There’s more than the book Welcome to another year of college bashful about getting involved! The bulle- July 2003 football! tin board should also be lauding people Each year the FWAA produces a print for a job well done. You can also e-mail Vol. 41, No. 2 directory and delivers it to its members in Steve Richardson or Wally Hall sugges- late August in time for the college foot- tions about polls and surveys you want to ball season. see. Inside this issue: We spend a lot of time organizing the Several times during the year, I get book and making it the best we can. calls or e-mails from members about is- Several times during the year I hear sues. Putting them on-line can generate members remark that the book alone is interest and many times result in solving President’s column 2 worth the $40 annual fee for FWAA problems and making things better. membership. If you are interested in serving on the Many of you use the book so con- various committees and boards such as Bronko Nagurski Tro- stantly that we went to the spiral binder Press Box, Bowl Evaluation, All-America, phy preseason watch 3 approach a couple of years ago. We had don't hesitate to contact Steve Richard- list heard complaints that the old binding son ([email protected]) or President came apart from such constant use. Ted Wally Hall (w Gangi of HiTex! and Charlie Fiss of the The All-America Committee has been All-America watch list 4-5 SBC Cotton Bowl have continually made set for this year, but the others are just reforms and improvement to the book. being put together. We truly believe it is the best direc- We will bring back Press Box and tory in all of college and professional Bowl Evaluation committees this year Members of the FWAA 5 sports. and will be asking members to partici- All-America committee That being said, we also hope you pate. Both the bowls and sports informa- use the FWAA web site, www.fwaa.com. tion directors have used these in the past Your $40 membership dues give you ac- to upgrade their operations. In the case cess to the members only side and other of the school evaluations we will try and John Outland Trophy 6 features on the site. You get much more pick the best one or two press box opera- preseason watch list than just a book and membership card tions in each league (announcing only for your money. those). To that end we will begin to make the On Page 8, there is a complete direc- web site more interactive with member- tory of members who have positions this ship. In the past, you have been e- year on various committees. Frank Luksa on former mailed a link with the Fifth Down. Here's to a great 2003 football sea- Outland winner Chad 7 But now you will receive e-mails with son. Hennings survey and poll questions directing you to the site to vote on various issues. We also have a bulletin board where you can Steve Richardson Key contacts at the 8 list ideas and talk with other members FWAA Executive Director FWAA about issues that concern you. Don't be Page 2 THE FIFTH DOWN President Wally Hall Arkansas Democrat-Gazette First Vice President President’s column Dick Weiss It has been a little son Coach of the Year banquet, we were New York Daily News more than seven treated like royalty, up to the point that at Second Vice President months since I be- one time someone asked Steve if the Andy Bagnato came president of way Fox was doing a certain thing was San Diego Union-Tribune Football Writers As- okay. Executive Director sociation of Amer- At the All-America banquet in Or- Steve Richardson ica, and I must ad- lando, you would have thought we had Dallas Morning News mit, I’ve been pleas- been developed by Walt Disney. In their 2003 Directors antly surprised. inaugural event, the Capital One Bowl Mark Anderson Whether it was at folks did an outstanding job, but after Las Vegas Review & Journal the NCAA Tourna- conferring with Steve decided to move it Rob Biertempfel ment, Kentucky from January to December (which Tribune Review (Pa.) Derby or the South- means I get to go back). Kurt Caywood eastern Conference The most impressive thing that night Topeka Capital-Journal WALLY spring meetings, I was the way they treated our All- Eric Crawford Americans, who were decked out in Louisville Courier-Journal HALL was introduced to Rob Daniels someone as the tuxedos and stationed around the recep- Greensboro News & Record President of Football tion so that everyone could meet and Dennis Dodd Writers, and every time, the person I met greet them. CBS SportsLine seemed impressed. Even a long time friend of Steve’s like Mike Griffith Obviously it was the title and the or- myself has been impressed with his vi- Knoxville News-Sentinel sion and dedication to our organization. Steve Henson ganization. Los Angeles Times Let me assure you that this is a highly Of course, he didn’t want to publish Brian Landman respected organization. this column and even made some sug- St. Petersburg Times Until becoming an officer I was like gestions as to what I might write about, Stewart Mandel many of you, a dues paying member but even the mighty “Tiger” has to live SI.com who liked the newsletter and loved the with freedom of the press and a colum- Ted Miller directory. nist’s random ways. Seattle Post-Intelligencer Well, let me assure you there is much The exciting thing is that there are Malcolm Moran more good things coming our way, things USA Today more to this organization than that. The Michael Pointer work going on in this group is behind the that will continue to establish our organi- Indianapolis Star scenes but it is for reporters in their daily zation as one of credibility and depend- Darryl Richards pursuit to do their job. ability. Freelance It is a tireless effort by our Executive I’m not sure whose idea it was to hire Joe Schad Director Steve Richardson. Steve, but I’ll be glad to take that credit Orlando Sentinel because it was one of the best ideas in George Schroeder At the NCAA Final Four Steve took more than two hours out of his busy the history of this organization. You see, Daily Oklahoman Steve not only blazes a path for us into Jeff Shain schedule to meet with Sugar Bowl peo- Miami Herald ple to discuss the BCS championship other organizations and events. He also David Teel game that they will host next year. takes on the big problems and sweats the little ones. There has not been a Daily Press, Newport News Before attending the meeting, Steve (Va.) single complaint by a member that he queried several writers and he went into Wright Thompson hasn’t addressed with a school or sports the meeting ready to do battle with a list Kansas City Star information director. of questions and concerns. Keith Whitmire And he copies me on everything. Dallas Morning News When he came out, he said, “I’m cau- EVERYTHING. The man is fearless. Ex-Officio tiously confident,” and then turned some of his attention to the Orange Bowl and I can assure you my presidency will John Paquette be better than anyone thought because Big East it’s 2005 hosting of the big event. Under the Executive Director does not settle for Maxey Parrish his leadership the FWAA has become a CoSIDA recognized force in the world of college less. Ever. football. Contact president Wally Hall at When we attended the Eddie Robin- [email protected]. THE FIFTH DOWN Page 3 FWAA announces watch list for Bronko Nagurski Trophy The Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club have announced the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List for the 2003 season. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded each year to the best defensive player in college football regardless of position. The Trophy will be awarded this year on Mon- day, Dec. 8 in Charlotte, N.C., at gala banquet at the Ad- ams Mark Hotel. The Watch List serves as guide to the best players in the game and is updated each week during the college football season. In addition, the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club select a National Defensive Player of the Week during the college football season. If a player is selected for the weekly award and is not on the Watch List, he is added to it. A panel of FWAA members selects the weekly award winner after nomina- Teddy Lehman, OU David Pollack, Georgia tions are gathered from the 11 Division I-A Conferences and other schools. Members of the current Nagurski Watch List were Of last season's five Bronko Nagurski finalists who nominated by members, conferences and individual were honored at the dinner in Charlotte, only Georgia schools. It will be the 11th straight year the FWAA has defensive end David Pollack returns for the 2003 sea- honored the Defensive Player of the Year. The FWAA son. All-America Committee selects the finalists each Novem- Last season's Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner was ber and votes for the winner. Arizona State defensive end Terrell Suggs, who set a The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be featured on the Division I-A record for career sacks and won the award cover of the 2003-04 FWAA Print Directory.