1992, 1st-1993); 2-time All-American (2nd-1991, 1st-1993); No. 1 all-time interceptions (24)

DB Ty Talton UNI 1995-98
4-time all-league (1st-1995, 1st-1996, 1st-1997, 1st-1998); 2-time All-American (2nd-1996, HM-1997); No. 3 all-time interceptions (18)

P Brian Claybourn Western Kentucky 2001-04
4-time all-conference (2nd-2001, HM-2002, 1st-2003, 1st-2004); 1-time All-American (3rd-2004); No. 8 all-time punting average (40.92)

P Tim Mosley UNI 1990-93
3-time all-conference (2nd-1991, 1st-1992, 1st-1993); 1-time All-American (3rd-1993)

P Mike Scifres  Western Illinois 1999-02
3-time all-league (1st-2000, 1st-2001, 1st-2002); 3-time All-American (1st-2000, HM-2001, 1st-2002); No. 1 all-time punting average (43.35)