October 2010 President’s Column, Page 2 Inside this edition Vol. 48, No. 4 Nagurski Legend, Mike McCoy, Page 3 Coach of the Year Award move changes FWAA calendar slightly With the FWAA/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year sent to the member on the committee you choose in cor- announcement moved up a month to Dec. 6 at the Wal- respondence with the conference or school you cover. dorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, the FWAA Awards The FWAA Awards Calendar is listed on this page. season will be a little more crowded as the 2010 regular As has been the case for about two decades, the Out- season ends in early December. land Trophy winner will be announced on Dec. 9 during On Nov. 21 FWAA members will be receiving ballots the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show via e-mail with six to 10 finalists for the FWAA Coach of from Orlando, Florida. The FWAA All-America Team is d the Year Award. They will be asked to submit their final scheduled to be announced on Dec. 11 on ABC. ballots for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year by the following Saturday in order the winner to be determined. 2010-11 FWAA AWARDS CALENDAR The FWAA Awards season is just around the corner ● Nov. 8: All-America defense ballots sent to membership as teams move into the final third of their regular season ● Nov. 14: All-America defense selection committee call in November. The rest of the FWAA Awards Calendar ● Nov. 15: All-America offense/special teams ballots dis- should hold to the form of past years. tributed to membership ● Nov. 16: Eddie Robinson Award finalists announced FWAA members will receive initial defensive ballots ● Nov. 18: Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists (5) announced on Nov. 8 to pick their top 11 defensive players by posi- ● Nov. 21: All-America offense/special teams selection tion in college football. They must complete those bal- committee call lots by Nov. 13-14 and send them to their representative. ● Nov. 21: Eddie Robinson Coach of Year Ballots sent to In addition, we will allow members to nominate a player membership for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (given each year to the ● Nov. 22: Outland Trophy finalists (3) announced best defensive player in college football.) ● Dec. 6: Bronko Nagurski Trophy announcement/ presen- The same process will be used the following week for tation (Charlotte, N.C.) the offensive side of the ball and special teams. A space ● Dec. 6: Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award an- nouncement/ presentation (New York City) on the offensive ballot will be left for members to vote for ● Dec. 9: Outland Trophy winner announcement (The the Outland Trophy winner (Best Interior Lineman in col- Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show) lege football on offense or defense). ● Dec. 11: FWAA All-America Team announced (ABC) The FWAA All-America Committee will meet twice by ● Jan. 3: Orange Bowl Courage Award on-field presenta- conference call to determine the 2010 team. The FWAA tion (Miami Gardens, Fla.) All-America Committee is listed online and can be ● Jan. 10: Freshman All-America Team announced reached by clicking on “Awards” at the top of the (Scottsdale, Ariz.) www.fwaa.com home page. Every conference in the ● Jan. 11: Grantland Rice Trophy announcement/ presen- Division I Bowl subdivision has a representative as do tation (Tentative, Scottsdale, Ariz.) ● Jan. 13: Outland Trophy banquet (Omaha, Neb.) the major independents. Each person’s ballot will be Page 2 THE FIFTH DOWN President Tim Griffin San Antonio Express-News President’s column First Vice President Tommy Hicks A change in gram. Joe and I are very disappointed Mobile Press-Register philosophy by the and the fact they didn’t tell us until a cou- Second Vice President Marriott Company ple of months after the fact.” Lenn Robbins is ending the VIP The FWAA has been a good partner New York Post program for for Marriott over the years. All of the BCS FWAA members. bowls games now use Marriott properties Board of Directors John Davis I figure that I’ve for the media through our insistence. Oxford (Miss.) Eagle stayed in Marriott That deal has provided Marriott with an Heather Dinich properties for a inventory of thousands of hotel nights ESPN.com combined total of during that period over the years. Pete DiPrimio more than two Apparently, those figures don’t reso- Fort Wayne (Ind.) News- years in my life. nate with the hotel’s bean counters as Sentinel So, the Marriott much as we all would like. Chris Dufrense TIM VIP Card is some- Schroeder remains confident that Los Angeles Times thing I have held some kind of program will be worked out Ryan Finley GRIFFIN Arizona Daily Star close to my heart. with Marriott. He’s also open to hooking Pete Fiutak Almost every up with another hotel chain regardless of College Football News sportswriter who travels has a certain what happens with Marriott. Cory Giger amount of brand affinity. Marriott was The hotel discount is only a portion of Altoona Mirror able to seize upon that fact to become a an array of products that are provided Kevin Gorman leader in the field. As such, some mem- with FWAA membership. The member- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review bers considered acquiring a Marriott VIP ship to Rivals.com is worth more than Kate Hairopoulos Card as one of the most important perks the cost of yearly membership. There are Dallas Morning News of FWAA membership. also deals in place for preseason year- Mick McGrane Freelance Immediate Past FWAA president books, computer security devices, rental Rodney McKissic George Schroeder has overseen the cars and a clothing line among others. Buffalo News Marriott account for us for several years. ● For the fifth straight year, the Dave Matter Along with Joe Mitch, the United States FWAA and the Discover Orange Bowl Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune Basketball Writers Association of Ameri- will announce a weekly nominee for the Jorge Milian ca executive director, they have started Discover Orange Bowl/FWAA Courage Palm Beach Post negotiations for a new arrangement with Award each Wednesday during the sea- Malcolm Moran Marriott that would be tailored to our two son for an athlete who overcomes adver- Knight Foundation organizations. Several of the current sity in his college football career. The Randy Rosetta Baton Rouge Advocate cards expire in January, 2011, and some yearly recipient of the Courage Award Roger Rubin not until July, 2011. will be announced in December and pre- New York Daily News The hotel business apparently is sented with a trophy in conjunction with Adam Sparks struggling, at least considering the corre- this year’s Discover Orange Bowl. Any Daily News (Tenn.) Journal spondence that I repeatedly see from the potential nominees should be sent to Andy Staples various companies. So you would think George Schroeder. You may contact him Sports Illustated Marriott officials would be seeking to fill at [email protected]. Phil Steele their rooms, even with discounts. ● We’re also looking for recommen- Phil Steele Magazine But the rooms set aside for the spe- dations for the best and brightest among Jake Trotter Daily Oklahoman cial VIP rates are getting to be more diffi- the sports information directors across Jimmy Watson cult to find (particularly during peak peri- the country. Let me or Steve Richardson Shreveport Times ods in some premier destinations) be- know if you’ve been impressed with the cause there are so many VIP card hold- work of an SID staff, or if you think one Ex-Officio Charles Bloom ers. The program was originally set up might be lacking. Southeastern Conference for sports executives and coaches. With We’re interested to know what you John Paquette the addition of writers groups, the com- think. Big East Conference petition for the rates has grown. You may contact me at my new loca- Joe Hornstein “Each hotel decides how they are tion back at my old newspaper, the San Central Florida going to parcel those rooms out,” Antonio Express-News, which I rejoined Schroeder said. “We thought we had a in late September. My new e-mail is tgrif- deal in good faith to continue the pro- [email protected] Page 3 THE FIFTH DOWN Nagurski Legend: Mike McCoy Editor’s Note: Mike McCoy, a defensive tackle on the pion USC that the Los Angeles media tagged McCoy as FWAA's 1969 All-American Team, will receive the a "sure bet All-America for 1969." McCoy controlled the Bronko Nagurski Legends Award on Dec. 6. line of scrimmage against the vaunted Trojan front, limit- ing Heisman Trophy winner O.J. Simpson to 55 yards on By LOU SOMOGYI 22 carries, the lowest total in his college career. The 21- Blue & Gold Illustrated 21 verdict, in which USC scored only 14 points on of- Mike McCoy can appreciate the statement that 1980s fense, left the Irish ranked No. 5 in the nation. Chicago Bears defensive tackle and cultural icon William At one point in the fourth quarter, Simpson looked up "The Refrigerator" Perry once made while describing into the face of McCoy when both were on the ground himself: and exclaimed, "Oh, no, not you again!" "When I was little, I was big." While helping the Irish to their third consecutive No. 5 While going out to play with his friends even in his finish in 1969, McCoy indeed earned consensus first- elementary school years, McCoy often would be lovingly team All-America notice and placed sixth in the Heisman reminded about the perils that can come from his size.