Awards, meeting on FWAA agenda

The FWAA has named winners of the Bronko Nagur- Show on Dec. 7. Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Tho- ski and Outland Trophies and members of its 63rd mas became the first Badger to win the award, which FWAA All-America team. is given to the best interior lineman in The awards season will continue through on either side of the ball. December into early January at the associa- For the third straight season, the 25- tion’s meeting Jan. 5-9 at the BCS 1-2 game man FWAA All-America Team (Pages 4- in Glendale, Ariz. 5) was announced on television. During a The FWAA awards season kicked off on one-hour ABC special on the afternoon Dec. 4, when Ohio State’s sophomore line- December 2006 of Dec. 9, the association’s 63rd team backer became the first was presented on a show sponsored by Buckeye to win the Vol. 44, No. 5 Cingular from the Atlantic Dance Hall on (Page 7), which the FWAA awards to the Disney’s Boardwalk in Lake Buena Vista, best defensive player in college football. Fla. Virginia’s Jim Bakhitar, a member of the 1957 Next up was the presentation of the FWAA’s Outland FWAA All-America team, won the FWAA Alumni team Trophy (Page 6) on the ESPN College Football Awards (Continued on page 8)

The FWAA held a book signing for its new book, 60 Years of the , in on Nov. 28 at Sullivan’s Steakhouse. Pictured, facing cam- era, are author Gene Duffey and former Out- land winners J.D. Rob- erts of Oklahoma, Rus- sell Maryland of Mi- ami, of Air Force and Randy White of Maryland.

Photo by Ken Stephens Page 2 THE FIFTH DOWN

President Dennis Dodd CBS SportsLine President’s column First Vice President Mike Griffith Anybody out to take ownership of the situation. The Knoxville News Sentinel there remember FWAA can do only so much. When a the old NCAA situation develops, talk to your editor, Second Vice President Football Forum? your publisher, your paper's lawyer. In Ron Higgins Memphis Commercial Appeal For college foot- extreme cases a columnist needs to ball writers, it write about it. Executive Director ranked right up But the FWAA is not here to be con- Steve Richardson there with Christ- frontational all the time. That's why it's mas, New Year's also time to extend an invitation to the 2006 Directors Eve and the day foundation, the

Eric Bailey after signing day. Coaches Association and FWAA mem- Tulsa World A few coaches bers. Craig Barnes would fly to Kan- In the next few weeks, I intend to do South Florida Sun-Sentinel sas City each my best to revive the old forum. It will Chad Cripe DENNIS February to dis- have a new name, maybe even a spon- Idaho Statesman DODD cuss the game sor. How does some time in May sound? Al Featherston with a few writ- I'm looking for input for members. Freelance ers. The NCAA How many of you would be interested? Scott Ferrrell Shreveport Times reserved a conference room in a down- Who would you like to see there? We're Robert Gagliardi town hotel. There was some loose sub- open to suggestions on participants and Wyoming Tribune-Eagle ject matter, a rules update and a meal or the format. Paul Gattis two. There was actual interaction be- If you're in, you need to hit up your The Huntsville Times tween the media and coaches. Camara- editors about coverage and colleagues Tim Griffin derie even. about making this a big-time event. The Express-News Everyone benefited. Coaches told foundation needs the attention. We need Eric Hansen their stories. We wrote ours. The NCAA our sources. South Bend Tribune looked good. But the forum died an Best case: There would be signifi- Mike Huguenin Orlando Sentinel anonymous death a few years ago. Not cant social, off-the-record time where Dave Jones by FWAA choice, mind you. It was our coaches and writers could, well, gab. The Patriot News hot stove league. Heisman and All-American candidates Brian Koonz Before my term runs out I'd like to could be previewed. Why not get a mem- Danbury News-Times get the forum up and running again. The ber of the rules committee to stop by? Ted Lewis National Football Foundation has ex- This instant replay thing seems to have New Orleans Times- pressed interest. The foundation is mov- killed a few trees the past couple of Picayune ing to Dallas, about as perfect a football years. Andrew Logue town as there is. The simple conversation between Des Moines Register Tom Luicci No one is promising anything yet, but our diverse worlds has been lost in a lot Newark Star-Ledger we're thinking a couple of days in the of ways. This is a way to kick it around Jeff Metcalfe spring. Coaches (and maybe players) long before kicking it off for '07. Arizona Republic TBA. The point is to establish/enhance/ I'm open to any kind of format but I George Schroeder cultivate our relationship with the want to get this thing going again. It was Daily Oklahoman coaches. invaluable during the cold and snow of Kalani Simpson As you may or may not know, it has Kansas City in February. Just think how Honolulu Star-Bulletin not been a good year in that regard. The much better it will be in the spring Scott Wolf two have been drifting apart for a while. warmth of Dallas. Los Angeles Daily News There are a variety of reasons most of You can contact me at

Ex-officio them revolving around money —which [email protected]. Do not hesitate. I'm Charles Bloom schools and coaches have, and we usu- waiting to hear from you. SEC/BCS liaison ally don't. Jon Jackson I'm not going to light my usual flame- Duke/CoSIDA thrower in terms of access. This is not the time or space. It is time for members THE FIFTH DOWN Page 3 Eddie Robinson award down to nine finalists

The FWAA has announced nine finalists for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award to be voted upon by the entire membership. With the regular season heading into the final week, the FWAA, in conjunction with the Tostitos , has tabbed the following finalists: Arkansas’ Houston Nutt, Rutgers’ , Wake Forest’s , Houston’s , Hawaii’s , Michigan’s , BYU’s Bronco Mendenhall, Boise State’s and Oklahoma’s . The finalists will be placed on a ballot which will be Houston Greg Jim Grobe sent out to the entire FWAA membership by e-mail. Nutt Schiano Wake FWAA members will be asked to vote for their top three Arkansas Rutgers Forest choices in the order they are deserving. The FWAA Coaching Award is named after Robin- son, a coaching legend at Grambling State University for 55 years. He has more Division I victories (408) than any other coach. The winner of the FWAA/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award will be announced and hon- ored at a reception on Jan. 5 in Glendale, Ariz., in con- junction with the BCS 1-2 game. It is a particularly competitive year in the coaching profession. As a result, the FWAA All-America Commit- tee, which selects the finalists, believed it was up to the membership to decide among an array of candidates. Art Briles June Jones Lloyd Carr Surprising years by Arkansas, Wake Forest, Michi- Houston Hawaii Michigan gan and Rutgers were reasons for the competitive bal- ance. Nutt’s Razorbacks came out of nowhere after losing their opener badly to USC, won 10 straight games, and secured a place in the SEC title game opposite Florida. Wake Forest, under Grobe, likewise rather stunningly made the ACC title game. Rutgers may be the Cinderella story with Schiano, after taking East Coast football by storm and contending for the Big East title. Michigan, after a sub-par 2005 sea- son, stormed back to win its first 11 games before falling to top-ranked Ohio State. Bronco Chris Bob Stoops Meanwhile, strong seasons by BYU, Houston and Mendenhall Petersen Oklahoma Hawaii all qualified those coaches as Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year candidates. BYU Boise State Boise State’s Petersen has directed the Broncos to the only other unbeaten regular season in major-college Of the nine candidates, only Stoops is a previous football besides Ohio State and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl winner. He won the Eddie in 2000, the same season his against Oklahoma. Stoops’ Sooners won the Big 12 title Sooners won the FWAA’s , sym- game against Nebraska after losing their starting quar- bolic of the national championship. terback and top running back. Page 4 The Fifth Down

FWAA ALL-AMERICA OFFENSE

Pos. Player, School Ht., Wt. Cl. QB , Ohio State 6-1, 215 Sr. RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas 6-2, 210 So. RB , West Virginia 5-10, 190 So. WR , Tennessee 6-3, 210 Jr. WR Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame 6-5, 216 Sr. WR , Georgia Tech 6-4, 235 Jr. OL , Texas 6-4, 329 Sr. C , West Virginia 6-4, 290 Sr. OL Joe Thomas, Wisconsin 6-8, 306 Sr. OL Sam Baker, USC 6-5, 305 Jr. OL , Michigan 6-7, 316 Jr.

Smith McFadden Slaton Meachem Samardzija Ohio State Arkansas W. Virginia Tennessee Notre Dame

Johnson Blalock Mozes Thomas Baker Long Georgia Tech Texas W. Virginia Wisconsin USC Michigan The Fifth Down Page 5

ALL-AMERICA DEFENSE, SPECIALISTS

Pos. Player, School Ht., Wt. Cl. DL , Clemson 6-5, 265 Sr. DL Eric Foster, Rutgers 6-2, 260 Jr. DL , UCLA 6-1, 261 Sr. DL LaMarr Woodley, Michigan 2-2, 268 Sr. LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State 6-2, 231 So. LB , Mississippi 6-2, 230 Sr. Adams LB H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh 6-0, 240 Sr. Clemson DB , Michigan 5-11, 193 Sr. DB , Texas 6-1, 192 Sr. DB , Florida 6-1, 198 Jr. DB Dwight Lowery, San Jose State 6-1, 185 Jr. P , Baylor 6-3, 227 Sr. K , UCLA 6-0, 186 Sr. KR DeSean Jackson, California 6-0, 160 So. Foster Rutgers

Hickman Woodley Laurinaitis Willis Blades Hall UCLA Michigan Ohio St. Mississippi Pittsburgh Michigan

Ross Nelson Lowery Sepulveda Medlock Jackson Texas Florida San Jose St. Baylor UCLA California Page 6 THE FIFTH DOWN Outland goes to Badgers’ Thomas

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Wisconsin offensive and will play Arkan- tackle Joe Thomas became the first Badger to win the sas (10-3) in the Outland Trophy on Dec. 7 during the ESPN College Capital One Bowl Football Awards show from the Atlantic Dance Hall on on Jan. 1, when Disney's Boardwalk. Thomas will con- By winning the 61st Outland Trophy, he received a clude his collegiate nice present three days after he turned 22 on Monday. career. Two days later, on Wednesday night, he was engaged to The Outland is Annie Nelson, a former Wisconsin player. the third oldest “I was very excited (to win),” Thomas said. “A lot of award in major col- emotion goes through your mind. It kind of hits you all at lege football behind once. You kind of forget things for a couple of minutes. the Heisman Tro- You're walking on Cloud 9. All three of us (finalists) had phy and Maxwell a great shot of winning. All three of us were very deserv- Award. It is named ing.” after the late John Thomas, a 6-8, 306-pound senior from Brookfield, Outland, who cre- Wis., became the third player in four ated the award a years to win Outland Trophy, which goes to the top inte- year before his rior lineman in college football. Iowa offensive tackle death. An All- won the Outland in 2003, and Minnesota American lineman center captured it in 2005. In all, 13 play- at Pennsylvania at ers from current Big Ten schools have won the award. the turn of the cen- Thomas, projected as one of the top picks in the tury, Dr. Outland 2007 NFL Draft, was the mainstay of a Badger offensive created the award line, which paved the way for freshman running back because he be- P.J. Hill. The Badgers' offense was 21st in the country, lieved linemen scoring 30.3 points per game. needed more rec- Thomas was a team captain and starter for 12 games ognition. The first Wisconsin’s Joe Thomas after overcoming ACL surgery last January. He suffered Outland Award was presented to the late George Con- the injury while filling in on a depleted defensive line in nor of Notre Dame in 1946. the Badgers' against Auburn. A former track Thomas will be honored at the annual presentation and field athlete in the shot put, he also plans to some- banquet, which is sponsored by the Greater Omaha day also pursue a career in real estate. This season, he Sports Committee, on Jan. 11 in Omaha, Neb. Notre was also a finalist for the Draddy Trophy, the National Dame's Bill Fischer, the 1948 winner, will also receive Football Foundation's academic award. his Outland Trophy. Until the late 1980s, the FWAA Wisconsin (11-1) lost only to Michigan this season awarded only a plaque to the winner.

PAST OUTLAND WINNERS

1946 George Connor, Notre Dame 1961 , Utah State 1976 , Notre Dame 1991 , Washington 1947 , Army 1962 , Minnesota 1977 , Texas 1992 , Nebraska 1948 Bill Fischer, Notre Dame 1963 , Texas 1978 Greg Roberts, Oklahoma 1993 , Arizona 1949 , Michigan State 1964 Steve Delong, Tennessee 1979 , N.C. State 1994 , Nebraska 1950 , Kentucky 1965 , Texas 1980 , Pittsburgh 1995 , UCLA 1951 , Oklahoma 1966 , Arkansas 1981 , Nebraska 1996 , Ohio State 1952 , Maryland 1967 , USC 1982 Dave Rimington, Nebraska 1997 Aaron Taylor, Nebraska 1953 J.D. Roberts, Oklahoma 1968 , Georgia 1983 , Nebraska 1998 , UCLA 1954 Bill Brooks, Arkansas 1969 Mike Reid, Penn State 1984 , 1999 , Alabama 1955 Calvin Jones, Iowa 1970 , Ohio State 1985 , Boston College 2000 John Henderson, Tennessee 1956 Jim Parker, Ohio State 1971 , Nebraska 1986 , BYU 2001 Bryant McKinnie, Miami 1957 , Iowa 1972 , Nebraska 1987 Chad Hennings, Air Force 2002 , Washington State 1958 , Auburn 1973 John Hicks, Ohio State 1988 , Auburn 2003 Robert Gallery, Iowa 1959 Mike McGee, Duke 1974 Randy White, Maryland 1989 , BYU 2004 , Oklahoma 1960 , Minnesota 1975 , Oklahoma 1990 , Miami (Fla.) 2005 Greg Eslinger , Minnesota Page 7 THE FIFTH DOWN Laurinaitis wins Nagurski Trophy

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ohio State James intercepted five passes and had 56 yards in returns. He Laurinaitis won the 2006 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which broke up a pass and forced three . annually is awarded to the best defensive player in col- Ohio State's defense didn't surprise, Laurinaitis. lege football. "We knew more focus would be on our offense," he Laurinaitis, nicknamed "Little Animal" in reference to said. "Anybody who knew how many people we had lost his professional wrestling father, "The Animal," is the first on defense would be crazy not to think that. But within sophomore to win the award, which is voted upon by the the organization, we thought we had the tools to replace Football Writers Association of America and sponsored those guys." by the Charlotte Club. In Ohio State's early season showdown with defend- "It was an ing national honor to be champion here," Lauri- PAST NAGURSKI Texas in Austin, naitis said. "To Laurinaitis was be with this WINNERS named the level of players, Year Player School Bronko Nagur- it's kind of sur- 1993 Rob Waldrop Arizona ski Defensive real, me being Player of the the young guy. 1994 Miami (Fla.) Week when he I was in high 1995 Northwestern made 13 tack- school when les, forced two these guys 1996 Pat Fitzgerald Northwestern fumbles and were (already) 1997 Michigan made an inter- in college; I 1998 Georgia ception in the definitely could Buckeyes' vic- not have done 1999 Virginia Tech tory. it without the 2000 Miami Early in a score- entire defen- less game, sive line and 2001 Oklahoma Texas drove to the whole de- 2002 Arizona State the Ohio State 7 fense." where Lauri- 2003 Oklahoma The an- naitis forced a nouncement 2004 Texas , which was made 2005 Louisville Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis was picked up Monday night by an Ohio at the annual awards banquet attended by more than State teammate and returned to mid-field. The Buckeyes 900 people at the Westin Hotel, where Northwestern scored five plays later to take a 7-0 lead. He also inter- coach Pat Fitzgerald, the only two-time Bronko Award cepted a pass early in the third quarter, which set up winner in 1995 and 1996, gave the main address. another Ohio State score. Laurinaitis was the star defensive player on an Ohio "After the game, I didn't think about the individual State defense that ranked second in the country in allow- stuff," Laurinaitis said. "I was more thrilled we had gone ing just 10.4 points a game. He led the top-ranked and into a hostile environment and won a 1-2 matchup; I had unbeaten Buckeyes (12-0) in total tackles (100). a lucky . They threw it right to me. The de- "What I like about him is he is instinctive," said Fitz- fensive line had a great rush. And the ball just pops up gerald, whose Wildcats played against the Buckeyes this (on the forced fumble)." season. "He has those things you like to see in a line- The award is given in memory of the legendary Na- backer. He can run. He is very physical against blockers gurski, a former All-American lineman at Minnesota and at the point of attack. And he catches it extremely (1927-29) and star for professional football's well. He had five . Those are the things Bears in the 1930s. which stand out to me." Other 2006 Bronko finalists were Mississippi line- Over the course of the season, Laurinaitis posted 8.5 backer Patrick Willis, Florida defensive back Reggie Nel- tackles for 44 yards in losses, including four sacks for son, Michigan defensive back Leon Hall and Clemson minus-40 yards. Playing more like a defensive back, he end Gaines Adams. Page 8 THE FIFTH DOWN Awards roundup (continued)

(Continued from page 1) Jan. 8, the day of the 1-2 game. SEC commissioner Mike Slive will be present at the breakfast for a discus- award. sion of the BCS. On Jan. 2, the 2006 FedEx /FWAA The FWAA Freshman All-America team and the win- Courage Award winner, Clemson’s Ray Ray McEl- ner of the 2007 Bert McGrane Award also will be an- rathbey will receive his trophy during the Orange Bowl nounced at the breakfast. The FWAA will also recognize game between Wake Forest and Louisville. winners of the Best Writing Contest and name the Vol- Nine finalists for the FWAA/Eddie Robinson Coach of ney Meece Scholarship winner. the Year Award were announced in late November The presentation of the Grantland Rice Super 16 Tro- (Page 3). On-line voting by the entire FWAA member- phy is tentatively scheduled for the morning of Jan. 9 at ship concluded on Dec.6. And the announcement of the the media hotel. The winner will be the FWAA’s national winner will be on the evening of Jan. 5. champion as selected by 16 FWAA members who vote The FWAA’s annual meeting will be Jan. 5-9 in Glen- in the weekly poll. dale, Ariz., in conjunction with the Bowl Championship On Jan. 11 in Omaha, the annual Outland Trophy Series 1-2 game. presentation banquet will be held at the Doubletree Ho- The FWAA Board meeting will be the afternoon of tel. Wisconsin’s Thomas will receive his trophy at the Jan. 6. And the awards breakfast and meeting will be on banquet sponsored by the Omaha Sports Committee.

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