FWAA, Armed Forces Bowl join to create new award July 2012 Vol. 50, No. 2

The Football Writers Association of involved with the Football Writers Asso- Inside this issue: America has joined with the Bell Heli- ciation of America by jointly initiating copter Armed Forces Bowl to initiate our award to recognize the achieve- the Armed Forces Merit ments of an individual or Executive director’s Award. It honors an individual group from the realm of 2 or a group within the realm of football that has successful- column the sport of football that has ly produced a program to created, developed or pro- benefit our country’s armed duced a program that pro- forces” said Brant B. vides care, concern and sup- Ringler, executive director port for past or present mem- Bronko Nagurski of the Bell Helicopter Armed 3 bers of the United States Forces Bowl. watch list armed forces or their families. “There are numerous indi- The Armed Forces Merit viduals and groups in our Award will be awarded for the country that have devoted a first time before the playing of lot of time, energy and fi- the 2012 Bell Helicopter nancial backing to support News and notes from Armed Forces Bowl. Nomina- programs associated with 4 tions for the Armed Forces the armed forces and their around the FWAA Merit Award will be accepted families,” said Steve Rich- this summer with the selec- ardson, executive director tion process beginning in Oc- of the FWAA. “By teaming tober. The inaugural recipient with the Bell Helicopter will be announced in Novem- Armed Forces Bowl, the ber on Veteran’s Day. FWAA will help recognize Key dates on the 5 The 10th annual Bell Helicopter these groups or people. Within the FWAA calendar Armed Forces Bowl will be played on FWAA, we also have members who Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, featuring have military backgrounds, either as schools from Conference USA and the enlisted men or with relatives who have Mountain West Conference. Kickoff is served this country. Additionally, this set for 10:45 a.m. (CST) at the newly will be meaningful to them." renovated 45,000-seat Amon G. Carter The Armed Forces Merit Award will Outland Trophy watch 6 Stadium in Fort Worth, . The be selected by a panel of individuals list game will air on ESPN and ESPN Ra- from the Football Writers Association of dio. America and the Bell Helicopter Armed “We are excited to become more (Continued on page 5) Page 2 THE FIFTH DOWN

President Lenn Robbins New York Post Executive director’s column

First Vice President Chris Dufrense On the evening after our late, long-time executive director) of July 21, the since it started in the mid-1990s.

FWAA is involved in Since that time, the FWAA has given Second Vice President Kirk Bohls a very important away thousands of dollars over the years Austin American-Statesman ceremony. Long- to deserving students. Sittler, the 2001 time FWAA member FWAA president and a member since Board of Directors Dave Sittler will re- 1973, first proposed the idea of the Volney ceive the Bert Meece Scholarship. He has been the only Lee Barfknect McGrane Award in selection chairman the award has known. Omaha World Herald South Bend, Indi- The annual $1,000 grant, which has been Vahe Gregorian ana. awarded since 1997 and is renewable for St. Louis Post-Dispatch Sittler’s name will up to four years, is given to a deserving Greg Wallace follow 38 others son or daughter of an FWAA member. Anderson (S.C.) Independent STEVE -Mail who already have His administration of that program in Jimmy Burch RICHARDSON their names on a itself would be enough to warrant the Fort Worth Star-Telegram large plaque in the McGrane for Sittler. But Matt Sign rotunda of the Col- the fact that he has been National Football Foundation lege Football Hall of Fame. an always steady and Malcolm Moran Current FWAA president Lenn Robbins sometimes relentless Knight Foundation of the New York Post will handle the journalist over the years Eric Schmoldt presentation. is an added bonus. Caspar Star-Tribune Since the South Bend Hall is sched- Sittler grew up in Ne- Jon Gold uled to close this fall, this will be the last braska and was raised Los Angeles Daily News time the winner of our Bert McGrane on Bob Devaney, but John Silver Award will be saluted there. The National much of his Nebraska Manchester Journal Inquirer Football Foundation has plans to move Dave Sittler career covered Tom Os- John Wagner the Hall to Atlanta and re-open it in the fall borne. That could be Toledo Blade of 2014. The FWAA will continue to be worth one book, dealing with those con- Lee Feinswog part of the Hall of Fame trasting personalities. Then later, he had NCAA.com enshrinement program as it makes the another dose of contrasts in Barry Switzer Tom Kensler transition to Atlanta and home there. and ultimately Bob Stoops at Oklahoma. Denver Post Along with countless boxes of other I think I can say this over the years: Mike Huguenin rivals.com memorabilia, our plaque will make the trip Dave was not always the most popular Kelly Lyell to the Southeast in one of five large person in either Nebraska or Oklahoma. Fort Collins Coloradoan trucks. The McGrane Award, symbolic of Nor should he have been. He had the Iliana Limon the association's Hall of Fame, is present- gumption to challenge the legends when Orlando Sentinel ed to an FWAA member who has per- they needed to be challenged, praised Wally Hall formed great service to the organization or them when they needed to be praised, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette the writing profession. It is named after and stayed neutral when he needed to be Brett McMurphy McGrane, a Des Moines, Iowa, writer who neutral. The latter quality is something cbssports.com was the executive secretary of the FWAA many younger journalists should take from the early 1940s until 1973. note. Ex-Officio Sittler’s acceptance of the Bert Dave never stirred up news or made McGrane Award will coincide with his re- the headlines about himself. He covered Joe Hornstein tirement year. Dave, 66, stepped down as the news in a professional manner. Too Florida International a full-time columnist at the Tulsa World many times, Dave stayed long into the John Paquette Big East-BCS this past winter. He hopes to write occa- night in press boxes helping or waiting for Charles Bloom sional columns and also appear on a radio fellow workers to finish. He did his job SEC talk show in the area. But an end to an and probably that of some others during era in Oklahoma sports is occurring at the his stints in Nebraska and Oklahoma. I paper. think all of those people had respect for Dave also has been the face of our Dave and the job he did. I know I did. Volney Meece Award program (so named (Continued on page 5) THE FIFTH DOWN Page 3 FWAA lists players to watch for

The Football Writers Association of America has an- will be revealed on Dec. 3 during a gala sports banquet nounced its annual Bronko Nagurski watch list for the that will be hosted by the Charlotte Club at 2012 season. There were 84 players on the initial list the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. that highlights the top defenders in college football for The FWAA has named a Defensive Player of the this upcoming season. Year since the 1993, when Arizona’s Players from the Southeastern, Big 12, Big Ten, Pa- claimed the award. This will be the 20th anniversary of cific 12 and Atlantic Coast conferences dominated the the award. Last year, Boston College linebacker Luke field of candidates. The players were pretty equally divid- Kuechly claimed the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. ed among linemen, linebackers and defensive backs. A player can be added or deleted from the list as the The FWAA will name a Defensive Player of the Week season progresses. An appearance on the list is not a during the regular season. Five finalists for the Bronko pre-requisite for being named a finalist or winning the Nagurski Trophy will be named on Nov. 15. The winner award.

Defensive Linemen Linebackers Safeties Jesse Williams, Alabama A.J. Klein, Iowa St Dexter McCoil, Tulsa John Jenkins, Georgia Andrew Jackson, WKU , LSU Arthur Brown, Kansas St Hakeem Smith, Louisville Defensive Ends Bruce Taylor, Virginia Tech Jarred Holley, Pittsburgh Alex Okafor, Texas Chase Thomas, Stanford John Boyett, Oregon , LSU Chris Borland, Wisconsin Jordan Kovacs, Michigan Bjoern Werner, Florida St C.J. Mosley, Alabama , Texas Brandon Jenkins, Florida St Dion Bailey, USC , Florida St Corey Lemonier, Auburn Dwayne Woods, Bowling Green , Florida , South Carolina , Penn St Robert Lester, Alabama , Oregon Jake Knott, Iowa St T.J. McDonald, USC , Texas Jamie Collins, Southern Miss Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma , South Car- , Georgia olina Jonathan Brown, Illinois Cornerbacks , Ohio St Kevin Pierre-Louis, Boston Col- Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma St Kapron Lewis-Moore, Notre lege Carrington Byndom, Texas Dame Kevin Reddick, North Carolina David Amerson, NC State Michael Buchanan, Illinois Khalil Mack, Buffalo , Alabama Sam Montgomery, LSU Khaseem Greene, Rutgers Demontre Hurst, Oklahoma Stansly Maponga, TCU , BYU Johnny Adams, Michigan St Travis Johnson, San Jose St Manti Te'o, Notre Dame , Mississippi St , Connecticut Max Bullough, Michigan St , Oregon St , Michigan St Mike Taylor, Wisconsin Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech Nico Johnson, Alabama Leon McFadden, San Diego St Defensive Tackles Sean Porter, Texas A&M Micah Hyde, Iowa Joe Vellano , Maryland Shayne Skov, Stanford Nickell Robey, USC Johnathan Hankins, Ohio St Steve Greer, Virginia Nigel Malone, Kansas St , Purdue Tom Wort, Oklahoma Ricardo Allen, Purdue Rob Lohr, Vanderbilt Travis Brown, Fresno St Tyrann Mathieu, LSU Roosevelt Nix, Kent St Travis Long, Washington St , Florida St , Florida Trent Mackey, Tulane , Utah Page 4 THE FIFTH DOWN News and Notes: Catching up with FWAA members, events

athletics director for communications. RETIREMENTS:

Mike DeArmond (Kansas City Star) left the paper, HAPPENINGS: retiring in February 2012 after 40 years on the job at the same newspaper. How is that for longevity? In addition At the annual CoSIDA Convention in St. Louis in late to covering University of Missouri sports the last two June, the FWAA was a supporting sponsor. Several decades, DeArmond also covered eight Olympic Games, FWAA members were on panels during the four-day chronicled George Brett’s chase for .400 in 1980 and convention. … Tim Griffin of the San Antonio News- worked as an assistant sports editor and assistant city Express is back on the college beat covering several Big editor for the newspaper. 12 schools. Natalie Meisler retired from the Denver Post in No- vember 2011. Natalie spent most of her writing career at the newspaper (since 1977) after graduating from Colo- HONORS: rado in 1973. She is a former member of the FWAA Board and covered college sports (Colorado and Colora- FWAA member Stephen Nesbitt, a University of do State) and bicycle races for much of her 34-plus Michigan student, has been named this year’s recipient years at the newspaper. of the William R. Reed Memorial Dave Sittler, an FWAA past president (2001) and Award. The conference annually honors a student jour- Bert McGrane winner (2012) retired from his full-time job nalist from one of the Big Ten campuses who, through this past winter as columnist at the Tulsa World. He was his or her coverage during the previous academic term, named the winner of the McGrane Award in January and best exemplifies the spirit, ideals and dedication to the will be honored on July 21 in South Bend, Ind., at the Big Ten and intercollegiate athletics, which marked the College Football Hall of Fame. A story on Dave appears life of Commissioner William R. Reed. Nesbitt, an Eng- on Page 2 of this issue of The Fifth Down. lish major who just completed his junior year, is the man- aging sports editor for the Michigan Daily.

CHANGING JOBS: DEATHS: Pat Forde has left ESPN.com to join Yahoo! Sports. … Shelly Poe left Ohio State to become Assistant AD Longtime Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Fur- for Football Communications at . … man Bisher passed away on March 18, 2012, after a Ben Blevins left the sports information office at Duke to heart attack. Bisher had been a member of the FWAA join the one at the University of Texas. … Joe Horn- for 62 years and was a past president of the organization stein, formerly the sports information director at Central (1959) and a Bert McGrane Award winner (1982). He Florida, now holds a similar position at Florida Interna- was 93. Until recent years he had still been writing a col- tional University. … Jack Bogaczyk has left the umn for the newspaper and had been a fixture at The Charleston Daily Mail and has become Director of Publi- Masters, Kentucky Derby and Georgia-Georgia Tech cations and Editor of the Herd Insider at Marshall Univer- football games for more than 50 years. … Arnie Bur- sity. … Austin Ward resigned from the Knoxville News dick, 92, an FWAA past president (1966), passed away Sentinel to join ESPN.com and cover Ohio State. … Ste- on June 5, 2012. He was a former SID for Syracuse and ve Wieberg has left USA Today and will go into the later worked at the Syracuse Herald-Journal, where he educational field. Steve has been the pillar of the paper’s was sports editor and columnist for 28 years. In 1986, college coverage since it first began in the early 1980s he became the media director for the Heritage Golf Tour- nament in Hilton Head, S.C., and later retired there. He and one of the most respected journalists in the country. th … Columnists Rick Bozich and Eric Crawford have worked his 29 Heritage this past spring. resigned from the Louisville Courier-Journal and are now at Louisville Fox affiliate WDRB-41. … Andy Seeley has moved from Minnesota to Central Florida as assistant THE FIFTH DOWN Page 5 Executive director’s column (continued)

(Continued from page 2) But the friendly wait staff of Texas Stadium certainly And I think ultimately, all those sources that Dave learned that the King wasn’t short on words. A couple of covered over the years had that same respect. I know hours later, at a small table with a spotlight on it in a because I saw it with my own eyes. darkened stadium, Switzer was still talking. Dave was Several years ago, the Coaches listening. So was I. Association (AFCA) used to have a golf tournament and Dave could develop sources, write about coaches then a party at the Stadium Club involving the Dallas and still have a relationship after it was all said and Cowboys at the old Texas Stadium in Irving. The head done. I think he needs to teach a journalism class coach of the Cowboys sometimes attended (not Tom somewhere — because that is an art. It’s something he Landry, of course, but those after him). This particular needs to pass on to others. year, in the mid 1990s, Dave was there. And so was I. In any event, Dave’s reporting skills and presence as The head coach, as the party was about to be put to a writer will be missed by the Tulsa World. We expect bed, summoned Dave and gave friendly audience. And I him to continue as the Volney Meece Award gatekeeper got to come along for the ride. and maybe serve on an FWAA occasional committee. Barry Switzer hadn’t coached a game yet in Dallas. He’s too valuable of a resource for us to let go. Armed Forces Merit Award (continued)

(Continued from page 1) Authentic, Reliable, Motivating, Enthusiastic, Deter- Forces Bowl. Nominations will be sought from various mined, Fair, Organized, Respectful, Committed, Effec- groups and associations involved with the sport of foot- tive, Selfless ball. The nominees’ contributions will be assessed by For a fact sheet on the Armed Forces Merit Award, reviewing various items, including the completion of a including a nomination form and frequently asked ques- nomination form, supporting documents and letters of tions, visit www.armedforcesbowl.com. Tim Simmons support. ([email protected]), media director for the Bell Helicop- In addition to their military-based programs, nomi- ter Armed Forces Bowl, and Ted Gangi nees for the Armed Forces Merit Award will also be eval- ([email protected]) of the FWAA will be coordi- uated on evidence and examples of the following attrib- nating the collection of nominations for the Armed Forc- utes: es Merit Award. Key dates on the FWAA calendar Tues., July 12: Release of Bronko Nagurski/Outland Thu., Dec. 6: Outland Trophy winner announced on Watch Lists (ESPN) ESPN (Orlando, Fla.) Mon., Aug. 27: Release of Grantland Rice Pre-Season Thu., Dec. 13: Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Win- Poll ner announced (Dallas, Scottsdale, Arizona) Mon., Nov. 5: All-America Defense ballots to members Fri., Dec. 14: FWAA All-America Team announced Sun., Nov. 11: All-America Defense selection call (Dallas, Texas) Mon., Nov. 12: All-America Offense/Special Teams bal- Wed., Dec. 19: Courage Award announced (Dallas, Tex- lots to members as) Thu., Nov. 15: Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists an- Jan. 5 or 6 Eddie Robinson Coach of Year Trophy Re- nounced ception/Presentation (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Sun., Nov. 18: All-America Offense/Special Teams se- Mon., Jan. 7: FWAA Freshman All-America Team an- lection call nounced (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Mon., Nov. 19: Outland Trophy finalists announced Mon., Jan. 7: Discover Orange Bowl Courage Award on (ESPN/Dallas) field presentation (Miami Gardens, Fla.) Mon., Dec. 3: Eddie Robinson Coach of Year finalists Tue., Jan. 8: Grantland Rice National Championship announced (Dallas) Trophy announcement (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Mon., Dec. 3: Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner an- Thurs., Jan. 10: Outland Trophy Banquet Presentation, nounced (Charlotte, N.C.) Omaha, Neb. Page 6 THE FIFTH DOWN FWAA rolls out 2012 Outland Trophy watch list

DALLAS — Senior Barrett Jones Penn and Kansas at the turn of the from defending national champion 20th century, will be announced on Alabama heads a list of 7 1 players The Home Depot College Football from 11 conferences and two inde- Awards on Dec. 6. pendents on the prestigious 2012 The Outland Trophy presenta- Outland Trophy watch list. tion banquet, sponsored by the The 6-foot-5, 302-pound Jones, Greater Omaha Sports Committee, who has switched from offensive will be on Jan. 10, 2013 in Omaha, tackle to center, will seek to be- Neb. come only the second player in his- The Outland Trophy winner is tory to win back-to-back Outland chosen from three finalists who are Trophies. Nebraska center Dave part of the FWAA All-America Rimington, in 1981-82, is the only Team. The FWAA All-America player to pull off the double. Committee, after voting input from The Outland Trophy, presented the entire membership, selects the annually since 1946, is the third 25-man team and eventually the oldest award in major college foot- three Outland finalists. Committee ball. The winner of the 67th Outland members, by individual ballot, se- 2011 Outland Trophy winner Trophy, named after the late John lect the winner. Outland, an All-America lineman at Barrett Jones of Alabama

Defensive Tackles Dalton Freeman, Clemson , North Carolina Graham Pocic, Illinois Lane Taylor, Oklahoma St. , Pittsburgh , Iowa Larry Warford, Kentucky Aaron Tipoti, California , USC Mason Walters, Texas , Illinois Mario Benavides, Louisville Omoregie Uzzi, Georgia Tech Baker Steinkuhler, Nebraska Stephen Warner, Tech Spencer Long, Nebraska Bennie Logan, LSU T.J. Johnson, South Carolina Theo Goins, UCF , Florida St. , Wisconsin Jesse Williams, Alabama Travis Swanson, Arkansas Offensive Tackles Joe Vellano , Maryland Tyler Larsen, Utah St. Alex Hurst, LSU John Jenkins, Georgia Weston Richburg, Colorado St. , FIU Johnathan Hankins, Ohio St. Chris Faulk, LSU Jordan Hill, Penn St Offensive Guards David Bakhtiari, Colorado Josh Boyd, Mississippi St. D.J. Fluker, Alabama Kawann Short, Purdue , Arkansas Jake Matthews, Texas A&M Roosevelt Nix, Kent St. Blaize Foltz, TCU James Hurst, North Carolina Sharrif Floyd, Florida Braden Hansen, BYU , Syracuse Star Lotulelei, Utah Carson York, Oregon LaAdrian Waddle, Texas Tech Sylvester Williams, North Carolina , Alabama , Texas A&M , Florida St. Chris Barker, Nevada Mark Popek, USF Chris McDonald, Michigan St. Matt Summers-Gavin, California Centers , Baylor Morgan Moses, Virginia , Tennessee Oday Aboushi, Virginia Andrew Miller, Virginia Tech , Stanford Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin Barrett Jones, Alabama , Oklahoma Taylor Lewan, Michigan Ben Habern, Oklahoma Gabe Jackson, Mississippi St. Wesley Johnson, Vanderbilt Braxston Cave, Notre Dame Joe Kellogg, Boise St. Zack Martin, Notre Dame