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Orlando’s Alan Schmadtke becomes FWAA president January 2005 Vol. 43, No. 1 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The with the to pro- Orlando Sentinel’s Alan Schmadtke be- duce weekend papers. came the FWAA’s 62nd president on By 1986, Schmadtke had moved to Inside this issue: Jan. 4 during the association’s annual the Sentinel and met his wife during his award breakfast before the FedEx Or- first day of work at the paper’s Lake ange Bowl’s national title game. County bureau, where he covered high Schmadtke, 42, is the fourth FWAA schools and Stetson. In 1989 he moved President’s column 2 president from a paper in the state of to Orlando and began covering Central , following Tom McEwen (Tampa Florida and eventually became the pa- Tribune, 1973), the late Bill McGrotha per’s lead college reporter. Utah’s (, 1990) and Jack In 1991, he moved from Orlando to named FWAA/Eddie 3 Hairston (Gainesville Sun, 1982). Tallahassee and covered Florida State Robinson Coach of the Schmadtke, a 1984 Tennessee until mid 1999. Schmadtke wrote the offi- Year graduate, lays out his presidential cial book of the Seminoles’ champion- agenda on Page 2 of this Fifth Down. He ship season in 1993. has been a writer or editor for the Senti- When the Seminoles played for a na- Katie Hersom named nel for nearly 19 years and has definite tional title at the 1999 Fiesta Bowl, Volney Meese Scholar- 3 opinions on the way college football Schmadtke watched alma mater Tennes- ship winner should be covered. see claim its first national title in 47 years Although born in suburban Chicago, by beating the Seminoles. He then cov- Haracio Colen of Mem- Schmadtke was raised in Knoxville, ered the losing locker room in his final phis gets Courage 6 Tenn., and has had a passion for college game as a Florida State beat reporter. Award football since age 9. That’s when he at- Schmadtke tried his hand at manage- tended his first college football game — ment as an assistant sports editor for two a Tennessee victory over Tulsa at Ney- seasons. He was charged with supervis- land Stadium in 1971. ing content for Florida State, Central Freshman All-America 7 He eventually melded his love for Florida, Orlando Magic and golf beats Team college football with journalism. and coordinated the department’s hefty Less than a month out of school, he group of free-lance correspondents. took a job at the Alabama Journal, where But Schmadtke was lured back to the he covered high schools, small colleges, press box when he coordinated coverage Steve Richardson wins Alabama and Auburn football and was a for the 2001 BCS title game at the Or- 7 general-assignment reporter and occa- ange Bowl. So in 2001, he gave up his Bert McGrane Award sional columnist assistant sports editor’s title and returned At age 23, Schmadtke became the to covering , which now Southern California youngest sports editor in Alabama when has Division I-A football and Division I lands second straight 8 he took over a staff that put out an after- basketball programs. Grantland Rice Trophy noon paper during the week and merged Page 2 THE FIFTH DOWN

President Alan Schmadtke Orlando Sentinel President’s column First Vice President ORLANDO — immediate benefits: the VIP card for Dennis Dodd Before we get on CBS SportsLine lower hotel rates and the free subscrip- with the business tion to Rivals.com. Yep, free. Rarely has Second Vice President of 2005, let’s tie the word “de-committed” meant so much. Mike Griffith up 2004. Timing is crucial. New members are Knoxville News-Sentinel If ever there best served if they join before summer. Executive Director were a shining That guarantees they’ll be listed in our Steve Richardson example of how bible — the blessedly compact, spiral- Dallas Morning News to run a big col- bound directory. Such immediate posi-

2004 Directors lege football tive reinforcement is the best salesper- event from a me- son. Jack Bogaczyk dia perspective, Membership applications are avail- Charleston Daily Mail Joe Hornstein able on our Web site Al Featherston and the Orange (www.footballwriters.com). Freelance ALAN Bowl set it. The Which brings us to one of the best

Paul Gattis SCHMADTKE bar for the next tools we have: our Web site. Last year, The Huntsville Times Bowl Champion- Ted Gangi and Cody Monk posted, ship Series title Tim Griffin in .pdf format, all the spring football San Antonio Express-News game at the Rose Bowl is set high. Horn- guides (including some conference stein introduced daily e-mails of post- guides). Not many were missing, and Chad Hartley practice quotes from each team, stacks this year’s postings are expected to be- Reno Gazette Journal of verbatim quote sheets from players gin shortly. Dave Jones and coaches in the media room, police- For those who need to keep up with The Patriot-News escorted shuttles to the stadium on more than one school or conference, the Todd Jones game-day and late shuttles for West site provides direct Internet links to all I-A Columbus Dispatch Coasters who wrote late into the night official school Web sites and all I-A and

Rich Kaipust about Southern California’s triumph. I-AA conference sites. In addition, there Omaha World-Herald Hornstein, you deserve a raise. is, by school, a link to every newspaper For 2005, it’s back to basics. Objec- Steve Kiggins that covers I-A football. Casper Star-Tribune tives include a grass-roots membership And there’s an online FWAA store drive, an awareness campaign of what (for T-shirts, coffee cups, hats, etc.). Brian Koonz the FWAA Web site offers and the never- Lest we get carried away, the ap- Danbury News-Times ending fight to keep (or gain more) ac- pointment of at Notre Dame Ted Lewis cess to coaches and players. It’s impor- has been an eye-opener. Weis may be NO Times-Picayune tant to note that these aren’t charges an offensive genius with a perfect SAT

Joseph Person given to the FWAA’s board. Rather, like score, but a media relations expert he’s The State Marriott VIP cards, they’re offered to not. He promised limited media access everyone in the association. to players and coaches, a strategy rarely Damien Pierce The membership initiative is key. Dur- Fort Worth Star-Telegram espoused by SIDs. ing the annual FWAA board meeting in As we move through 2005, please Chip Scoggins January, a startling fact came out. The pass along issues of better or worse ac- Minneapolis Star-Tribune 117 Division I-A sports information direc- cess on your college football beat to ex- Kalani Simpson tors identified more than 300 of their beat ecutive director Steve Richardson and Honolulu Star-Bulletin writers who aren’t FWAA members. first vice-president, bulldog Dennis Dodd

Bob Thomas Dave Jones of The Patriot-News vol- of CBS SportsLine. You’ll want them in

Florida Times-Union unteered to head up membership promo- your corner. In addition Ron Higgins of tion, but this won’t be a one-man band. The Memphis Commercial Appeal will Scott Wolf Before summer dawns, members in Los Angeles Daily News field bowl complaints. every conference are promised calls for Ex-officio recruiting help. Bob Burda If there are writers on your beat that Big 12/BCS liaison you know aren’t members, it’s time to Jon Jackson ask why. And then to explain a couple of Duke/CoSIDA. Page 3 THE FIFTH DOWN

PREVIOUS WINNERS

Urban Meyer named 1957 , Ohio State 1958 , LSU 1959 , Syracuse 1960 , Minnesota FWAA coach of year 1961 , Texas 1962 John McKay, USC TEMPE, Ariz. — Utah coach Urban Meyer, whose Utes won the Mountain 1963 Darrell Royal, Texas West Conference and posted a 12-0 record, was named the winner of the 1964 , Notre Dame 1965 , Michigan St. Football Writers Association of America/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year 1966 Tom Cahill, Army Award. 1967 , Indiana The announcement was made on ABC Television during Utah’s victory 1968 Woody Hayes, Ohio State over Pittsburgh in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. 1969 , Michigan 1970 , Northwestern Meyer coached the Utes in the Fiesta Bowl but then headed to Florida to 1971 , Nebraska coach the Gators. He will be honored by the FWAA, Fiesta 1972 John McKay, USC Bowl and Eddie Robinson Foundation before his first game 1973 , Pittsburgh as Florida’s coach on Sept. 3 against Wyoming in Gaines- 1974 , Baylor 1975 Woody Hayes, Ohio State ville, Fla. 1976 Johnny Majors, Pittsburgh The other finalists for the award were Southern Califor- 1977 , Arkansas nia’s , Auburn’s , UTEP’s Mike 1978 , Penn State Price, Iowa’s and California’s . 1979 , Ohio State 1980 , Georgia Meyer has been one of the rising success stories in col- 1981 , Clemson lege football during the past four years. As coach of Utah for 1982 Joe Paterno, Penn State two seasons, he compiled a 22-2 record. Previously, Meyer 1983 , was the of Bowling Green University, where he 1984 LaVell Edwards, BYU Meyer 1985 Fisher DeBerry, Air Force had a 17-6 record in two seasons. 1986 Joe Paterno, Penn State Meyer, who led the Utes to a 17-0 victory over Southern Mississippi in the 1987 Dick MacPherson, Syracuse 2003 Liberty Bowl, is the first coach from a non- 1988 Lou Holtz, Notre Dame school to coach his team to a BCS Bowl. 1989 Bill McCartney, 1990 , Georgia Tech “We had six great candidates, any one of whom who could have won the 1991 Don James, Washington award,” said FWAA Executive Director Steve Richardson. “Coach Meyer has 1992 , Alabama been on a meteoric rise in the college football coaching profession. And there 1993 , Auburn is no reason to think he won’t keep streaking at his new job.” 1994 , Oregon 1995 , Northwestern Michael Watkins, Eddie Robinson’s grandson and executive director of 1996 , Arizona State the Eddie Robinson Foundation, presented the award to Meyer. “It’s an 1997 Mike Price, Washington State honor to present this award to Coach Meyer for leading Utah to its greatest 1998 , Tennessee season in school history,” Watkins said. 1999 , Virginia Tech 2000 , The FWAA has presented a Coach of the Year Award since 1957 and 2001 , Maryland selects the winner by a vote of its entire membership. The FWAA honors the 2002 , Ohio State outstanding coach in the name of Grambling State University’s Eddie Robin- 2003 , LSU son, the winningest Division I head coach in college football history. 2004 Urban Meyer, Utah Katie Hersom wins Volney Meece scholarship FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Katie Hersom, a fresh- som, a staff writer for The Daily Oklahoman in Oklahoma man at Oklahoma State University, has been named the City. is also where Meece worked for eighth winner of the Volney Meece Scholarship. more than 40 years. The scholarship is awarded annually by the Football Hersom is a 2004 graduate of Putnam City North Writers Association of America and named for the late High School, where she maintained a 3.6 grade-point Volney Meece. Meece served as the FWAA's executive average. Hersom achieved a 4.0 GPA in her first semes- director for 22 years and was the organization's presi- ter at OSU. dent in 1971. A member of Honor Society at Putnam The scholarship is a $1,000 annual grant for four City North, Hersom was able to achieve academic excel- years. It is given to a deserving son or daughter of an lence while also being heavily involved in extracurricular FWAA member. activities at school, within the community and her Hersom is the daughter of FWAA member Bob Her- church.

Page 4 THE FIFTH DOWN

Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner Der- rick Johnson of Texas posed with his trophy and finalists (left to right) Car- los Rogers, David Pollack, Erasmus James and Jonathan Goddard and em- cee Mark May of ESPN. The players also visited children at a hospital in Nagurski photos by Ron J. Deshaies Charlotte, N.C.

For the first time in 15 years, members of the FWAA’s All-America team were announced on television during a one-hour ABC special on Dec. 11. The team was introduced the previous evening at a banquet sponsored by Florida Citrus Sports at the Disney/MGM Sound Stage in Orlando. Page 5 THE FIFTH DOWN

Current officers and past presi- dents joined FWAA Executive Director Steve Richardson for an annual dinner in Florida before the Orange Bowl game between Oklahoma and Southern Califor- nia.

At the FWAA’s annual awards breakfast, Memphis defensive tackle Haracio Colen was joined by family members after receiving the Courage Award, and Big 12 commissioner and BCS co- ordinator Kevin Weiberg (far right) fielded questions from FWAA members., Page 6 THE FIFTH DOWN Memphis defensive tackle named winner of FWAA’s Courage Award (Reprinted from the of Arkansas) nection. “We had a common bond in that I lost my father at an By Mark Burke early age,” Holt said. “My first year here was when the Many times, special qualities athletes have do not get accident occurred. I can’t imagine what he must have as much attention as the athletic traits other players may been going through. We were able to relate, though, be- have. But sometimes when these special qualities come cause of this bond we shared.” to the surface, the athletes stand in the spotlight all to Having this bond with Colen exemplifies one of the themselves. Such is the case of one River Valley native. joys a coach can share with a player. Haracio Colen, a Russellville native and a member of “One of the greatest things about coaching is the re- the Russellville Cyclone football team lationships you have with the players,” Holt said. “I really from 1999-2002, now with the University enjoyed our relationship. I think the world of Haracio. He of Memphis Tigers, was recently hon- has really matured and become a fine individual. ored for more than his play on the grid- “He’s super as a football player. We had the best de- iron. He received ESPN The Magazine’s fense in the conference his senior year, and he was a Courage Award, as voted by the Football feared defensive football player.” Writer’s Association of America. Colen says having such relationships is the reason “This means a lot to me, and I was he had a chance to win the courage award. surprised my name would be called for “Going from high school to college is not as big of a such a prestigious award,” Colen said. difference as I thought it would be,” Colen said. “The “This is just a blessing, and I’m very ap- coaches put a lot of extra time in with me, and if I would- preciative.” n’t have gone to Russellville, I probably wouldn’t have The award was created by ESPN The had this opportunity. This award is a big thanks to the Magazine senior writer Gene Wo- Russellville coaching staff.” Colen jciechowski and is given to an athlete But none of this would have been possible without who displays a courageous act on or off family members sticking closely by during a time of loss. the field. “My family is the world to me,” Colen said. “That’s Colen’s act of courage came from an event that what keeps me motivated and helps keep everything in changed his life forever. tact. I wouldn’t have made it without them and the grace On Sept. 4, 1999, Colen was on his way to see an of God.” Arkansas-Pine Bluff football game when he witnessed an Among the family members that came to Colen’s aid accident that took the lives of both his parents, Eddie and was his aunt Yvette Wimberly, who moved from Shreve- Joyce Colen. Instead of giving up football, Colen kept port, La., after the tragic incident. playing despite suffering psychological damage. “I’m very proud of Haracio for the award he received,” The 6-foot-3, 286-pound sophomore defensive tackle Wimberly said. “All the credit goes to God and the com- credits his ability to overcome the tragedy to the help of munity. I’m so happy for how he’s overcome his trouble family and community members. He views his accom- and become a fine young man.” plishment as something good for his hometown as well. Colen’s courage has changed his viewpoint on life “I hope they (residents of Russellville) look at it (the and in turn made him better on the field. award) as a thank you,” Colen said. “When I had the acci- “Since the accident, I’ve realized life is short and that dent, they came and helped me get through everything. I you have to take advantage of every opportunity you hope they accept it like that and that the award lets them get,” Colen said. “You’ve got to stay focused, and all this see I’m still doing the right thing. We’re all in this to- has made me realize you have to step it up. I think that’s gether.” helped me as a football player as well to just go out The night before the accident, Colen demonstrated his there and give everything I’ve got. athletic ability in his first action as a Cyclone. Colen re- “I never expected in a million years to get something corded an astounding total of 17 tackles in his high like this. I hope this is something I’ve reaped from hard school debut. He garnered all-conference honors each work, but I look at this as a beginning, and I hope to just year and was all-state his senior year. stay focused and stay healthy. I’d like to play on the next Russellville coach Jeff Holt saw Colen as a great level (NFL), but that’s not for everyone. I’ve just got to go player but it reached deeper because they shared a con- out there and keep my focus.” THE FIFTH DOWN Page 7 FWAA freshman All-America team FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Football Writers homa. Association of America and Scripps announced its fourth In addition, UTEP coach Mike Price was named the annual Freshman All-America team during the associa- top first-year coach at his school. tion’s annual awards breakfast. The team and coach are selected by a group of writ- The team included three players from Michigan and ers led by FWAA second vice president Mike Griffith of two players each from Southern California, Arizona State the Knoxville News-Sentinel, a member of the Scripps and Auburn. There were six unanimous selections, in- chain. Both true freshmen and red-shirt freshmen were cluding Heisman Trophy finalist Adrian Peterson of Okla- considered for the team. OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Chad Henne TFr Michigan* DT Frank Okam TFr Texas RB Michael Hart TFr Michigan DE Quentin Groves RFr Auburn* RB Adrian Peterson TFr Oklahoma* DE Stanley McClover RFr Auburn RB Jamario Thomas TFr N. Texas LB Dan Connor TFr Penn State OT Barry Richardson TFr Clemson LB Brian Toal TFr Boston College RT Jake Long RFr Michigan LB Brandon Siler Tfr Florida LG/C Kory Lichtensteiger RFr Bowling Green LB Josh Williams RFr Arkansas State LG Ryan Wendell TFr Fresno State CB Roshaun Fellows RFr Tennessee* OT Sam Baker RFr USC CB Antoine Cason TFr Arizona TE Zach Miller TFr Arizona State S Ko Simpson TFr South Carolina* WR Dwayne Jarrett TFr USC S Quintin Demps RFr UTEP WR Todd Blythe RFr Iowa State SPECIALISTS K Travis Bell RFr Georgia Tech P Chris MacDonald RFr Arizona State KR Kevin Robinson TFr Utah State PR Ted Ginn Jr. TFr Ohio State* FIRST-YEAR COACH * Unanimous selection Mike Price UTEP

McGrane Award goes to Steve Richardson FWAA executive director Steve Richardson has cations and is currently writing the Greatest Moments in been named the recipient of the 2005 Bert McGrane Missouri Valley Conference History, which is his fourth Award and will receive the plaque in early August at the book. College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind. His other works are Ricky Williams: Dreadlocks to Richardson has been executive director of the 64- Ditka, Kelvin Sampson: The OU Basketball Story, and year-old FWAA since 1996 and is the organization’s Tales from the Texas Longhorns. He also collaborated fourth person in that position, following McGrane, Vol- with Rare Air Media for ABC Sports’ College Football All- ney Meece and Bob Hammel. Time All-America Team book in 2000. The McGrane award is presented to an FWAA For 25 years, he has been a correspondent for member who has performed great service to the or- Sports Illustrated and written free-lance articles for nu- ganization and the writing profession. It is named after merous publications. Richardson, a 1975 graduate from McGrane, who was the executive secretary of the the Missouri School of Journalism, has collected writing FWAA from the early 1940s until 1973. awards while working in three states. He has covered 24 Richardson, also a Dallas-based freelance writer, Final Fours, all the traditional major bowl games, major has covered sports since the late 1970s. He worked at professional sports and two Olympics. He was the presi- the Kansas City Star and the Dallas Morning News for dent of the United States Basketball Writers Association more than 20 years combined. He serves as a special in 2002-03. correspondent for college basketball for several publi- Page 8 THE FIFTH DOWN USC wins sixth Grantland Rice Trophy FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The University of South- 2002 season, selects the nation's top 16 teams in poll- ern California Trojans successfully defended their national ing that begins each October. Sixteen regionally bal- title and claimed their second straight Grantland Rice Tro- anced voters select the nation's top teams in the FWAA phy when they completed a 13-0 season with a 55-19 win poll. The Super 16 also distinguishes itself by making over Oklahoma in the FedEx Orange Bowl. each voter’s ballot public. FWAA president Alan Schmadtke of the Orlando Sen- tinel presented the trophy to USC head coach Pete Car- FWAA SUPER 16 POLL roll on the morning after the bowl game. Rank School 1st Place Votes Record Pts. The Trojans, the unanimous choice of the 16 voters of 1. USC 16 13-0 256 the Football Writers Association of America's Grantland 2. Auburn 13-0 240 Rice Super 16 Poll, won their sixth FWAA national title. 3. Oklahoma 12-1 215 Auburn, also unbeaten at 13-0, finished second in the 4. Utah 12-0 210 final FWAA poll. The Tigers received each of the 16 sec- 5. Texas 11-1 198 ond-place votes. 6. Louisville 11-1 167 USC's six championships are the most in the 51-year history of the Rice trophy. Oklahoma has won five FWAA 7. Georgia 10-2 146 national titles and five other schools have won four apiece 8. Iowa 10-2 128 since 1954, when the trophy named for the legendary 9. Virginia Tech 10-3 116 sportswriter was introduced. 10. California 10-2 97 USC is just the fourth school to win back-to-back 11. Tennessee 10-3 93 Grantland Rice trophies, the last being Nebraska in 1994- 12. Miami 9-3 86 95. Nebraska also claimed consecutive titles in 1970-71. 13. Boise State 11-1 75 Alabama (1978-79) and Oklahoma (1955-56) are the 14. Michigan 9-3 59 other two schools to win two in a row. 15 Florida State 9-3 39 The Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll, introduced for the 16. LSU 9-3 29

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