Robert Woodard -Patterson Medal winner

CHAPEL HILL -- Three-time ACC women's basketball Tournament MVP Ivory Latta, women's soccer National Player of the Year and Olympic gold medalist Heather O'Reilly and Robert Woodard, the Tar Heels' alltime winningest pitcher, are the recipients of the 2006-07 Patterson Medals, which are given to the University of North Carolina's most outstanding student-athletes.


The Patterson Medal is based primarily on career athletic accomplishment at the University of North Carolina. Sportsmanship and leadership are also considered. A committee of athletics, faculty and student representatives selects the winners, who are nominated by their respective head coaches. The award was first given in 1924 by Dr. Joseph Patterson in memory of his brother, John Durand Patterson. The Patterson family of Chapel Hill continues to present the award.


Charlotte native Robert Woodard is first in Tar Heel baseball history with 34 wins after leading Carolina to back-to-back appearances in the championship round of the College World Series. Woodard also ranks second in UNC winning percentage (.872) and innings pitched (377.1) and is seventh in strikeouts (264). He is the only Tar Heel pitcher to rank in the Top 10 in all four categories.

A three-time All-ACC selection (first team in 2005, second team in 2006 and 2007), he shares the school record for NCAA Tournament wins with five. Woodard is seventh in ACC history in career wins and 10th in career innings. Last year, Woodard went 11-2 with 84 strikeouts. As a junior, he pitched a complete game, three-hit shutout against Clemson in the College World Series. It was one of two times he blanked Top 10 teams that season. He was 8-0 as a sophomore and led the ACC with an earned run average of 2.11. Woodard equaled UNC's freshman wins record with an 8-2 mark back in 2004. The right-hander was unbeaten in 22 career decisions at Boshamer Stadium.

"Robert Woodard may very well have had the single biggest impact on Carolina baseball over the past four years," says UNC head coach Mike Fox. "Robert was about as consistent a performer over the past four seasons as you could ask for. He was the consummate competitor, who willed his way to become one of the best pitchers in Carolina baseball history and led our team to back-to-back College World Series Finals. He is one of the program's greatest players ever."

Congratulations to Robert for a well deserved honor. I hope I can attend his ceremony

 

Congrats to Robert

Congrats to Robert and his entire family. No one has ever meant more to North Carolina baseball over their career than Robert Woodard. Not only what he was able to accomplish on the field but the way he went about his business. A first class young man.

 

OUtstanding accomplishment for an outstanding individual!!

Congratulations to Robert and his family!!

 

Outstanding and well deserved!!! Congratulations!

 

Many thanks, guys! ...and, Braves, if you (or anyone else) can make it Wednesday night, please let me know.

As I've said elsewhere, it was a huge shock and an overwhelming honor to Robert when Mr. Baddour called him to tell him of the award. While at UNC, his over-riding goal had been to influence the program in whatever way he could to make it better. Fortunately, he had an entire team of like-minded individuals with whom to work toward that end.

What the Carolina baseball players, coaches, and staff have worked extraordinarily hard to achieve over the last few years is very special, and it's been our privilege to have been associated with it. It's unfortunate that this award cannot be split among everyone associated with the UNC baseball program. We tip our caps to them!

 

WOW!!!! But as I've said many times here, there is nothing this young man does that surprises me. Without a doubt he's one of the finest young men (and baseball players) I've had the pleasure of shaking hands with.

Congratulations "Woody", you're a credit to your family, UNC, and to all of baseball. Nobody has ever deserved this award more than you.

rc


P.S. Congrats to you too, Prep......

 

Prepster

Hopefully 'Q' will get those tickets exchanged and we will both see you on Weds night. I know that is going to be a very proud moment for you and your entire family. Maybe Ms Woods will give Jeff a couple of tickets and he and Jim can make it as well.

 

It'd be great to see all of you all, Coach! I hope it works out. Once you know the logistics, please give me a call.

 

I sure will.

We are looking forward to it!

 

Prep- I can not think of anything I would rather do than to be there. There is not any young man that I hold in higher esteem...shoot, Robert is like a son to me.

The concern for me is bringing the whole Braves' tribe, tickets, etc