Jay C. Upchurch
3/7/2006, 05:09 PM
HOUSTON, Texas — Oklahoma linebacker Rufus Alexander, a consensus
All-Big 12 selection last season, is on the initial watch list for the
37th Rotary Lombardi Award.
A Sooner has been a finalist for the award three times in the last five
years and OU defensive tackle Tommie Harris, now with the Chicago Bears,
won the honor in 2003. Tony Casillas, another Oklahoma standout, was
the 1985 winner.
The 37h Rotary Lombardi Award will be presented on December 6 at the
Hilton Americas Hotel in Houston. A.J. Hawk of Ohio State was named the
36th winner of the award last year.
The 44 preliminary candidates earned a place on the initial Watch List
by earning All-American honors at the end of the 2005 or previous
seasons, or by being named to their respective All Conference team as
selected by the conference's head coaches. The Watch List will be
updated prior to the start of the 2006 season, in order to identify
those players who have been selected as pre-season honors candidates.
Last season, Alexander racked up 102 tackles while starting all 12
games. He notched six double-digit tackle games, including a
career-high 13 stops at Nebraska.
Alexander, now a senior, was second on the team in tackles for loss (to
Dusty Dvoracek) with 17. The Baton Rouge, La., native had five sacks,
two fumbles forced, one interception, one fumble recovery and nine pass
deflections.
Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen and
those defensive players who line up within five yards of the football.
While the Watch Lists highlights players who have already received
national recognition, any Division I player who meets the position
requirements is eligible for consideration by the Rotary Lombardi
Selection Committee. This committee is comprised of over 500 members,
including all past finalists, all Division I head coaches and a panel of
sportswriters and broadcasters. The Rotary Lombardi Watch List, intended
as a reference tool for the Selection Committee, will be periodically
updated and revised through the conclusion of the voting to determine
the 12 Semifinalists for 2006.
Founded in the weeks following the death of legendary football coach
Vince Lombardi from cancer in 1970, the Rotary Lombardi Award presented
by Wachovia Bank has annually delivered upon the mission set forth by
Marie Lombardi when she first granted the use of her late husband's
name. Her only stipulation was that all net proceeds from the event be
donated to the American Cancer Society and over $3.3 million has been
generated since that time, including over $140,000 in 2005.
OU Sports Information
All-Big 12 selection last season, is on the initial watch list for the
37th Rotary Lombardi Award.
A Sooner has been a finalist for the award three times in the last five
years and OU defensive tackle Tommie Harris, now with the Chicago Bears,
won the honor in 2003. Tony Casillas, another Oklahoma standout, was
the 1985 winner.
The 37h Rotary Lombardi Award will be presented on December 6 at the
Hilton Americas Hotel in Houston. A.J. Hawk of Ohio State was named the
36th winner of the award last year.
The 44 preliminary candidates earned a place on the initial Watch List
by earning All-American honors at the end of the 2005 or previous
seasons, or by being named to their respective All Conference team as
selected by the conference's head coaches. The Watch List will be
updated prior to the start of the 2006 season, in order to identify
those players who have been selected as pre-season honors candidates.
Last season, Alexander racked up 102 tackles while starting all 12
games. He notched six double-digit tackle games, including a
career-high 13 stops at Nebraska.
Alexander, now a senior, was second on the team in tackles for loss (to
Dusty Dvoracek) with 17. The Baton Rouge, La., native had five sacks,
two fumbles forced, one interception, one fumble recovery and nine pass
deflections.
Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen and
those defensive players who line up within five yards of the football.
While the Watch Lists highlights players who have already received
national recognition, any Division I player who meets the position
requirements is eligible for consideration by the Rotary Lombardi
Selection Committee. This committee is comprised of over 500 members,
including all past finalists, all Division I head coaches and a panel of
sportswriters and broadcasters. The Rotary Lombardi Watch List, intended
as a reference tool for the Selection Committee, will be periodically
updated and revised through the conclusion of the voting to determine
the 12 Semifinalists for 2006.
Founded in the weeks following the death of legendary football coach
Vince Lombardi from cancer in 1970, the Rotary Lombardi Award presented
by Wachovia Bank has annually delivered upon the mission set forth by
Marie Lombardi when she first granted the use of her late husband's
name. Her only stipulation was that all net proceeds from the event be
donated to the American Cancer Society and over $3.3 million has been
generated since that time, including over $140,000 in 2005.
OU Sports Information