SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University’s annual football banquet is all about the seniors.

The 2012 group was small, yet well decorated during its time at SRU. They were honored during the recent fete at the Robert M. Student Center on campus.

“Our goal for all of our players when they join us is to one day walk away from here with a diploma in one hand, a (PSAC West) championship in the other,” Rock coach George Mihalik said. “These guys here have lived that dream. They’ve done that.”

SRU’s 2012 seniors were juniors in 2011, when The Rock won the PSAC championship. The 2012 team finished 6-5, winning its final four Western Division games to finish 5-2 in league play.

Senior captains were Akeem Satterfield, Austin Fedell and Jeff Thompson. The team’s six other seniors were Kurt Brackman, Marquis Knight, Aaron Moul, Jesse Buck, Josh Gardner and Jack Charles.

“My teammates are like my brothers,” Thompson said. “My relationship with the coaches ... They were like fathers, uncles, grandfathers to me. I can’t believe I’m standing up here (with other seniors) already. The time went by so fast.

“Enjoy it while it’s here,” he said to the underclassmen. “Don’t take anything for granted.”

Fedell lauded the Rock coaching staff and said “coming here is the best decision I’ve made in my life so far.”

Satterfield admitted to not liking Mihalik and the coaches much when he first came to SRU.

“That 6 a.m. weight room stuff, the demands they put on you, it was rough,” he said. “I couldn’t stand Coach Mihalik. But after a while, you see a method to the madness.

“We come here as young boys and he (Mihalik) molded us into men. He’s one of my best friends now. I’m so grateful.”

Satterfield finished his Rock career sixth on the school’s all-time list with 36 touchdowns, eighth with 216 points, 3,037 rushing yards and 3,593 all-purpose yards.

Satterfield hopes to pursue a pro football career, beginning in the Canadian Football League.

Graduated place-kicker Brackman now puts the 6 a.m. football workouts in perspective.

“Now I wish I was getting up at 6 a.m. to run rather than go to work,” he said.

SRU’s offensive MVP was quarterback Nigel Barksdale, who threw for 1,415 yards and 14 touchdowns, ran for 507 yards and seven TDs in only a handful of starts. Thompson was defensive MVP, compiling 60 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 quarterback sacks from his end position.

Jamire Dutrieulle and Bobby Joyce were special teams MVPs. Dutrieulle was second in the PSAC with a 28.6-yard average on 24 kick returns. Joyce played on five of the team’s six special teams units.

Slippery Rock High graduate and defensive tackle Tony Papley received the Hoffman Award as MVP of the homecoming game.

The Rock completed its fourth consecutive winning season under Mihalik and 18th in his 25 years of coaching.

“This team is a brotherhood. That chemistry, that bomd will always exist,” Mihalik said. “It’s a privilege to wear the Green and White.”

2012 SRU FOOTBALL SPECIAL AWARDS

Ken Marshall Award (hard working) — Kevin Kulka

Scout Team — Shamar Green, Zack Newsock

Paul Grimm Award (weight room) — John Schademan

Hoffman Homecoming MVP— Tony Papley

Gary Hunt Award (overcoming adversity) — Marquis Knight

Dr. Richard McLachlan Award (commitment) — Mike Bongivengo

Robert DiSpirito Award (Rock Pride) — Austin Feddell, Akeem Satterfield

Special Team MVP — Jaimire Dutrieuille, Bobby Joyce

Offensive MVP — Nigel Barksdale

Defensive MVP — Jeff Thompson

Coaches Award — Gary Allen

James McElhaney Award (loyalty) — LaQuinn Stephens Howling