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Home , 2007 Fiesta Bowl, Blaine Gabbert, Brad Shearer, Brian Kelly (cornerback), Brian Orakpo, Bronko Nagurski Trophy

SEC, Big 12 picks lead

December 2009

FWAA All-America team Vol. 47, No. 5 — The Southeastern Con- players selected — Cody, ference led the selection process with Rolando McClain and Inside this issue: seven players and the Big 12 Confer- Mark Ingram. Three other schools had ence had five when the 66th Football two players on the team. Florida had Executive director’s Writers Association of America team and center 2 was announced on Dec. 12 on ABC . had quarter- column Television. Nine of the 11 NCAA Divi- back Colt McCoy, the other FWAA All- sion I Football Bowl Subdivision confer- America repeater from 2008, and de- ences and independent Notre Dame fensive back . And Clem- son had returner C.J. Spiller and defen- Seven named finalists sive back DeAndre McDaniel. for Eddie Robinson 3 See Complete Team, Pages 4-5 The ACC (three), Big Ten (two), Pa- Coach of the Year cific 10 (two) and Mountain West (two) Award were represented on the squad. also had multiple players on the team. The FWAA All-America team, the Thirteen of the 25 members of the team second longest continuously published are underclassmen, including three team in major , was sophomores. McCoy is the first re- FWAA All-America announced on ABC Television for the peater at since BYU’s Ty 4-5 sixth straight season during a one-hour Detmer in 1990 and 1991. Team show sponsored by AT&T. The FWAA The 25-man FWAA All-American has named an All-America team in Team was first selected three years some form since 1944. after the organization was formed. The Nebraska , FWAA’s inaugural team included the 2009 winner of the Army’s tandem of Doc Nebraska’s Suh wins (best interior lineman) and Bronko Na- Blanchard and and Geor- 6 Outland Trophy gurski Trophy (best defensive player), gia Tech’s , who later led a star-studded that had became Arkansas’ head football coach three repeat All-Americas from 2008 — and athletic director. TCU end , Over the years, the FWAA Team back and Alabama tackle has highlighted all the game’s great . Suh is the third player players in several media forums. Suh is Nebraska’s first to sweep both the FWAA’s Outland and From 1946-1970, LOOK Magazine winner of Bronko Na- 7 Nagurski awards after Arizona’s Rob published the FWAA team and brought gurski Trophy Waldrop in 1993 and LSU’s Glenn Dor- players and selected writers to New sey in 2007. York City for a celebration. During that Alabama led all schools with three (Continued on page 8) Page 2 THE FIFTH DOWN

President George Schroeder Eugene Register-Guard Executive director’s column First Vice President Tim Griffin ESPN.com I want to person- personalized footballs earlier. FWAA ally invite you to President George Schroeder will preside Second Vice President three FWAA events over the meeting, during which Atlantic Tommy Hicks Mobile Press-Register as we celebrate the Coast Conference commissioner John end of the college Swofford and BCS coordinator Bill Han- Bob Asmussen football season in cock will answer questions about the BCS Champaign News-Gazette Newport Beach, during the second half of the breakfast. Chadd Cripe Idaho Statesman Calif., Jan. 5-8 in During the two-hour breakfast, which Joseph Duarte conjunction with the kicks off at 8:30 a.m. local time, the FWAA Houston Chronicle Bowl Championship will also reveal the winners of several Antonya English Series 1-2 game at other awards: the Bert McGrane (FWAA St. Petersburg Times STEVE the Rose Bowl. The Hall of Fame) and Volney Meece Scholar- Tom Kensler FWAA holds its an- ship, as well as the AON Insurance FWAA Denver Post RICHARDSON nual meeting at the 1 Freshman All-America Team and an Malcolm Moran -2 game each sea- FedEx Courage Award win- Knight Foundation son. ner. Lenn Robbins New York Post Yes, the Rose Bowl is in Pasadena, The other piece of FWAA business in Phil Steele but the media hotel is the Newport Beach Newport Beach will be the awarding of the Phil Steele Magazine Marriott Hotel & Spa, far south in Orange 2009 Grantland Rice Trophy to the No. 1 Paul Strelow County. In fact, it’s such a trek from LAX NCAA Bowl Subdivision team by a panel The State (S.C.) to Newport Beach, that the nearby John of veteran FWAA writers. The vote will Phil Stukenborg Wayne Airport is the destination arrival take place after the Alabama-Texas game Memphis Commercial Appeal point for those media covering the game. on Jan. 7. Tentatively, the presentation of John Davis The first event will be the FWAA/Eddie the Grantland Rice Trophy will be on the Oxford (Miss.) Eagle Robinson Coach of the Year reception at morning of Jan. 8 at the media hotel. But Heath Dinich ESPN.com the media hotel beginning at 6 p.m. local there are no assurances the FWAA panel Pete DiPrimio time on Jan. 5. The is will pick the winner of the Alabama-Texas Fort Wayne (Ind.) News- the sponsor of the event, which will reveal game as the No. 1 team. Sentinel the winner of the Coach of the Year as ● Ryan Finley determined by the FWAA membership. I am sad to report Florida State Univer- Arizona Daily Star Seven coaches (See Page 3) were placed sity beat writer Steve Ellis passed away in Pete Fiutak on a ballot sent to members earlier this November at the age of 54. A Tallahassee College Football News month for a vote to determine the FWAA/ Democrat sports writer, Ellis covered Flor- Kevin Gorman Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year. All ida State for nearly 30 years, including 19 Tribune-Review Anthony Hanshew FWAA and media members who are cov- at the Democrat. The FWAA made a gift in Huntington Herald-Dispatch ering the game are invited to attend. his memory to the Steve Ellis Memorial Dave Matter The award that has been presented by Scholarship Fund, which is being handled Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune the FWAA since 1957. All five coaches of by the FSU Foundation in Tallahassee. Mick McGrane unbeaten regular-season teams in the Democrat sports editor Jim Lamar, in a Freelance NCAA Bowl Subdivision are on the ballot. story in the paper, was quoted as saying. Rodney McKissic Only one of the seven coaches has won “There will be Steve Ellis stories told Buffalo News the award before: Alabama’s , for years to come about his work ethic. Adam Sparks who claimed the award last year at Ala- There were times my phone rang at 2 in Daily News (Tenn.) Journal Jimmy Watson bama as well as when he was coach at the morning when he was going to bed Shreveport Times LSU in 2003. and quarter 'til five when he woke up. He Another one of the FWAA’s major wouldn't even let his wife call the ambu- Ex-Officio events is the Annual Awards Breakfast on lance until he filed his final story for the Mike Finn the morning of the title game (Thursday, Democrat. … Even from his hospital bed, Atlantic Coast Conference Jan. 7), also at the media hotel. he wanted to update me on what his Charles Bloom At the breakfast, the FWAA recognizes sources were telling him. I know I will the winners and placers in the Best Writ- never work with anyone as passionate or Joe Hornstein ing Contest with certificates and cash as relentless as Steve Ellis. And that Central Florida prizes. First-place winners also received hurts." THE FIFTH DOWN Page 3 Seven coaches named finalists for

DALLAS — The FWAA has announced seven final- Tech will meet in the Orange Bowl and seek to ists for the 2009 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year dominate with its grinding triple-. Award to be voted upon by the entire membership. ● Brian Kelly’s Cincinnati Bearcats claimed the Big With the 2009 regular season completed, the FWAA, East Conference title with a 12-0 record before he ac- in conjunction with the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, has tabbed cepted the Notre Dame head coaching job. Cincinnati the following coaches as finalists: Texas’ defeated Pittsburgh by a point in the final , Georgia Tech’s Paul John- game of the regular season to wrap up son, Cincinnati’s Brian Kelly, ’s the title and gain a berth in the Sugar , TCU’s , Boise Bowl opposite Florida. State’s and Alabama’s ● Oregon’s first-year Chip Nick Saban. Kelly has the Ducks (10-2) in the Rose The finalists were placed on a ballot Bowl for the first time since 1995. From that was e-mailed to all FWAA members. an opening- season loss to Boise State The members were asked to vote for after which he had to suspend one of his their top choices in the order they believe star players for throwing a punch, Kelly the coaches are deserving of the award. has done a masterful job holding the sea- The FWAA Coaching Award is named son together and winning the Pac-10 title. after the late Robinson, a coaching leg- ● Patterson led TCU to its first unbeaten end at Grambling State University for 55 regular season (12-0) since the 1938 years. He has more Division I victories Horned Frogs won the national champi- (408) than any other coach in the history onship. TCU, the Mountain West Confer- of college football. ence champion, will be going to a BCS The winner of the FWAA/Eddie Robinson Coach of Bowl for the first time this season and is currently riding the Year Award will be announced and honored at a re- a 14-game winning streak. ception on the evening of Jan. 5 in Newport Beach, ● Petersen keeps doing it at Boise State with another Calif., in conjunction with the BCS 1-2 game. The win- Western Athletic Conference title. This season the Bron- ning coach will receive the FWAA/ Coach Eddie Robin- cos are 13-0 and headed to another BCS game, the Fi- son Trophy at that time. esta Bowl against TCU. The Broncos will be seeking ● Texas’ Brown has the Longhorns in a national title another victory in the BCS after beating Oklahoma by a game for the second time in five seasons. Texas de- point in the . feated Nebraska, 13-12, in the Big 12 title game in Dal- ● Saban has directed the top-ranked Crimson Tide to las to extend its record to 13-0. Only Alabama on Jan. 7 the BCS 1-2 Game with a perfect 13-0 record. Alabama stands between Texas and a fourth national football title. defeated Florida in the SEC title game in to cap ● Georgia Tech’s Johnson took the Yellow Jackets to its perfect regular season. Of the finalists, only Saban the Atlantic Coast Conference championship with a vic- has previously won the award previously. He won last tory over Clemson in the title game. At 11-2, Georgia season at Alabama and in 2003 at LSU.

Brown B.Kelly Petersen C. Kelly Patterson Saban Johnson Texas Cincinnati Boise St. Oregon TCU Alabama Ga. Tech Page 4 The Fifth Down

FWAA ALL-AMERICA OFFENSE

Pos. Player, School Ht., Wt. Cl. QB Colt McCoy, Texas 6-2, 210 Sr. RB Mark Ingram, Alabama 5-10, 212 So. RB , Stanford 6-1, 235 Sr. WR , Notre Dame 5-11, 195 Jr. WR , Bowling Green 6-0, 206 Sr. TE Dorin Dickerson, Pittsburgh 6-2-, 230 Sr. C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida 6-5, 318 Jr. OL , Oklahoma State 6-5, 300 Sr. OL , Idaho 6-3, 330 Sr. OL , Utah 6-4, 305 Sr. OL , Florida State 6-2, 285 Jr.

McCoy Ingram Gerhart Tate Barnes Texas Alabama Stanford Notre Dame Bowling Green

Dickerson Pouncey Okung Iupati Beadles Hudson Pittsburgh Florida Oklahoma St. Idaho Utah Florida St. The Fifth Down Page 5

ALL-AMERICA DEFENSE, SPECIALISTS

Pos. Player, School Ht., Wt. Cl. DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska 6-4, 300 Sr. DE Jerry Hughes, TCU 6-2, 257 Sr. DT Terrence Cody, Alabama 6-5, 365 Sr.

DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma 6-4, 297 Jr.

LB Rolando McClain, Alabama 6-4, 285 Jr. LB , Iowa 6-1, 235 Sr. Hughes LB Greg Jones, Michigan State 6-1, 228 Jr. TCU DB Earl Thomas, Texas 5-10, 197 So. DB DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson 6-1, 210 Jr. DB Joe Haden, Florida 5-11, 190 Jr. DB Eric Berry, Tennessee 5-11, 203 Jr. K , UCLA 6-1, 190 Jr. P , Georgia 6-2, 203 So. KR C.J. Spiller, Clemson 5-11, 195 Sr. Cody Alabama

Suh McCoy McClain Angerer Jones Berry Nebraska Oklahoma Alabama Iowa Michigan Tennessee

Thomas McDaniel Haden Forbath Butler Spiller Texas Clemson Florida UCLA Georgia Clemson Page 6 THE FIFTH DOWN Nebraska’s Suh wins Outland Trophy

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Nebraska Ndamukong Suh has been named the 64th winner of the Outland Trophy, becoming the eighth player from Nebraska to win the award. The winner of the Outland Trophy, which goes to the best interior linemen on offense or defense in college football, was announced during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show from The Walt Disney World Resort. “It's tremendous,” Suh said. “It's an honor to join the great Nebraskans who have won this before. It's huge. It's great I brought it back to the state of Nebraska.” Previous Nebraska Outland winners are: Larry Ja- cobson (1971), (1972), (1981 and 1982), (1983), (1992), (1994) and Aaron Taylor (1997). Suh also became the second player in three years to sweep the Outland and the Football Writers Association of America’s Trophy (best defensive player). LSU’s won both two years ago. The only other player to do so was Arizona’s in 1993. In this awards season Suh, also has claimed the Lombardi and Bednarik Trophies. “This has been a blessing,” Suh said at the Outland announcement. “It has been a lot of hard work that's Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh been paying off, but there's still a lot ahead. This is a journey, and I want to soak it all up.” The Outland Trophy, which has been awarded annu- The FWAA selects the Outland winner from its 25- ally by the FWAA since 1946, is named after the late man All-America team. Suh claimed the Outland Trophy John Outland, a lineman at Pennsylvania at the turn of over Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung the century. The Outland Trophy is the third oldest and Idaho offensive guard Mike Iupati, the other finalists. award in major college football behind the Heisman Tro- During the 2009 regular season (including the Big 12 phy and . title game) Suh led Nebraska in tackles with 50 unas- The official award presentation to Suh will be on Jan. sisted and 32 assisted. He had 23 tackles for losses (12 14, 2010, in Omaha, Neb., at a banquet sponsored by sacks for 77 yards in losses), 10 pass breakups, 26 the Greater Omaha Sports Committee. State’s quarterback hurries, one , one forced John Hicks, the 1973 Outland Trophy winner, also will and three blocked kicks. receive his trophy there. PAST OUTLAND WINNERS

1946 George Connor, Notre Dame 1962 , Minnesota 1978 Greg Roberts, Oklahoma 1994 Zach Wiegert, Nebraska 1947 , Army 1963 , Texas 1979 , N.C. State 1995 , UCLA 1948 Bill Fischer, Notre Dame 1964 Steve Delong, Tennessee 1980 , Pittsburgh 1996 , Ohio State 1949 , Michigan State 1965 , Texas 1981 Dave Rimington, Nebraska 1997 Aaron Taylor, Nebraska 1950 , 1966 , Arkansas 1982 Dave Rimington, Nebraska 1998 , UCLA 1951 , Oklahoma 1967 , USC 1983 Dean Steinkuhler, Nebraska 1999 , Alabama 1952 , Maryland 1968 , Georgia 1984 , Virginia Tech 2000 John Henderson, Tennessee 1953 J.D. Roberts, Oklahoma 1969 Mike Reid, Penn State 1985 , 2001 Bryant McKinnie, Miami 1954 Bill Brooks, Arkansas 1970 , Ohio State 1986 , BYU 2002 , Washington State 1955 Calvin Jones, Iowa 1971 , Nebraska 1987 , Air Force 2003 , Iowa 1956 Jim Parker, Ohio State 1972 Rich Glover, Nebraska 1988 , Auburn 2004 , Oklahoma 1957 , Iowa 1973 John Hicks, Ohio State 1989 , BYU 2005 , Minnesota 1958 , Auburn 1974 Randy White, Maryland 1990 , Miami (Fla.) 2006 Joe Williams,Wisconsin 1959 Mike McGee, Duke 1975 , Oklahoma 1991 , Washington 2007 Glenn Dorsey, LSU 1960 , Minnesota 1976 , Notre Dame 1992 Will Shields, Nebraska 2008 , Alabama 1961 , Utah State 1977 , Texas 1993 Rob Waldrop, Arizona Page 7 THE FIFTH DOWN Suh becomes first Nebraska winner of FWAA’s

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nebraska tackle Ndamukong bility was hampered and Suh intercepted a Gabbert pass Suh has claimed the 2009 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, in the fourth quarter. which annually is awarded to the best defensive player Suh’s efforts certainly mirror the person for whom the in college football. trophy is named. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is given in Suh became the 17th winner of the award as voted memory of the legendary Nagurski, a former All- upon by the Football Writers Association of America American lineman at Minnesota (1927-29) and star for (FWAA) and sponsored by the Charlotte professional football’s Bears in the 1930s. Club. He is the first Nebraska player to win the award. PAST NAGURSKI Suh, a 6-4, 300- pound senior, is con- WINNERS sidered a top NFL Year Player School Draft prospect and will receive his de- 1993 Rob Waldrop Arizona gree in construction 1994 Miami (Fla.) management. During the 2009 1995 Northwestern regular season, Suh 1996 Pat Fitzgerald Northwestern led Nebraska in tack- 1997 Michigan les with 50 unas- sisted and 32 as- 1998 Georgia sisted. He had 23 1999 Virginia Tech tackles for losses (12 sacks for 77 yards in 2000 Miami losses), 10 pass 2001 Oklahoma breakups, 26 quarter- 2002 Arizona State back hurries, one interception, one 2003 Oklahoma forced fumble and 2004 Texas three blocked kicks. In the 13-12 loss 2005 Louisville to Texas in the Big 2006 Ohio State 12 title game, Suh was credited with 4.5 2007 Glenn Dorsey LSU Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska sacks of Longhorns 2008 Texas (Photo by Ron J.Deshaies) quarterback Colt McCoy, seven total tackles for loss, a career-high 12 “When you look at Suh, you see a player who can tackles and two quarterback hurries dominate a game,” Texas coach Mack Brown said. “That “Well, he’s just a tremendous football player,” Ne- defensive front is as good in the country. He is as good braska coach said. “He finds a way within our as any player in America. He is unbelievable. We have defense to make plays. He gets it, understands the enjoyed watching him play. You look at their film and he game. He can just beat you in a lot of different ways. He is amazing player. You don’t expect that someone so big is very instinctive for a defensive lineman, which is very and so fast, to be over 300 pounds and be as fast as he rare.” is. It is amazing.” Suh’s sack of Missouri quarterback in The other Nagurski finalists were Iowa linebacker Pat the first quarter of the Cornhuskers’ 27-12 victory over Angerer, Tennessee back Eric Berry, Alabama tackle the Tigers in early October possibly changed the course Terrence Cody and TCU end Jerry Hughes. Hughes was of the Big 12 North season. Gabbert suffered and ankle also a finalist in 2008. injury on the play. Although he continued to play, his mo- Page 8 THE FIFTH DOWN All-America team (continued) (Continued from page 1) helped to select this team over the years — Grantland Rice, Bert McGrane, Blackie Sherrod, Furman Bisher, 25-year period, the FWAA team was introduced on na- Pat Harmon, , Edwin Pope, Murray Older- tional television shows by Bob Hope, Steve Allen, Perry man, Paul Zimmerman and the list goes on and on. It is Como and others. a team steeped in tradition and history and selected by a After LOOK folded, the FWAA started a long associa- writers’ group with the same attributes. tion with NCAA Films (later known as NCAA Produc- tions), which produced a 30-minute television show and sold it to sponsors. The team was part of ABC Televi- Eddie Robinson Museum sion’s 1981 College Football Series. From 1983-90, the team was either on ABC or ESPN, dedication set for February and now has returned to the national spotlight on ABC. The FWAA team has included most of the Heisman A museum in Grambling, Louisiana will be dedicated Trophy and Maxwell Award winners over the years and in memory of Eddie Robinson in mid-February. nearly all the Outland Trophy winners. Those are the , the youngest head coach to win a Su- three oldest awards in major-college football. per Bowl championship, will be the keynote speaker for For more than six decades the FWAA has selected a gala banquet scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at the an All-America team with the help of its members and an Grambling State University Assembly Center. All-America Committee which represents all the regions Many of the former players in the country. From that All-America team, the FWAA guided by Robinson during his record-setting 55-year also selects the winners of the Outland Trophy and the career at Grambling State are scheduled to attend the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. banquet and the museum’s ribbon-cutting ceremony at Some of the true greats of the writing profession have 10 a.m. Feb. 13. — FWAA member, Buddy Davis

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