Tag Archives: Greater Omaha Sports Committee

Photo gallery: Outland Trophy presentation dinner

by • Awards, Outland Trophy, Photo Galleries • Tags: ,

Photos from the Outland Trophy presentation dinner and related events on Jan. 10, 2018, in Omaha, Neb .

Bob Mancuso of the Greater Omaha Sports Committee with 2017 Outland Trophy winner Ed Oliver of the University of Houston. C41Photography.
Outland Trophy winner Ed Oliver of the University of Houston enjoys a laugh during his acceptance speech. C41Photography.
Outland winner Ed Oliver takes a question while Bob Mancuso of the Greater Omaha Sports Committee looks on from the podium. The Outland Trophy and the Tom Osborne Legacy Award are in the foreground. C41Photography.
Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, winner of the Tom Osborne Legacy Award, takes a question. C41Photography.
Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden and former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne autograph programs before the Outland Trophy presentation dinner. C41Photography.
The scene at the Outland Trophy presentation dinner. C41Photography.
Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden shakes hands with Nebraska’s 1972 Heisman Trophy winner, Johnny Rodgers, as former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne looks on. C41Photography.
Former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne autographs a guitar used to play the national anthem at the Outland Trophy presentation dinner. C41Photography.
2017 Outland Trophy winner Ed Oliver of Houston with 1971 winner Larry Jacobson of Nebraska. C41Photography.
Greg Sharpe, the play-by-play voice of Nebraska football, was the emcee at the Outland Trophy presentation dinner. C41Photography.
The audience rises for the national anthem at the Outland Trophy presentation dinner. C41Photography.
Those seated at the head table for the Outland Trophy presentation dinner included Nebraksa athletic director Bill Moos, former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden and former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne. C41Photography.

Florida State’s Bobby Bowden Will Receive Tom Osborne Legacy Award

by • Spotlight on the Outland Trophy • Tags: , ,

OMAHA — Bobby Bowden, Florida State University’s highly successful football coach from 1976 to 2009, will appear in Omaha for the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner on Jan.10, 2018, at the Downtown Doubletree Hotel.

Bowden, 87, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006, will accept the fourth annual Tom Osborne Legacy Award from the legendary former Nebraska head football coach.

For the 21st consecutive year, the prestigious awards dinner will be held in Omaha where the Outland Trophy will be presented to the 2017 winner. The best interior linemen in college football, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), will be announced on ESPN on Dec. 7, 2017 during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

“Having Bobby Bowden receive the Tom Osborne Legacy Award brings together iconic coaches of the same era who not only coached against each other in some epic games, but who share many of the same values off the field,” said FWAA Executive Director Steve Richardson. “It is another home run for the city of Omaha and the FWAA in conjunction with the presentation of the 2017 Outland Trophy to a worthy recipient.”

Also on hand in Omaha will be Greg Sharpe, the radio voice of the Cornhuskers who will emcee the dinner where Nebraska senior awards will be presented: the Tom Novak Trophy, Guy Chamberlin Trophy and Cletus Fischer Native Son Award.

The Legacy Award, which Bowden will receive, is presented to a person for making extraordinary contributions to the Outland Trophy and to the interior line play in college football; for exhibiting the characteristics of integrity, sportsmanship and fair play associated with Tom Osborne; for demonstrating a record of leadership and good citizenship in the community that’s consistent with Rotary International’s primary motto, “Service Above Self”.

Previous winners of the Osborne Award are former Nebraska assistant coach Milt Tenopir, Outland Trophy sculptor Jim Ridlon and former Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer.

Bowden is only the third coach in major-college football history to coach 500 games and is the only coach in the history of major-college football to compile 14 straight 10- victory seasons from 1987-2000.  Bowden led the Seminoles to consensus national championships in 1993 and 1999 and won 12 Atlantic Coast Conference titles.  In claiming the first of the national titles, Bowden’s Seminoles defeated Osborne’s Nebraska Cornhuskers, 18-16, in the 1994 Orange Bowl.

Bowden makes monthly motivational speeches to Christian groups. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) also presents an award in his name each year to a Division I FBS football player “who epitomizes the student-athlete and conducts himself as a faith model in the community, in the classroom and on the field.”

Additionally, the Outland Trophy semifinalists announcement reception will be held in Omaha on Nov. 16, 2017 at the Old Mattress Factory.

For more information on the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner and semifinalists reception contact:

Bob Mancuso, Jr.

Chairman – Greater Omaha Sports Committee

7015 Spring St

Omaha NE 68106

w – 402-346-8003

fax – 402-346-5412

bmancuso07@msn.com

www.showofficeonline.com

The Outland Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 23 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about our story.

The Football Writers Association of America, founded in 1941, consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.

The Greater Omaha Sports Committee, founded in 1977, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization,consisting of more than 1000 men and women from the City of Omaha, the State of Nebraska, and others. The membership serves to communicate, develop, initiate and promote sports activities in the Greater Omaha sports area. In addition to the Outland Trophy Award Dinner, the Greater Omaha Sports Committee promotes high school, college, and professional sports in the Greater

Alabama’s Robinson wins 2016 Outland Trophy

by • Awards, News, Outland Trophy • Tags: , , ,

outland trophy bwATLANTA — Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson claimed the 71st Outland Trophy on Thursday night during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN from the College Football Hall of Fame.

It is the fifth time one school has swept the FWAA’s two major position awards in the same season: the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman in college football on offense or defense) and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player). But it is the first time two different players from the same school have won the awards in the same year.

In the four other sweeps, it was the same player. Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen claimed the FWAA’s Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Monday night in Charlotte.

Ohio State senior center Pat Elflein and Washington State junior offensive guard Cody O’Connell were the other two finalists for the 2016 Outland Trophy.

robinson_cam-crop

Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson, winner of the 2016 Outland Trophy.

Robinson, a 6-6, 310-pound junior from Monroe, La., is the top offensive tackle on the No. 1-ranked team in college football. He has started every game at left tackle since he has been on campus (42 straight games). He had 28 knockdown blocks in the regular season. He has been selected a six-time offensive player of the week by the Alabama coaching staff. He played a great game in the 10-0 victory at LSU, with no sacks allowed and no penalties. He has blocked for 10 100-yard rushers this season. In the 30-12 victory over Auburn in the Iron Bowl, Robinson graded out at 89 percent and did not allow a quarterback hurry or sack. He cleared a path for 203 rushing yards in that game.

“He certainly is a dominant offensive lineman on the college scene and should have a great future in the NFL,” said Steve Richardson, FWAA Executive Director. “He follows in a long line of outstanding linemen for the Tide. He is the third under Nick Saban since (2008) to win the Ourland Trophy. Alabama runs the ball with authority against just about everybody, and Robinson is a big reason why.”

Alabama ties Ohio State and Iowa with Outland winners at four – the third highest total by one school. Alabama didn’t have a winner until 1999, but now has Robinson, Chris Samuels (1999), Andre Smith (2008) and Barrett Jones (2011). Nebraska leads all schools with eight different Outland Trophy winners (nine total), followed by Oklahoma with five then Alabama, Ohio State and Iowa with four each.

The Outland Trophy, which is named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1800s, is the third oldest player award in major college football behind the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award. It has been awarded to the best interior lineman in college football on offense or defense since 1946 when Notre Dame’s George Connor was named the recipient.

For the 20th consecutive year, the presentation of the Outland Trophy will occur in Omaha, on Jan. 11, 2017, at a banquet sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee. At the same banquet, Oklahoma offensive lineman Greg Roberts, will receive an Outland Trophy. Roberts was the 1978 winner of the award before trophies were handed out by the FWAA. His Oklahoma coach, the legendary Barry Switzer, will receive the third annual Tom Osborne Legacy Award during the evening.

The Outland Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 22 awards boast more 700 years of tradition-selection excellence. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about our story.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com or call 214-870-6516.

The Greater Omaha Sports Committee, founded in 1977, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, consisting of more than 900 men and women from the City of Omaha, the State of Nebraska and others. The membership serves to communicate, develop, initiate and promote sports activities in the Greater Omaha sports area. In addition to the Outland Trophy Award Dinner, the Greater Omaha Sports Committee promotes high school, college, and professional sports in the Greater Omaha area and the Midwest.

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Three finalists named for 2016 Outland Trophy

by • Awards, News, Outland Trophy • Tags: , ,

outland trophy bwDALLAS — Three finalists for the 71st Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football on offense or defense, were named on Monday by the Football Writers Association of America: Ohio State center Pat Elflein, Washington State offensive guard Cody O’Connell and Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson.

pat-elflein-crop

Pat Elflein

Elflein, 6-3, 300-pound senior. He has started all 11 games for the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes (10-1), who play Michigan on Saturday in a showdown of Big Ten East Division powers. He is the only senior on Ohio State’s offensive line. He has 40 career starts. Played guard (All-Big Ten first team twice as a sophomore and junior)) previous to this season, but moved to center in 2016 because he probably will play that position in the NFL. The fifth-year graduate student received his degree in communications last May. One of the top Ohio State players in the weight room as well as academically. Ohio State ranks fifth in scoring (43.8 ppg), eighth in rushing offense (263.1) ypg), 68th  in passing offense (230.0 ypg) and 21st in total offense (493.1 ypg).

oconnellcody-crop

Cody O’Connell

O’Connell, 6-8, 351-pound junior guard. He helps trigger Washington State’s high-octane offense which ranks second in the country in passing behind quarterback Luke Falk. The Cougars are 8-3 overall and will meet Washington on Friday to determine the Pac-12 North Division champion. Through the first nine games, O’Connell had graded out at 92 percent, allowing zero sacks. Has 23 knockdowns through nine games in 364 pass plays. Came in second half and helped rally WSU to a 35-31 win at Oregon State after the Cougars were trailing 21-0 at halftime. Won three Bone Awards from staff.

Washington State is No. 2 in FBS in passing (380.05),  10th in scoring (42.5 ppg), 114th in rushing (132.5 ypg) and No. 10 in total offense (512.5 ypg.)

robinson_cam-crop

Cam Robinson

Robinson, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound junior, is the top offensive tackle on the No. 1-ranked team in college football that produces 477.6 offensive yards a game. He has started every game at left tackle since he has been on campus (40 straight games). He has 23 knockdown blocks through 11 games of the season. He has been a five-time offensive player of the week by the Alabama coaching staff. Played great game in victory at LSU, with no sacks and no penalties. Similar game vs. Tennessee, in which he starred. He has blocked for 10 100-yard rushers this season. Alabama ranks 14th in the country in scoring (40.3 ppg), 13th in rushing  (249.8 ypg), 71stnd in passing (227.6 ypg) and 27thd in total offense (477.6 ypg).

The winner of the 2016 Outland Trophy will be announced Dec. 8 on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN, the main show beginning at 7 p.m. (Eastern Time) from the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Alabama, Ohio State and Washington State all have had previous Outland Trophy winners. The Buckeyes lead the group with four previous winners: Jim Parker (1956), Jim Stillwagon (1970), John Hicks (1973) and Orlando Pace (1996). Alabama didn’t have a winner until 1999, but now has three previous winners: Chris Samuels (1999), Andre Smith (2008) and Barrett Jones (2011). Washington State’s lone previous winner is Rien Long (2002).

The Outland Trophy. which is named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1800s, is the third-oldest player award in major-college football behind the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award. It has been awarded to the best interior lineman in college football on offense or defense since 1946 when Notre Dame’s George Connor was named the recipient.

For the 20th consecutive year, the presentation of the Outland Trophy will occur in Omaha, on Jan. 11, 2017 at a banquet sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee. At the same banquet, Oklahoma offensive lineman Greg Roberts, will receive an Outland Trophy. Roberts was the 1978 winner of the award before trophies were handed out by the FWAA. His Oklahoma coach, the legendary Barry Switzer, will receive the third annual Tom Osborne Legacy Award during the evening.

The Outland Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 22 awards boast about 700 years of tradition-selection excellence.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com or call 214-870-6516.

The Greater Omaha Sports Committee, founded in 1977, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, consisting of more than 900 men and women from the City of Omaha, the State of Nebraska and others. The membership serves to communicate, develop, initiate and promote sports activities in the Greater Omaha sports area. In addition to the Outland Trophy Award Dinner, the Greater Omaha Sports Committee promotes high school, college, and professional sports in the Greater Omaha area and the Midwest.

Outland presentation dinner plans announced

by • Awards, News, Outland Trophy • Tags: , ,

outland-semi-finalist-reception-2OMAHA — For the 20th consecutive year, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the Greater Omaha Sports Committee will combine to host the Outland Trophy Presentation Dinner.  It will occur on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Omaha.

The 71st winner of the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman on offense or defense) will be revealed on Dec. 8 on The Home Depot College Football Awards. The show, on ESPN, is broadcast from the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

The 2016 Outland Trophy winner will then appear in Omaha and receive his trophy. This tradition dates to 1997 when Nebraska offensive lineman Aaron Taylor became the first Outland Trophy winner to be honored in Omaha.

The Outland Trophy Presentation Dinner will have an Oklahoma flavor to it this season, which coincides with the 45th Anniversary of the Nebraska-Oklahoma Game of the Century, won by Nebraska, 35-31, in 1971.

The Sooners’ Greg Roberts, the 1978 Outland Trophy winner, will receive his trophy because only plaques were given by the FWAA during the era in which he was the winner. The 1988 winner, Tracy Rocker of Auburn, was the first player to receive an Outland Trophy. The Downtown Rotary Club of Omaha for many years has graciously sponsored the project of supplying former Outland winners (from 1946-1987) with their trophies.

Additionally, former Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer will claim the third annual Tom Osborne Legacy Award. Switzer coached two Outland Trophy winners, Roberts and the late Lee Roy Selmon, the 1975 Outland Trophy winner. Both Osborne and Switzer were assistant coaches on the Nebraska and Oklahoma staffs, respectively, in 1971, when the Game of the Century was played, before later becoming long-running head coaches at those schools.

The Legacy Award, named after the legendary Osborne, goes to a person who predominately played, coached and/ or made extraordinary contributions to the interior line of college football and/or made contributions to the Outland Trophy. The winner must exhibit the characteristics of integrity, sportsmanship and fair play associated with Tom Osborne.

The winners of Nebraska’s three football senior awards also will be presented at the banquet .

The Tom Novak Trophy is awarded annually to the senior who “best exemplifies courage and determination despite all odds.” The Guy Chamberlin Trophy goes to the senior “who by his play and off-field contributions has added to the betterment of the Nebraska football squad in the tradition of Guy Chamberlin.” And the Cletus Fischer Native Son Award,  is given annually to the senior who “best exemplifies good work ethic, competitiveness, leadership, pride and love of Nebraska.”

For more information on the Outland Trophy Presentation Banquet contact Bob Mancuso Jr., Greater Omaha Sports Committee, 402-346-8003,   or at bmancuso07@msn.com.

Photo gallery: Outland Trophy presentation banquet

by • Awards, Outland Trophy, Photo Galleries • Tags: , , , ,

These pictures come from the banquet at which Stanford’s Joshua Garnett received his Outland Trophy on Jan. 14 in Omaha.  Randy White, the 1974 winner at Maryland, also received his trophy. Before 1988 winners received only a plaque. Since then Omaha’s Downtown Rotary has sponsored presentation of an Outland Trophy to one of the early winners each year.

Three Outland Trophy winners: Joshua Garnett of Stanford (2015), Larry Jacobson of Nebraska (1971) and Randy White of Maryland (1974). Photo provided by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.
The three finalists for the 2015 Outland Trophy: Spencer Drango of Baylor, Joshua Garnett of Stanford and A’Shawn Robinson of Alabama appear on the big screen at the banquet. Photo provided by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.
2015 Outland Trophy winner Joshua Garnett of Stanford and his coach David Shaw. Photo provided by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.
2015 Outland Trophy winner Joshua Garnett of Stanford addresses the audience at the presentation banquet. Photo provided by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.
2015 Outland Trophy winner Joshua Garnett of Stanford, former Nebraska star Johnny Rogers and 1974 Outland winner Randy White, who received his trophy at the banquet on Jan. 14 in Omaha. Photo provided by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.
Images of previous Outland Trophy winners were displayed on the big screen at the presentation banquet. Among them was 1974 winner Randy White of Maryland, who received his trophy this year. From 1946 through 1987, Outland winners received a plaque. Since then Omaha’s Downtown Rotary has sponsored presentation of an Outland Trophy to one of the early winners each year. Photo provided by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.
Randy White, who won the 1974 Outland Trophy while at Maryland, addresses the audience at the presentation banquet. Photo provided by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.
The Tom Osborne Legacy Award went to Jim Ridlon Sr., a former college and professional football player and the artist who sculpted the Outland Trophy. Photo provided by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.
Former Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne talks with Jim Ridlon Sr., the sculptor who created the Outland Trophy and the recipient of this year’s Tom Osborne Legacy Award, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Omaha-Downtown. Photo provided by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.
Jim Ridlon Sr., the sculptor of the Outland Trophy, and his wife pose with the Tom Osborne Legacy Award. Photo provided by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.
A band provided musical entertainment at the Outland Trophy presentation banquet, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, on Jan. 14 in Omaha. Photo provided by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.
The ballroom at the Downtown DoubleTree Hotel in Omaha was packed for the Outland Trophy presentation banquet on Jan. 14. Photo provided by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.
Greg Sharpe, voice of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, was the emcee of the Outland Trophy presentation banquet Jan. 14 in Omaha. Photo provided by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.

Three finalists for Outland Trophy named

by • Awards, Outland Trophy • Tags: , ,

ffaw_redesignOMAHA — Three finalists for the 2015 Outland Trophy — two offensive linemen and one defensive tackle — were announced on Tuesday afternoon on The Home Depot College Football Awards Nomination Special on ESPNU.

The Football Writers Association of America, in a vote of its 2015 All-America Committee, has determined the following three finalists for the award, in alphabetical order: Baylor offensive tackle Spencer Drango, Stanford offensive guard Joshua Garnett and Alabama defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson.

The winner of the 70th Outland Trophy, awarded to the best interior lineman in college football on offense or defense, will be revealed Thurs., Dec. 10 on ESPN on The Home Depot College Football Awards. For the first time the show will originate from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta from 7 to 9 p.m. ET.

outland trophy bwHere is a look at the three finalists:

Spencer Drango, OT, Baylor (6-6, 320, Sr., Cedar Park, Texas): Drango has a team-high 45 career starts (23 consecutive) for the powerful Bears’ offensive line. He is also a William V. Campbell Trophy finalist (top academic player). He is in his fourth season as a starting left tackle for an offense that is on pace to break an FBS record for total yards gained per game and is close to the all-time scoring record in points per game. The Bears’ offense is No. 1 in scoring and yards gained per game in the FBS in 2015. Drango is grading out at 93 percent and has 36 knockdowns. The veteran Baylor offensive line has allowed just 12 sacks in 10 games.

Joshua Garnett, G, Stanford (6-5, 321, Sr., Puyallup, Wash.): A dominant run blocker for the Cardinal, which has scored 30 or more points in each of its past 10 games. He has started 26 straight games for Stanford, which has rushed for at least 100 yards in 45 of its last 48 games. Garnett, a team captain, is a great finisher of blocks and through 11 games had 82 pancakes. He has helped Stanford win the time of possession battle in 15 of its last 17 games with his consistent play. Stanford is 15th in the FBS in rushing offense and 21st in scoring.

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 recent 31-6 victory at Mississippi State with a career-high 2.5 sacks and leads the team with eight quarterback hurries to go with a career-high 36 tackles. He has seven tackles for 23 yards in losses this season and has broken up two passes, recovered a fumble and blocked a kick. Alabama is tied for third in scoring defense and is third in total defense in the FBS.

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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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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.