Nebraska's Suh Wins 2009 Outland Trophy

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (FWAA) - Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was named the 64th winner of the Outland Trophy on Thursday night, marking the ninth time a player from Nebraska has won the award.

The winner of the Outland Trophy, which goes to the best interior linemen on offense or defense in college football, was announced during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show from The Walt Disney World Resort.

Nebraska has had seven previous players win the award a total of eight times, including two-time winner Dave Rimington in 1981 and '82. Other previous winners from the school are Larry Jacobson (1971); Rich Glover (1972), Dean Steinkuhler (1983), Will Shields (1992), Zach Wiegert (1994) and Aaron Taylor (1997).

Suh also became the second player in three years to sweep the Football Writers Association of America's two primary individual awards, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Best Defensive Player) and now the Outland. LSU's Glenn Dorsey won both two years ago. The only other player to do so was Arizona's Rob Waldrop in 1993. Suh, who also has claimed the Lombardi Trophy, is one of five finalists for the Heisman Trophy and could become only the second primarily defensive player to win that award.

This season, Suh led Nebraska in tackles with 50 unassisted and 32 assisted. He had 23 tackles for losses (12 sacks for 77 yards in losses), 10 pass breakups, 26 quarterback hurries, one interception, one forced fumble and three blocked kicks. In the 13-12 loss in the Big 12 title game against Texas last Saturday, Suh was credited with 4.5 sacks of Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy, seven total tackles for loss, a career-high 12 tackles and two quarterback hurries.

"We thought (Gerald) McCoy at Oklahoma was as good as we've seen in years," Texas coach Mack Brown said after the Big 12 Championship Game. "And Ndamukong did the same tonight. He was all over the place. And we just couldn't handle him. ... He is really, really good, and played hard all night."

Suh's sack of Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert in the first quarter of the Cornhuskers' 27-12 victory over the Tigers in early October possibly changed the course of the Big 12 North season. Gabbert suffered an ankle injury on the play. Although he continued to play, his mobility was hampered and Suh also intercepted a Gabbert pass in the fourth quarter.

"The numbers he puts up and the things he does athletically at that size, he's a very dominant player," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "He's a great, great football player. I can't imagine a lot of other defensive tackles like him in the country. I'd like to see them."

The FWAA selects the Outland Trophy winner from its 25-man All-America team which will be announced on Saturday afternoon on ABC-TV at 1:30 p.m. ET. Suh was chosen as the recipient of the Outland Trophy over Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung and Idaho offensive guard Mike Iupati.

The Outland Trophy, which has been awarded annually by the FWAA since 1946, is named after the late John Outland, a lineman at Pennsylvania at the turn of the century. The Outland Trophy is the third oldest award in major college football behind the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award.

The official 2009 award presentation to Suh will be Jan. 14, 2010 in Omaha, Neb., at a banquet sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee. Ohio State's John Hicks, the 1973 Outland Trophy winner, will also receive his trophy there.

Photo Courtesy of Dennis Hubbard

ALABAMA'S SABAN WINS 2008 EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (FWAA) - Alabama coach Nick Saban was named the winner of the 2008 FWAA/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award for the second time in six years on Tuesday night at a reception here.

The Eddie Robinson Award is sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and was presented in conjunction with the BCS 1-2 game to be played Thursday night at Dolphin Stadium. The entire FWAA membership votes on the association's coach of the year award, which was narrowed to nine finalists in early December.

"Nick Saban has proven to be a winner wherever he has gone," said 2008 FWAA president Ron Higgins. "He has re-established Alabama as a national power in quick fashion. He was an overwhelming choice by our members for this very prestigious award."

The FWAA has honored a major college coach with its coach of the year award since 1957 and Saban is only the second coach to win the FWAA award at two different schools. He also captured the Eddie Robinson Award when he was coach at LSU in 2003. Lou Holtz was the FWAA coach of the year in 1988 at Notre Dame and also in 1977 at Arkansas.

After a 7-6 record in his first season at Alabama in 2007, Saban's Crimson Tide won its first 12 games of the 2008 season. Alabama eventually rose to No. 1 in country after a victory over Arkansas State. The Crimson Tide won the Southeastern Conference's Western Division and beat Auburn for the first time since 2001.

Saban previously was coach of the Miami Dolphins for two seasons (2005 and '06) after spending 11 seasons as a head coach in the college ranks at Toledo (one season) and five years each at Michigan State and LSU. He won the national title at LSU in 2003. He's a native of Fairmont, W. Va., and played college football and graduated from Kent State.

In 1997, the FWAA coaching award was named after Eddie Robinson, a coaching legend at Grambling State University for 55 years. The late "Coach Rob" has more Division I victories (408) than any other coach. Coach Robinson passed away on April 4, 2007. But his legacy will certainly not be forgotten. He coached his entire career at Grambling and produced numerous professional players and coaches as well as players who graduated and distinguished themselves in other professional endeavors.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of nearly 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. 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, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

TULSA'S HOLLOWAY WINS 2008 FEDEX ORANGE BOWL COURAGE AWARD

DALLAS (FWAA) - Tulsa's Wilson Holloway is the winner of the 2008 FedEx Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Holloway, a redshirt freshman offensive lineman from Oklahoma City, has battled cancer since last spring, when a softball-sized mass was discovered in his chest.

Holloway will be presented the award at the BCS Championship Game on Jan. 8 in Miami. He will also be honored that day at the Football Writers Association of America's annual awards breakfast.

"I don't think anyone sets their goal at the beginning of the year that, 'Boy, I hope I win the Courage Award,'" said Tulsa co-offensive coordinator Herb Hand. "But ... I can't think of a better guy to get it. On top of that, once he whips this cancer, he'll be a tremendous player for us and he'll be an inspiration to a bunch of people."

After Holloway was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, he underwent chemotherapy treatment throughout the spring and returned to play for the Golden Hurricane this season on special teams and in a reserve role.

Last October, however, tests on a swollen lymph node showed the cancer had returned. He began a treatment cycle that included two rounds of chemotherapy with three-week breaks between, followed by five straight days of treatment during which he was sequestered in the hospital.

Despite the cancer, Holloway played in six games - including one game (Oct. 26 vs. Central Florida) after he had begun treatment. When he began losing his hair, his fellow offensive linemen shaved their heads. Hand did, as well.

His coaches and teammates say through it all, Holloway has remained optimistic and determined.

"The natural thing a person asks in that situation is, 'Why me?'" Hand said. "Whether Wilson has ever asked himself that or not, you'd never know just because of the way he's handled it. He's shown an unbelievable courage and a great spirit and attitude."

"There's a light on the other side," Holloway told the Tulsa World. "I'm keeping an upbeat, positive spirit about it. God doesn't put anything on us that we can't handle. That's the one reason that I've been so calm about it."

"We're extremely proud of Wilson's courage and his faith," Tulsa coach Todd Graham said. "His example to our team has been absolutely outstanding. We're so excited for him to be honored this way with the Courage Award. It's an unbelievable reflection on such a great human being. He's been a tremendous example to everyone on how to face adversity and that's with an unbelievable faith and determination. He's got a spirit that is extremely unique and has been an inspiration to our team."

For the third straight year, the Football Writers Association of America and the FedEx Orange Bowl announced a weekly nominee during the season. A blue-ribbon panel determined the winner from all of the nominees.

The Courage Award was created by ESPN The Magazine's senior writer Gene Wojciechowski, also a FWAA member. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship.

Previous winners of the FWAA's Courage Award are Navy's Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson's Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis' Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State's Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo's William Bratton (2002).

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Orange Bowl Committee is a not-for-profit, 333-member, primarily-volunteer organization. It is a self-sustaining, independent organization that supports and produces activities and events that enhance the image, economy and culture of South Florida. In addition to the 75th edition of the Orange Bowl Festival, which features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the FedEx Orange Bowl on January 1, the Orange Bowl Committee will host the 2009 FedEx BCS Championship Game on January 8. For more information on the 2008-09 Orange Bowl Festival and its events, including promotional and volunteer opportunities, visit orangebowl.org.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. 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, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

For more information in the FedEx Orange Bowl/FWAA Courage Award visit the FWAA website at footballwriters.com.

FWAA NAMES 2008 ALL-AMERICA TEAM

DALLAS (FWAA) – For the second straight season, the two best conferences in college football dominated the Football Writers Association of America's All-America Team. The association's 65th edition was led by seven players from the offensive-laden Big 12 Conference and six from the more defensive-oriented Southeastern Conference.

The FWAA All-America Team, the second longest continuously published team in major college football, was announced today on ABC-TV at 5 p.m. ET for the fifth straight season during a one-hour show that was sponsored by AT&T. The FWAA has named an All-America team in some form since 1944.

Highlighting the offensive side of the ball were six players from the Big 12, which produced five of college football's most productive offensives in 2008. Texas' Colt McCoy is the quarterback of the team, and his teammate end Brian Orakpo is the Big 12's lone representative on the defensive side of the ball.

Meanwhile, Alabama tackle Andre Smith, the 2008 Outland Trophy winner, is one of two SEC players on the offensive side of the ball along with Ole Miss tackle Michael Oher. The SEC landed three players on the defensive side of the ball, along with one on special teams.

Five schools among the nation's Top 10 – Alabama, Florida, Penn State, Texas and USC – each have two players on the team. There are two repeaters on the FWAA team from last season, Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree and Utah kicker Louie Sakoda. Sakoda, however, made the 2007 team as a punter. And for the second straight season, Missouri has a tight end on the team. This season Chase Coffman succeeded Martin Rucker at that spot.

After the Big 12 and SEC, the Big Ten Conference is next with four selections and the Big East, Pacific-10 and Mountain West had two each. The Atlantic Coast Conference and Conference USA each has one player on the team. Orakpo, one of two ends from the state of Texas on the team, claimed the FWAA's Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top defender.

2008 FWAA ALL-AMERICA TEAM

OFFENSE
QB Colt McCoy, Texas 6-3 210 Jr. Tuscola, Texas
RB Shonn Greene, Iowa 5-11 235 Jr. Sicklerville, N.J.
RB Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State 5-8 190 So. Tyler, Texas
WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech 6-3 214 So. Dallas, Texas
WR Jarett Dillard, Rice 5-11 185 Sr. San Antonio, Texas
TE Chase Coffman, Missouri 6-6 245 Sr. Peculiar, Mo.
OL Michael Oher, Mississippi 6-5 318 Sr. Memphis, Tenn.
OL Duke Robinson, Oklahoma 6-5 335 Sr. Atlanta, Ga.
OL Andre Smith, Alabama 6-4 330 Jr. Birmingham, Ala.
OL Jason Smith, Baylor 6-5 305 Sr. Dallas, Texas
C A.Q. Shipley, Penn State 6-1 297 Sr. Coraopolis, Pa.

DEFENSE
DL Terrence Cody, Alabama 6-5 365 Jr. Fort Myers, Fla.
DL Jerry Hughes, TCU 6-2 248 Jr. Sugar Land, Texas
DL Aaron Maybin, Penn State 6-4 236 So. Ellicott City, Md.
DL Brian Orakpo, Texas 6-4 260 Sr. Houston, Texas
LB Rey Maualuga, USC 6-2 260 Sr. Eureka, Calif.
LB Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh 6-2 240 Sr. Export, Pa.
LB Brandon Spikes, Florida 6-3 245 Jr. Shelby, N.C.
DB Eric Berry, Tennessee 5-11 195 So. Fairburn, Ga.
DB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State 6-1 201 Sr. Piscataway, N.J.
DB Taylor Mays, USC 6-3 230 Jr. Seattle, Wash.
DB Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest 5-9 190 Sr. Pahokee, Fla.

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Louie Sakoda, Utah 5-9 178 Sr. San Jose, Calif.
P Kevin Huber, Cincinnati 6-1 220 Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio
RS Brandon James, Florida 5-7 186 Jr. St. Augustine, Fla.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Texas Tech)

ALABAMA'S SMITH WINS 2008 OUTLAND TROPHY

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (FWAA) - Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith was named the winner of the 63rd Outland Trophy on Thursday night, becoming the second straight Southeastern Conference player to win the award.

The winner of the Outland Trophy, which goes to the best interior linemen on offense or defense in college football, was announced during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show from The Walt Disney World Resort.

Smith became the second Alabama player to win the Outland Trophy after the Crimson Tide's Chris Samuels in 1999. LSU's Glenn Dorsey claimed the award a year ago.

The Football Writers Association of America selects the Outland winner from its 25-man All-America team, which will be announced on Saturday afternoon on ABC television. Smith won the Outland over Mississippi offensive tackle Michael Oher and Oklahoma offensive guard Duke Robinson, the other two Outland Trophy finalists.

"I was surprised to hear my name called because either one of those other two guys could have won the award," Smith said. "I think it helped to play on a dominating offensive line like we had, that opened up holes for our running game. I am proud to win this award, though I'd still like to be playing for a national championship."

Smith, a 6-5, 330-pound junior from Birmingham, Ala., has started 13 games at left tackle and has surrendered just one sack. He has helped Alabama (12-1) rank among the Top 25 rushing teams in college football. He was the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week when Alabama rushed for 328 yards against Arkansas. Smith is also projected in some circles, if he elects to come out, to be the No. 1 player to be selected overall in the 2009 NFL Draft.

"There are a lot more guys who get the reputation than actually live up to the billing," said Alabama coach Nick Saban. "He started as a freshman and has improved every year. I don't see them all, and I'm not saying he is better than anybody else, but it's hard for me to think there is any other offensive lineman who has played any better than him this season."

The Outland Trophy, which has been awarded annually by the FWAA since 1946, is named after the late John Outland, a lineman at Pennsylvania at the turn of the century. The Outland Trophy is the third oldest award in major college football behind the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award.

The official 2008 award presentation to Smith will be Jan. 15, 2009, in Omaha, Neb., at a banquet sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee. Oklahoma's J.D. Roberts, the 1953 Outland Trophy winner, will also receive his trophy there.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of nearly 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. 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 gameday operations, major awards, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

The Outland Trophy is a proud member of the National College Football Awards Association, which was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game's predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information on the NCFAA, visit www.ncfaa.org.

For more information on the Outland Trophy, go to the official website www.outlandtrophy.com.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Alabama)

NINE FINALISTS NAMED FOR 2008 EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD

DALLAS (FWAA) - The Football Writers Association of America has announced nine finalists for the 2008 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award to be voted upon by the entire membership.

With the 2008 regular season completed, the FWAA, in conjunction with the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, has tabbed the following finalists: Texas' Mack Brown, USC's Pete Carroll, Texas Tech's Mike Leach, Florida's Urban Meyer, Penn State's Joe Paterno, Boise State's Chris Petersen, Alabama's Nick Saban, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and Utah's Kyle Whittingham.

The finalists will be placed on a ballot which will be sent to the entire FWAA membership.

Two of the finalists, Boise State's Petersen and Utah's Whittingham, have directed their teams to unbeaten regular seasons, while seven of the nine coaches have led their teams to Bowl Championship Series games.

Of the nine finalists, four have previously been named the FWAA's National Coach of the Year, led by Penn State's Joe Paterno, who has been honored by the FWAA three times (1978, '82 and '86). Paterno has been a finalist on two other occasions (1997 and 2005). Florida's Urban Meyer (2004), Alabama's Nick Saban (2003) and Oklahoma's Bob Stoops (2000) are the other previous winners. Saban is trying to become the second coach to win the honor at two different schools after earning the award at LSU five seasons ago.

While USC's Pete Carroll has never won the award, he has been a finalist three times in three consecutive years (2003-05). This also is the third time Texas' Mack Brown has been named a finalist, the second time at Texas (2005). In 1997, he was a finalist for the award at North Carolina. Boise State's Petersen is a finalist for the second time in three years, while Texas Tech's Leach and Utah's Whittingham are the only two first-time finalists. The FWAA began naming its coaching award in honor of the late Robinson, the legendary Grambling State University coach, in 1997.

The winner of the FWAA/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award will be announced and honored at a reception on Jan. 6 in Miami sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and presented in conjunction with the FedEx BCS Championship Game.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. 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, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

For more information on the Eddie Robinson Award, visit eddierobinsonaward.com.

TEXAS' ORAKPO WINS 2008 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (FWAA) - Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo on Sunday night claimed the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which annually is awarded to the best defensive player in college football.

Orakpo became the 16th winner of the award as voted upon by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. He is the second Texas player to win the award following linebacker Derrick Johnson in 2004.

Orakpo, a 6-4, 260-pound senior from Houston, is considered a top NFL prospect and will receive his degree in Sports Management this month. He was a prep basketball star who didn't focus on football until his senior year at Lamar High School.

But he has developed into one of college football's strongest and best players while at Texas.

He entered Texas weighing 210 pounds, but 50 pounds later, he has only eight percent body fat. He squats 600 pounds, benches presses 515 pounds and power cleans 380. Orakpo has run a 4.6 40-yard dash and has registered a 42-inch vertical leap.

"He has such an unbelievable combination of strength and speed that he's really unblockable," Texas coach Mack Brown said of Orakpo. "As an offense, you have to account for him on every play or he'll just take over the game. Even when teams have tried to double team him or get him out of his game, he's such a smart, determined and gifted player that he's found a way to still have a big impact."

During Texas' four-game, mid-season stretch against ranked Big 12 teams - Oklahoma, Missouri, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech - Orakpo was simply sensational. He registered 16 tackles, three sacks, seven tackles for losses, nine pressures, a forced fumble and helped force an interception.

At the tail end of that stretch, Texas had defeated Oklahoma, Missouri and Oklahoma State, but Orakpo missed most of the second half of the Texas Tech loss with a knee injury.

"It really hurt us when he went down for the second half of the game against Texas Tech," Brown continued. "I have never been around a player who works any harder than 'Rak.' He never takes a play off in a practice or a game, is always in the weight room working to get bigger, stronger and faster, studies his film and prepares as well as anyone."

Orakpo's efforts certainly mirror the person for whom the trophy is named. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is given in memory of the legendary Nagurski, a former All-American lineman at Minnesota (1927-29) and star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s.

The four other 2008 Nagurski Trophy finalists were TCU end Jerry Hughes, USC linebacker Rey Maualuga, Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith and Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. 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, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is www.touchdownclub.com.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Texas)

KANSAS IS TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) – With their 40-37 win over Missouri, the Kansas Jayhawks (7-5) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Nov. 29.

Todd Reesing threw for 375 yards and four touchdowns, including a 26-yard game-winner on fourth down with 27 seconds left to lift the Jayhawks to the dramatic win in the schools' 117th meeting.

Kerry Meier caught 14 passes for 106 yards and a pair of scores, the last providing the margin of victory as Kansas, which led 26-10, had to come from behind and then withstand a Missouri drive and field goal attempt in the waning seconds.

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Nov. 29 included:

• Cincinnati (10-2): The Bearcats clinched their first Big East Conference championship with a 30-10 win over Syracuse, giving them their second straight 10-win season.

• Mississippi (8-4): In winning the Egg Bowl, the Rebels held Mississippi State to 37 total yards in a 45-0 win.

• Oregon (9-3): The Ducks ran up 694 yards of offense in a 65-38 win over rival Oregon State to spoil the Beavers' hopes of a clinching a Rose Bowl berth.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the fifth season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

For more information go to footballwriters.com.

2008 OUTLAND TROPHY FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

DALLAS (FWAA) - Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher, Oklahoma guard Duke Robinson and Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith have been named finalists for the 63nd Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football.

The winner of the Outland Trophy will be announced on the evening of Dec. 11 during "The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show" at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The show, hosted by ESPN's Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit, airs from 7:30-9:30 p.m. ET.

Oher, a 6-5, 318-pound senior from Memphis, Tenn., has started 45 straight games for the Ole Miss Rebels (7-4), who defeated LSU, 31-13, last Saturday and could be in line for a bid to the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. The subject of a book, "The Blind Side: The Evolution of a Game," depicting his ascension from impoverished beginnings, Oher was named the Southeastern Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week after Ole Miss beat Louisiana-Monroe, 59-0, this season. Ole Miss is third in the SEC in rushing, with Oher helping pave the way. He is the first finalist for the award to come from Ole Miss.

Robinson, a 6-5, 335-pound senior from Atlanta, Ga., anchors the line for one of the most prolific offenses in college football at Oklahoma. The Sooners (10-1) throttled Texas Tech, 65-21, last Saturday and moved into serious contention for the national title. Oklahoma is third in the country in total offense and passing offense. Robinson, who is considered the Sooners' best offensive lineman, is expected to be the first guard taken in the 2009 NFL Draft, but he also can play tackle. He is also looking to become the Sooners' sixth winner of the Outland.

Smith, a 6-4, 330-pound junior from Birmingham, Ala., probably won't be around for his senior season. On the way to probably his second straight Jacobs Blocking Trophy (best blocker in the SEC), Smith anchors the offensive line for the top-ranked Crimson Tide (11-0). He has allowed only one sack all season. From his left tackle spot, Smith is projected to be the top player taken overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by at least one scouting service. Only once before has an Alabama player won the Outland (Chris Samuels in 1999).

The Outland Trophy, which has been awarded annually by the FWAA since 1946, is named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Pennsylvania at the turn of the century. The Outland Trophy is the third oldest award in major college football behind the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award.

The official 2008 award presentation will be Jan. 15, 2009, in Omaha, Neb., at a banquet sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee. A past Outland Trophy winner will also receive his trophy there.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of nearly 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. 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 gameday operations, major awards, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Oklahoma)

FLORIDA'S ANTWINE NOMINATED FOR FEDEX ORANGE BOWL COURAGE AWARD

DALLAS (FWAA) - Florida's Brandon Antwine is the final nominee for the 2008 FedEx Orange Bowl/FWAA Courage Award, to be announced at the end of the season. Antwine, a sophomore defensive tackle from Garland, Texas, has overcome kidney failure and a significant muscular breakdown in his lower back to return to football

In October 2007, Antwine suffered symptoms of dehydration along with pain in his lower back. He was taken to the hospital, and acute kidney failure was discovered. Further examination revealed the kidney troubles resulted from a rare muscle failure called lumbar spine myonecrosis, a loss of blood pressure that kills muscular cell fibers.

Essentially a muscle in his lower back had died. Normal kidney function returned in several days, but the pain in his back got worse.

"It was like no other pain I've ever experienced in my life," Antwine told the Gainesville (Fla.) Sun. "It felt like someone had lit my back on fire and then was stabbing me with a knife."

Antwine spent several weeks in a wheelchair, then had to relearn how to walk. The process included therapy in a swimming pool, followed by learning to balance and then walking with a cane.

Many suspected he would not play football again, but he gradually progressed. Although he wasn't cleared for full contact until the second week of September, Antwine has contributed this season as a backup nose tackle, and has pushed for more playing time.

He stretches the back four times a day.

"I don't want to say it's a miracle because that's awful deep, but he's come this far," Florida coach Urban Meyer told the Orlando Sentinel. "Our medical staff is amazed."

For the third straight year, the Football Writers Association of America and the FedEx Orange Bowl has announced a weekly nominee during the season. A blue-ribbon panel will determine the winner from all of the nominees. The winner of the FedEx Orange Bowl/FWAA Courage Award will be announced in December and be presented with the trophy.

The Courage Award was created by ESPN The Magazine's senior writer Gene Wojciechowski, also a FWAA member. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship.

Previous winners of the FWAA's Courage Award are Navy's Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson's Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis' Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State's Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo's William Bratton (2002).

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Orange Bowl Committee is a not-for-profit, 333-member, primarily-volunteer organization. It is a self-sustaining, independent organization that supports and produces activities and events that enhance the image, economy and culture of South Florida. In addition to the 75th edition of the Orange Bowl Festival, which features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the FedEx Orange Bowl on January 1, the Orange Bowl Committee will host the 2009 FedEx BCS Championship Game on January 8. For more information on the 2008-09 Orange Bowl Festival and its events, including promotional and volunteer opportunities, visit orangebowl.org.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. 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, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

FIVE FINALISTS NAMED FOR 2008 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY

DALLAS (FWAA) - Five finalists for the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy were announced on Wednesday by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club.

Vying for the honor of the best defensive football player in college football are TCU end Jerry Hughes, USC linebacker Rey Maualuga, Texas end Brian Orakpo, Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith and Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes.

The winner will be announced on Dec. 7 and presented the Bronko Nagurski Trophy at a gala banquet at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C., where East Carolina coach Skip Holtz will give the keynote address.

In addition, the FWAA and Charlotte Touchdown Club will present the second Bronko Nagurski Legends Award presented by CSX Intermodal to Ted Hendricks, a standout end at the University of Miami (Fla.), who was a member of the 1967 FWAA All-America Team.

The FWAA award is named after Nagurski, who dominated college football at Minnesota as a bruising fullback and tackle from 1927-29. He could have been an All-America at any position, playing 60 minutes and was the best player wherever he lined up.

Sketches on the five 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists as selected by the FWAA All-America Committee:

Jerry Hughes, End, TCU, 6-2, 248, Junior (Sugar Land, Texas): He leads the nation with 14 sacks, is seventh in the nation with 17.5 tackles for loss, while tying for fifth with five forced fumbles. He also has three fumble recoveries. Hughes has two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He was the Walter Camp Football Foundation and FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week after his four sacks and two forced fumbles in a 32-7 win over previously unbeaten BYU. He is a three-time Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Week this season. Hughes anchors a TCU defense that leads the nation in rushing defense (39.5 yards per game), sacks (40) and total defense (220.0 yards per game) and is third in scoring defense (11.0 points per game).

Rey Maualuga, Linebacker, USC, 6-2, 260, Senior (Eureka, Calif): He leads USC with 66 tackles and has also intercepted two passes (including a 48-yarder for a touchdown in a victory over Ohio State). He has 2.5 tackles for 11 yards in losses. He has broken up a pass and has registered a quarterback hurry. He spearheads a USC defense that is ranked second nationally in total defense, first in scoring defense, sixth in rushing defense, and first in pass defense and pass efficiency defense. The Trojans have allowed just 10 touchdowns in 2008 and 83 total points (only 19 points in second halves of games), and have posted three shutouts. Eight of USC's 10 opponents in 2008 have been limited to 100 or less rushing yards and under 250 total yards.

Brian Orakpo, End, Texas, 6-4, 260, Senior (Houston, Texas): He is the defensive leader for the Longhorns, who rank fourth nationally in rushing defense. He has 35 tackles (26 unassisted), a team-high nine sacks (which is tied for ninth nationally), 13.5 tackles for loss, 23 pressures and three forced fumbles this season. Facing Oklahoma pre-season All-America tackle Phil Loadholt, Orakpo posted seven tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss, two quarterback pressures and a forced fumble in leading then No. 5 Texas to a 45-35 win over No. 1 Oklahoma. Orakpo's pressure and near sack in the end zone of Chase Daniel forced an interception that gave Texas the ball at the Missouri 15-yard line and set up a touchdown in No. 1 Texas' 56-31 win over No. 12 Missouri. Matching up with top NFL draft prospect Russell Okung, Orakpo registered six tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss and two pressures in No. 1 Texas' 28-24 win over No. 7 Oklahoma State. Orakpo turned in two tackles, a tackle for loss and two pressures before going down with a knee injury early in the second half at No. 6 Texas Tech. He has missed the better part of 2 1/2 games with a knee injury.

Alphonso Smith, Cornerback, Wake Forest, 5-9, 190, Senior (Pahokee, Fla.): He leads the nation with 18 passes defended. He has five interceptions in 2008 with 28 yards in returns, tied for third in the ACC. He is one shy of tying for the ACC record for career interceptions (20) with former North Carolina star Dré Bly, who also was an FWAA All-American. Smith had an interception against Baylor and another against Florida State and returned it 18 yards. His interception against Clemson was returned nine yards. He had two interceptions vs. Duke, including one in the end zone that sealed a 33-30 victory over the Blue Devils. He has broken up 13 passes this season.

Brandon Spikes, Linebacker, Florida, 6-3, 245, Junior (Shelby, N.C.): One of only three linebackers in the nation with two interception returns for touchdowns this season. He leads the team with 70 tackles on the season, including 8.0 for a losses of 27 yards. He intercepted a pass in the first quarter against South Carolina and returned it 12 yards for his second touchdown of the year. Spikes led the Gators with seven tackles against Vanderbilt, including two for a loss of eight yards and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against LSU, where he had his first career interception in the first quarter. On the first play of the fourth quarter, he added his second interception, which he returned 52 yards for his first career touchdown. He had a streak of 11 consecutive games with a tackle for loss end against LSU. Against Ole Miss, he had eight tackles in the first half for the second game in a row on his way to a season-high 13 tackles. He made his season debut against Miami and recorded a game-high 11 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss of three yards. He is a starter at middle linebacker who missed the first game due to a foot injury. Spikes has 37 unassisted tackles and 33 assisted tackles.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C. region. The club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. For more information, contact John Rocco (704-347-2918 or jrocco@touchdownclub.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ). The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is www.touchdownclub.com.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of nearly 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. 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 gameday operations, major awards, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

ALABAMA'S JOHNSON IS BRONKO NAGURSKI PLAYER OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) - Alabama free safety Rashad Johnson has been named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for games of the weekend of Nov. 8.

Johnson, a 6-0, 186-pound senior from Sulligent, Ala., tied a Crimson Tide record with three interceptions in Alabama's 27-21 overtime victory at LSU. He returned one of the interceptions 54 yards for a touchdown and his third interception helped seal the win in overtime. Johnson also recorded four tackles, including a half sack.

Johnson is already on the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be presented to the best defensive player in college football on Dec. 7 by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. Five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy will be announced next week.

Each week during the 2008 season the FWAA All-America Committee has selected a national defensive player of the week from nominations made by the 11 Division I Bowl Subdivision Conferences and major independents. This is the final week that a player of the week will be selected this season.

Last season, LSU tackle Glenn Dorsey won the coveted Bronko Nagurski Trophy during the 13th season the FWAA has named a national defensive player of the year.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. 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, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. For more information, contact John Rocco (704-347-2918 or jrocco@touchdownclub.com). The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is www.touchdownclub.com.

TEXAS' OGBONNAYA NOMINATED FOR FEDEX ORANGE BOWL COURAGE AWARD

DALLAS (FWAA) - Texas' Chris Ogbonnaya is this week's nominee for the 2008 FedEx Orange Bowl/FWAA Courage Award, to be announced at the end of the season. Ogbonnaya, a senior from Missouri City, Texas, has overcome the deaths of several adopted family members and friends to succeed on and off the field.

Ogbonnaya's father, Kalu Ogbonnaya, a native of Nigeria and a physician specializing in internal medicine, was raising his four children alone after a divorce. The family grew to seven in 1997 when tragedy struck close family friends. When Jonah Ifegwu died of terminal brain cancer and his wife, Rose, was killed in a car accident, Kalu Ogbonnaya took over caring for the Ifegwu family's three sons.

Six years ago, Ifegwu Ifegwu, an adopted brother, was killed in a head-on collision. Two months later, another adopted brother, Jonathan Ifegwu, collapsed and died of a congenital heart condition as Chris Ogbonnaya watched.

"To have it happen in front of you," Chris Ogbonnaya told The Dallas Morning News, "it's different. It's a hollow feeling."

"Why would a whole family be wiped out like this?" Kalu Ogbonnaya wondered.

But Chris Ogbonnaya has overcome to become a success story. He has already graduated with a degree in history and a minor in business, and is a semifinalist for the Draddy Award, which recognizes athletes' academic prowess.

During his first four years at Texas, he played fullback and receiver, but never found a consistent role. But he emerged this season, as a fifth-year senior, as the Longhorns' starting tailback. He has become a consistent threat for the nation's top-ranked team.

For the third straight year, the Football Writers Association of America and the FedEx Orange Bowl will announce a weekly nominee each Wednesday during the season. A blue-ribbon panel will determine the winner from all of the nominees. The winner of the FedEx Orange Bowl/FWAA Courage Award will be announced in December and be presented with the trophy.

The Courage Award was created by ESPN The Magazine's senior writer Gene Wojciechowski, also a FWAA member. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship.

Previous winners of the FWAA's Courage Award are Navy's Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson's Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis' Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State's Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo's William Bratton (2002).

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Orange Bowl Committee is a not-for-profit, 333-member, primarily-volunteer organization. It is a self-sustaining, independent organization that supports and produces activities and events that enhance the image, economy and culture of South Florida. In addition to the 75th edition of the Orange Bowl Festival, which features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the FedEx Orange Bowl on January 1, the Orange Bowl Committee will host the 2009 FedEx BCS Championship Game on January 8. For more information on the 2008-09 Orange Bowl Festival and its events, including promotional and volunteer opportunities, visit orangebowl.org.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. 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, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

GEORGIA'S GAMBLE IS BRONKO NAGURSKI PLAYER OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) - Georgia linebacker Darryl Gamble has been named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for games of the weekend of Oct. 25.

Gamble, a 6-2, 237-pound sophomore from Bainbridge, Ga., tied a Southeastern Conference record when he returned two interceptions for touchdowns in Georgia's 52-38 victory at LSU.

Gamble, who also had a career-high 13 tackles, had 93 yards in returns on the interceptions. His first pick was on the game's first play from of scrimmage and gave the Bulldog's a 7-0 lead with 14:40 left in the first quarter.

Gamble will be added to the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be presented to the best defensive player in college football on Dec. 7 by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. Five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy will be announced on Nov. 17.

Each week during the 2008 season the FWAA All-America Committee will select a national defensive player of the week from nominations made by the 11 Division I Bowl Subdivision Conferences and major independents.

Last season, LSU tackle Glenn Dorsey won the coveted Bronko Nagurski Trophy during the 13th season the FWAA has named a national defensive player of the year.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. 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, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is www.touchdownclub.com.

PENN STATE IS TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 13-6 win at 9th-ranked Ohio State, the Penn State Nittany Lions (9-0) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Oct. 25.

Reserve quarterback Pat Devlin came off the bench and led the Nittany Lions to 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. His one-yard run capped off a 38-yard drive that gave Penn State the lead for good.

Penn State had not won in Columbus since joining the Big Ten and the win was their first at Ohio State since 1978. It came in front of a record crowd of 105,711.

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Oct. 25 included:

· Minnesota (7-1): The Golden Gophers forced four turnovers and recorded five sacks in a 17-6 win at Purdue, their first win in West Lafayette since 1990.

· Rutgers (3-5): Mike Teel threw a school-record six touchdown passes in a 54-34 rout at Pittsburgh.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the fifth season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Members of the FWAA board of directors and All-America committee decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2008 college football season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week through Dec. 1.

Since 1971, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl has hosted six games that have decided the college football national championship, including three Bowl Championship Series title games. This season the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game will be played on Jan. 5, 2009 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., and the Insight Bowl will be played on Dec. 31, 2008 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

For more information on the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week, go to footballwriters.com or fiestabowl.org.

2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Teams of the Week
· Weekend of Aug. 30: Alabama
· Weekend of Sept. 6: East Carolina
· Weekend of Sept. 13: USC
· Weekend of Sept. 20: Boise State
· Weekend of Sept. 27: Oregon State
· Weekend of Oct. 4: Vanderbilt
· Weekend of Oct. 11: Oklahoma State/Texas
· Weekend of Oct. 18: TCU
· Weekend of Oct. 25: Penn State

OHIO STATE'S GENTRY NOMINATED FOR FEDEX ORANGE BOWL COURAGE AWARD

DALLAS (FWAA) - Ohio State's Tyson Gentry is this week's nominee for the 2008 FedEx Orange Bowl/FWAA Courage Award, to be announced at the end of the season. Gentry, a senior from Sandusky, Ohio, suffered partial paralysis after he was injured during a spring practice in April 2006, but has remained a valued member of the team.

The walk-on punter was asked to help out as a receiver on the scout team. During a scrimmage, he suffered a broken C-4 vertebrae in his neck after catching a pass.

"I remember catching the ball and going a few steps to turn upfield, and the ball started to slip," Gentry told the Columbus Dispatch. "And I think I looked down to go to grab it, and just the way I was dragged to the ground - it wasn't even a hit, just throwing me down to the ground.

"I think the way my head went down, it kind of went to the side and that's pretty much how it happened."

After several surgeries, Gentry has movement in his head and shoulders, and partial movement in his arms.

He continues a rigorous therapy regimen - and has seen progress, regaining some feeling in different areas. Using a motorized wheelchair, Gentry continues as a member of the team, attending meetings, practices and games.

"Tyson is one of us," Ohio State receiver Brian Robiskie told the newspaper. "He always will be. His injury didn't change that."

Gentry, whose father also played at Ohio State, will be honored along with other Buckeyes seniors at the final home game vs. Michigan. He is on track to graduate with a degree in speech and hearing science next spring. His goal is to earn a master's degree and become a speech therapist.

Gentry is able to lift weights, and he's recently begun shooting pool with his teammates.

"I stay active and it keeps my mind going," Gentry told the newspaper.

For the third straight year, the Football Writers Association of America and the FedEx Orange Bowl will announce a weekly nominee each Wednesday during the season. A blue-ribbon panel will determine the winner from all of the nominees. The winner of the FedEx Orange Bowl/FWAA Courage Award will be announced in December and be presented with the trophy.

The Courage Award was created by ESPN The Magazine's senior writer Gene Wojciechowski, also a FWAA member. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship.

Previous winners of the FWAA's Courage Award are Navy's Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson's Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis' Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State's Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo's William Bratton (2002).

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Orange Bowl Committee is a not-for-profit, 333-member, primarily-volunteer organization. It is a self-sustaining, independent organization that supports and produces activities and events that enhance the image, economy and culture of South Florida. In addition to the 75th edition of the Orange Bowl Festival, which features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the FedEx Orange Bowl on January 1, the Orange Bowl Committee will host the 2009 FedEx BCS Championship Game on January 8. For more information on the 2008-09 Orange Bowl Festival and its events, including promotional and volunteer opportunities, visit orangebowl.org.

TCU IS TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) – With their 32-7 win over 9th-ranked BYU, the TCU Horned Frogs (7-1) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Oct. 18.

TCU sacked BYU quarterback Max Hall six times and ran out to a 23-0 halftime lead before ending the nation's longest winning streak at 16 games.

The TCU defense, which leads the nation in fewest yards allowed per game, limited BYU to 297 yards and just 23 on the ground while forcing four turnovers from the previously unbeaten Cougars.

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Oct. 18 included:

* Maryland (5-2): The Terrapins limited Wake Forest to 219 yards in handing the Demon Deacons their first shutout loss in more than ten years, 26-0, in College Park.

* Texas (7-0): Colt McColt completed 29-of-32 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns as the top-ranked Longhorns flattened Missouri, 56-31.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the fifth season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Members of the FWAA board of directors and All-America committee decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2008 college football season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week through Dec. 1.

Since 1971, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl has hosted six games that have decided the college football national championship, including three Bowl Championship Series title games. This season the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game will be played on Jan. 5, 2009 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., and the Insight Bowl will be played on Dec. 31, 2008 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

For more information on the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week, go to www.footballwriters.com or www.fiestabowl.org.

TCU'S HUGHES IS BRONKO NAGURSKI PLAYER OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) - TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes has been named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for games of the weekend of Oct. 18.

Hughes, a 6-2, 248-pound junior from Sugar Land, Texas, recorded four sacks (for minus-14 yards) and forced two fumbles while heading up TCU's defensive effort in a 32-7 win over previously unbeaten BYU.

The four sacks tied an Mountain West Conference single-game record and were just short of TCU's single-game mark of 4.5. Hughes had three first-half sacks and finished with five tackles as the Horned Frogs' defense held BYU to season-lows of 23 rushing yards and 297 yards of total offense.

Hughes will be added to the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be presented to the best defensive player in college football on Dec. 7 by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. Five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy will be announced on Nov. 17.

Each week during the 2008 season the FWAA All-America Committee will select a national defensive player of the week from nominations made by the 11 Division I Bowl Subdivision Conferences and major independents.

Last season, LSU tackle Glenn Dorsey won the coveted Bronko Nagurski Trophy during the 13th season the FWAA has named a national defensive player of the year.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. 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, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. For more information, contact John Rocco (704-347-2918 or jrocco@touchdownclub.com). The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is www.touchdownclub.com.

NORTH DAKOTA STATE'S BOWMAN NOMINATED FOR FEDEX ORANGE BOWL COURAGE AWARD

DALLAS (FWAA) - North Dakota State's Richard Bowman is this week's nominee for the 2008 FedEx Orange Bowl/FWAA Courage Award, to be announced at the end of the season. Bowman, a junior cornerback from Houston, has overcome a severe neck injury that necessitated surgery and threatened his playing career.

The 5-8, 172-pounder was injured in the first game of the 2007 season while making a hit. Bowman felt his body go numb, and it wasn't the first time. He'd had the same feeling once after a hit during high school.

"I wasn't afraid, because in high school I was only out for one week," Bowman told ncaa.com.

Bowman lay on the field for several minutes before feeling returned to his extremities. He walked to the sideline but later underwent further tests which revealed spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal which meant spinal fluid was unable to flow easily through the canal.

"Whenever I suffer any type of impact," Bowman said, "my spinal cord hits the canal and that's what caused me to be immobilized."

Doctors told Bowman he could have been paralyzed on the hit. He underwent surgery to widen the spinal canal. Doctors used bones from cadavers and titanium plates, allowing spinal fluid to flow normally.

Bowman returned to action last August. He has played in all six games and has 20 tackles, as well as two pass-breakups. North Dakota State is 3-3 and ranked No. 16 in the Football Championship Subdivision coaches' Top 25 poll.

"In the first game, it seemed like everything was moving so fast," Bowman said. "I felt like I was a rookie again. After that, everything slowed down and I got used to it again."

"Inky Johnson and his family are what college football and the term student athlete are all about," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "He's the ultimate team guy and someone we have tremendous, tremendous respect for."

For the third straight year, the Football Writers Association of America and the FedEx Orange Bowl will announce a weekly nominee each Wednesday during the season. A blue-ribbon panel will determine the winner from all of the nominees. The winner of the FedEx Orange Bowl/FWAA Courage Award will be announced in December and be presented with the trophy.

The Courage Award was created by ESPN The Magazine's senior writer Gene Wojciechowski, also a FWAA member. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship.

Previous winners of the FWAA's Courage Award are Navy's Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson's Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis' Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State's Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo's William Bratton (2002).

PITTSBURGH'S McKILLOP IS BRONKO NAGURSKI PLAYER OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) - Pittsburgh linebacker Scott McKillop has been named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for games of the weekend of Oct. 4.

McKillop, a 6-2, 240-pound senior from Export, Pa., collected a team-high 12 tackles (all unassisted) and had two sacks and three total tackles for loss. He also stopped a run on a fake field goal attempt in Pittsburgh's 26-21 upset victory at South Florida.

Entering the game, South Florida averaged 464 yards offense, but was held to 245 by the Pitt defense that was led by McKillop. His two sacks of South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe totaled 24 yards in losses and came at critical junctures of the game.

McKillop is already on the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be presented to the best defensive player in college football on Dec. 7 by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. Five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy will be announced on Nov. 17.

Each week during the 2008 season the FWAA All-America Committee will select a national defensive player of the week from nominations made by the 11 Division I Bowl Subdivision Conferences and major independents.

Last season, LSU tackle Glenn Dorsey won the coveted Bronko Nagurski Trophy during the 13th season the FWAA has named a national defensive player of the year.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. 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, a national poll and its annual All-America team.