Category Archives: Outland Trophy

FWAA names semifinalists for Outland Trophy

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ffaw_redesignOMAHA — Six semifinalists for the 2015 Outland Trophy — five offensive linemen and one defensive tackle — were announced on Thursday night during a reception hosted by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.

The Football Writers Association of America, in a call of its 2015 All-America Committee, has determined the following six players as semifinalists for the award, in alphabetical order: Baylor offensive tackle Spencer Drango, Stanford offensive guard Joshua Garnett, Alabama center Ryan Kelly, Alabama defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, Indiana offensive tackle Jason Spriggs and Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley.

outland trophy bwThe field for the Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football on offense or defense, will be reduced to three players early next week. Those finalists will be announced the evening of Nov. 24 on ESPNU at 5 p.m. ET during The Home Depot College Football Awards Nomination Special. The winner of the 70th Outland Trophy will be revealed on Dec. 10 from 7-9 p.m. ET on ESPN on The Home Depot College Football Awards, for the first time live from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Here is a look at the semifinalists:

Spencer Drango, OT, Baylor (6-6, 320, Sr., Cedar Park, Texas): An Outland Trophy semifinalist in 2014, Drango has 44 career starts for the powerful Bears offense. He is also a William V. Campbell Trophy finalist (top academic player). The veteran Baylor offensive lineman has allowed just 11 sacks in nine games. He is in his fourth season as a starting left tackle for an offense that is currently on pace to break FBS records for scoring in a season and total yards gained per game. The Baylor offense is No. 1 in scoring and fifth in rushing this season in the FBS and Drango is the unquestioned leader on the line.

Joshua Garnett, OG, Stanford (6-5, 321, Sr., Puyallup, Wash.): A veteran guard who has been a dominant run blocker for the Cardinal, which has scored 30 points in each of its past nine games. He has started 25 straight games for Stanford, which has rushed for at least 100 yards in 44 of its last 47 games. A team captain, Garnett is a great finisher of blocks and through eight games had 64 “pancakes.” He has helped Stanford win the time of possession battle in 15 of the last 16 games with consistent line play. Stanford is 16th in the FBS in rushing offense and 22nd in scoring.

Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama (6-5, 297, Sr., West Chester, Ohio): A William V. Campbell Trophy (top academic player) semifinalist, Kelly is the leader of Alabama’s offensive line, which paves the way for Heisman Trophy candidate running back Derrick Henry. Kelly, a third-year starter at center and captain, was named the Southeastern Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week after Alabama’s 30-16 victory over LSU in which the Tide gained 250 yards rushing. In that game, Kelly graded out at 92 percent. He also was one of the Alabama coaches’ offensive players of the game against Wisconsin, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU.

A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama (6-4, 312, Jr., Fort Worth, Texas): A talented defender on the Crimson Tide’s line who has been one of the Alabama coaches’ defensive players of the game five times this season. He set the tone in the Crimson Tide’s 31-6 victory at Mississippi State last week with 2.5 sacks. He leads the team with eight quarterback hurries and has made a career-high 34 tackles this season, including seven tackles for 23 yards in losses. In addition, he has broken up two passes, recovered a fumble and blocked a kick.

Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana (6-7, 305, Sr., Elkhart, Ind.): In his senior season for the Hoosiers, he has allowed just two sacks in 365 called pass plays. He has started in 44 of 45 career games and has 56 pancakes in 805 snaps this season. The Hoosiers lead the Big Ten in total offense, are second in passing offense, third in rushing offense and fourth in scoring offense.

Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame (6-5, 315, Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.): Considered a top NFL prospect for a team that is 23rd in the nation in rushing offense and 30th in scoring. Stanley has started every game this season at left tackle and has started 36 straight games overall for the Fighting Irish, whose only loss this season came at now top-ranked Clemson, 24-22.

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Omaha gearing up for Outland Trophy presentation

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outland 3

You are invited!!!

Join us for the 3rd Annual Semi-Finalists Reception for this year’s Outland Award Trophy on Thursday, November 19 at 7 PM, DJ’s Dugout, 10th & Capitol Avenue, doors open at 6:00 pm.

The event is about college football –  in Omaha that will make national news! “LIVE FROM OMAHA NEBRASKA,” the Greater Omaha Sports Committee will Officially Announce the Semi-Finalists for the Outland!!

Save and get your group together!  Advance tickets are just $10 each.  Includes two drink tickets, hors d’oeuvres and door prizes throughout the evening.  Tickets at the door are $15 each.  Reply to this email or call our office at the Greater Omaha Sports Committee (402) 346-8003.  We will have your tickets at the reception.

outland 1The Outland Trophy Award Dinner’s emcee, Greg Sharpe, Voice of the Huskers, will also be the Master of Ceremonies at the event. The evening plans will include a number of familiar faces in the Omaha Sports Community including, Lee Barfknecht of the Omaha World-Herald, members of the Outland Trophy Award Dinner Committee, Rotary Club of Omaha-Downtown and the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.  Husker Greats will also be in attendance. The Outland Dinner Committee would like to thank our Reception Sponsors: Coca-Cola, Coors Light, and the Omaha World-Herald.

The evening will offer door prizes and chance to participate in a silent auction with exciting items, a hint of these items include: Front Row tickets to the College World Series; Pacific League AAA professional championship baseball items; KC Chiefs NFL game tickets; autographed books by Tom Shatel, Sean Callahan and Eric Crouch and other great books; Nebraska volleyball tickets; Creighton women’s & men’s nasketball tickets; Coors Light Neon.  There will be pregame — LIVE from 2 to 6 at the event — Unsportsmanlike Conduct. There will be video streaming with each of the semi-finalists for the Award.  Those recognized last year are all playing in the NFL on Sunday, except one junior who will probably make the list again this year.

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Photo gallery: Outland Trophy banquet

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These pictures were taken at the Outland Trophy presentation banquet on Jan. 15 at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Omaha.  Brandon Scherff became the fourth Iowa player to win the award and the second under Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz.  Ross Browner, the 1976 winner at Notre Dame, received his trophy, and former Nebraska offensive line coach Milt Tenopir was honored with the inaugural Tom Osborne Legacy Award for contributions to line play.

2014 Outland Trophy winner Brandon Scherff of Iowa (left), 1992 winner Will Shields of Nebraska (center) and 1976 winner Ross Browner of Notre Dame at the Outland Trophy presentation banquet on Jan. 15, 2015, at the Doubletree Hotel in Omaha.
Program for the 69th Outland Trophy presentation banquet on Jan. 15 in Omaha.
Former Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne presents the first Tom Osborne Legacy Award for contributions to line play to his long time assistant, offensive line coach Milt Tenopir. The presentation occurred during the Outland Trophy banquet on Jan. 15 in Omaha.
A band entertained guests at the Outland Trophy presentation banquet on Jan. 15 in Omaha.
The big screen at the Outland Trophy presentation banquet on Jan. 15 in Omaha.
Ross Browner, the 1976 Outland Trophy winner from Notre Dame, picked up his trophy and addressed the audience at the Outland Trophy banquet on Jan. 15 in Omaha.
Former Nebraska offensive line coach Milt Tenopir, recipient of the first Tom Osborne Legacy Award, on the big screen at the Outland Trophy banquet Jan. 15 in Omaha.
Former Nebraska Offensive Line Coach Milt Tenopir, recipient of the inaugural Tom Osborne Legacy Award for contributions to line play, signs autographs at the Outland Trophy presentation banquet on Jan. 15 in Omaha.
The Tom Osborne Legacy Award Plaque, presented to former Nebraska offensive line coach Milt Tenopir.
Iowa’s 2014 Outland Trophy winner, Brandon Scherff, and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz sign autographs at the Outland Trophy banquet on Jan. 15 in Omaha.
Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz speaks at the Outland Trophy banquet on Jan. 15. Brandon Scherff, a senior offensive tackle, was the fourth player from Iowa to win the Outland, and the second under Ferentz.

 

Photos from the Outland Trophy presentation at the College Football Awards Show

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Scenes from the Outland Trophy presentation and the College Football Awards Show at the Atlantic Dance Hall on the Boardwalk at Walt Disney World.

The Atlantic Dance Hall on the Boardwalk at Walt Disney housed the College Football Awards for the last time in 2014. The event moves to the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta in 2015.
Outland Winner Brandon Scherff of Iowa being interviewed before he won the award in Orlando.
The three 2014 Outland Trophy finalists (feft to right) center Reese Dismukes of Auburn, defensive tackle Malcom Brown of Texas and offensive tackle Brandon Scherff of Iowa.
Brandon Scherff being interviewed by Rece Davis on stage at the Dance Hall.
Brandon Scherff of Iowa and Malcom Brown of Texas being interviewed on the Red Carpet Show. Brown was an Outland finalist.
The “College GameDay” crew of Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Desmond Howard on set at Disney for the Awards Show.
The set at the Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney.
ESPN’s Mark May, the 1980 Outland Trophy winner from Pitt, announcing the 2014 winner.
Brandon Scherff of Iowa with his 2014 Outland Trophy.

Iowa’s Scherff wins 2014 Outland Trophy

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The Outland Trophy

The Outland Trophy

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Iowa offensive tackle Brandon Scherff accepted the 69th Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman during The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday night at the Disney Boardwalk.

Scherff, a 6-5, 320-pound senior, became the fourth Hawkeye to win the Outland Trophy after Calvin Jones (1955), Alex Karras (1957) and Robert Gallery (2003). Only players from Nebraska (eight different ones, nine total) and Oklahoma (five) have won more Outland Trophies than Iowa, with Ohio State players also claiming four.

Also in the audience at the Dance Hall were Auburn center Russ Dismukes and Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown, the other two 2014 Outland finalists. Former Pittsburgh offensive lineman and ESPN college football analyst Mark May, the 1980 Outland Trophy winner, made the on-stage presentation to Scherff, the fourth offensive tackle in the last five years to win the award.

Going into Iowa’s Taxslayer Bowl game against Tennessee on Jan. 2, Scherff has started 25 straight games for the Hawkeyes. In all he has played in 43 games and started 35 of them. He has been a strong leader in all four seasons that he has played in Iowa City. Iowa, 7-5, ranks 68th in scoring offense (28.3 ppg) and 66th in total offense (398.3 ypg). At left tackle, he has been rock solid this season for the Hawkeyes who have traditionally produced good offensive linemen.

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Outland Trophy seminfinalists will be announced from Omaha on Nov. 20

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The Outland Trophy

The Outland Trophy

OMAHA, Neb. — For the second straight year, the official announcement of the 2014 Outland Trophy semifinalists will be made at a reception on Nov. 20 at DJ’s Dugout, 10th & Capitol Avenue. The Football Writers Association of America will conduct the voting and selection process to determine these players.

The Outland Trophy semifinalists announcement of six or seven players will lead into ESPNU’s announcement of the three finalists on Nov. 25. The winner will be revealed during ESPN College Football Awards on Dec. 11. The Outland Trophy Dinner will be held in Omaha on Jan. 15, 2015, at the DoubleTree Hotel Downtown.

The Greater Omaha Sports Committee is excited to have this opportunity to recognize these outstanding players who will seek to become the 69th winner of this prestigious trophy, the third oldest player award in major-college football. The Outland Trophy Award Dinner, hosted in Omaha for the last 17 years, will be the site of the presentation again.

These unsung heroes work hard every day and don’t always receive the deserved attention and recognition for their hard work, sweat and blood, poured into battle every Saturday, for a game that is won or lost in the trenches. The one that rises to be the Best, the unsung hero, the Outland Winner!

The Outland Trophy Award Dinner’s emcee, Greg Sharpe, Voice of the Huskers, will also be the Master of Ceremonies at the semifinalist reception. The audience will include a number of familiar faces in the Omaha Sports Community, including former FWAA President Tom Shatel of the Omaha World-Herald and incoming 2015 FWAA President Lee Barfknecht of the same paper, members of the Outland Trophy Award Dinner Committee, Rotary Club of Omaha -Downtown and the Greater Omaha Sports Committee. Area football coaches, former Nebraska players and Outland winners will be invited to attend. Details of all of the evenings’ activities are being planned.

Guests will have the ability to bid on Unique Autographed Husker, Sports Packages & Outland items during a silent auction. The price of a $15 admission will include two drink tickets, hors d’oeuvres and the opportunity to claim door prizes. Our office, along with each DJ’s Dugout location in the Omaha Metro area, will have reception tickets for sale. Ask about a group discount. Simply contact Mike Mancuso at the Greater Omaha Sports Committee (402) 346-8003.

For the 18th consecutive year, Omaha will present the Outland Trophy Award to college football’s top interior lineman. Tickets are $75.00 and tables of ten sell for $750.00. Also appearing at the dinner for the 17th straight year will be the winners of Nebraska’s football senior awards – the Novak  Trophy, the Chamberlin Trophy and the Cletus Fischer Native Son Award. Cornhusker Coach Bo Pelini and Nebraska  assistant football coaches will be invited to attend.

Outland winners from 1946 -1987 received only plaques. So Downtown Rotary-Omaha, in conjunction with the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, the Omaha World-Herald and Cox Communications, for a number of years has presented a former winner with his trophy at the dinner. This January, Ross Browner, the 1976 Outland winner from Notre Dame, will receive his trophy in Omaha.

Click here for the Greater Omaha Sports Committee’s reception flier.