NEW YORK, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/—Sporting News announced today an exclusive partnership with the Legends Football Coaches Association, a member organization of 21 former Division 1 college football coaches. This elite association includes former coaches Frank Broyles (Arkansas), Terry Donahue (UCLA), Vince Dooley (Georgia), Pat Dye (Auburn), Don James (Washington), Gene Stallings (Alabama) and John Robinson (USC). Sporting News will be the exclusive media partner of the Legends Poll, an in-season weekly ranking of Division 1 football teams determined by association members.

The Legends Football Coaches Association, formerly Master Coaches, developed the poll in 2005. Association members collectively have over 400 years of Division 1 head coaching experience and have amassed over 3,300 wins.

Frank Broyles, former head coach and athletic director at University of Arkansas, noted, “The Legends Poll is far more credible than the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) poll. Member coaches watch game DVDs each week and get together via conference call to review previous and upcoming games. We vote for the top 25 teams based on personal observations of the games and the knowledge shared on our call.”

Beginning September 15th the Legends Poll will be announced weekly in Sporting News Today, the country’s first daily digital sports newspaper, online in SportingNews.com and debated further on Sporting News Radio. Association members will also contribute regularly to Sporting News Today and Sporting News Radio. “Radio is all about great storytelling, and we can’t think of a more fascinating, better-informed group,” said Clancy Woods, President of Sporting News Radio. “Having the Legends Coaches as regular contributors to Sporting News Radio elevates the quality of our content, and underscores the unique way we connect with fans.”

Sporting News’ Editor-in-Chief Jeff D’Alessio added, “The Legends Poll provides a valuable perspective for our readers and listeners. We like the idea of being able to complement our thorough coverage of college football with the observations and opinions of these legendary, iconic coaches.”

About Sporting News:

Sporting News, a division of American City Business Journals, Inc., is a multi-media sports company catering to passionate sports fans. Its content is available through a weekly publication, Sporting News magazine; a daily digital newspaper, Sporting News Today; a national radio network, Sporting News Radio; and a leading community-based website, SportingNews.com . Sporting News also is a leading publisher of sports yearbooks, and is engaged in various wireless and iTV initiatives. Founded in 1886, Sporting News is the nation’s first weekly sports publication.

Legends Football Coaches Association Members

Frank BroylesArkansas
Lloyd Carr* Michigan
John Cooper Ohio St., Arizona St.
Fisher DeBerry Air Force
Terry DonahueUCLA
Vince Dooley Georgia
Pat Dye Auburn
LaVell Edwards BYU
Hayden Fry* Iowa
Don JamesWashington
Frank Kush Arizona State
Dick MacPherson Syracuse
Bill Mallory Indiana, Colorado
Don Nehlen West Virginia
Tom Osborne* Nebraska
John Ralston Stanford, Utah State
John RobinsonUSC
R.C. Slocum Texas A&M
Bill Snyder Kansas State
Gene Stallings Alabama
George Welsh Virginia

*Non-Voting Members


Contact: Stuart Marvin 212-500-0681
smarvin@sportingnews.com
SOURCE Sporting News

CUSHING SET FOR STELLAR SENIOR SEASON

He arrived on the University of Southern California campus from Park Ridge, New Jersey in 2005, eager and anxious for the challenge of becoming a part of one of college football’s fabled programs.

And, almost from the first day, Brian Cushing and USC football seemed to go together lik e scarlet and gold.  He was an immediate Trojan, exhibiting power, speed and tenacity on the field, class and determination off it.  He understood what it meant to be a USC linebacker.  “I wanted to play for the best team,” he said at the time he enrolled. (Cushing was recruited by most major universities in the country, including Florida, Notre Dame and Miami).
Now, as he readies for his senior and final season, Cushing is healthy and prepared for what should be a banner year.  Big (6-4, 255), smart and experienced, Cushing will be an outside linebacker as USC gears up for another run at a national championship.
Cushing, a Playboy pre-season All-American selection, has been been nominated for The Lott Trophy for the second straight season.  He’s also on the watch list for the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Award. 

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.  The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. 

Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

David Pollack of Georgia won the initial Lott Trophy in 2004.  DeMeco Ryans of Alabama won the award in 2005 Daymeion Hughes of Cal was the recipient in 2006 and Glenn Dorsey of LSU in 2007.  Georgia, Alabama, Cal and LSU each received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds.  In four years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated more than $450,000 to various charities, including the four universities.

Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisers comprised of retired NFL players and Master Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches. 
In high school at Bergen Catholic, Cushing had 120 tackles his senior year and was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the county.  In the classroom, he had a 3.4 grade point average and scored 1,010 on the SAT. He was ready for the next step.
A shoulder injury slowed him as a freshman in ‘05, but he still started the final four games, including the national championship game against Texas.  A year later, he was asked to play defensive end and he led USC in tackles for losses with 13.5.  He was named the most valuable defensive player in the Rose Bowl and was awarded the John McKay Award for the Trojan with the most competitive spirit.
Injuries and a postion switch to defensive end his sophomore season have kept Cushing from attaining his ultimate goal at USC:  “I just want to be the best linebacker I can be.  I want to be able to come out and perform as best as I can and up my level of play.”
Once again in ‘07, Cushing missed playing time as he sprained an ankle in the openeing game of the season.  He had artroscopic surgery on the ankle this past spring and is ready to go for his senior campaign. 
“I think overall coming into this program and knowing that one day I wanted to be a leader on this team was very important to me,” he said at Pac-10 media day in July. “I learned from the older guys, understanding what the program is about and the philosophy of coach (Pete) Carroll. Hopefully I can give the same competitive leadership to the younger guys and lead this team through the season.”
For further information on The Lott Trophy, please visit our website at thelotttrophy.com

Pete Donovan

Media Director, The Lott Trophy

760/360-0414

Kansas Rises on Shoulders – or Brains – of Defensive Ends

Kansas football, not too long ago, was a footnote on Saturday afternoons in the fall.  On the Lawrence campus, the gridiron boys were an afterthought to the knights of the hardwood. 

And while KU basketball flourished last season—all the way to a national championship—the football program is now able to climb the same podium and receive its own plaudits.

And part of that success goes to the Jayhawks’ standout bookend defensive ends – John Larson and Russell Brorsen.  And bookends is the appropriate adjective for these two since both are as skilled academically as they are athletically. 

“A big, big factor that has to be recognized is we have a smart group of kids,” says KU Coach Mark Mangino. 

Upstart Kansas went 12-1 last season and defeated Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl.  The Jayhawks were ranked No. 7 in the country, their highest ranking in 39 years.  They were one of the great stories of 2007 on any sport lands cape.

Larson and Brorsen are smart, but undersized.  They both play at about 240-250 pounds.&nbs p; That’s the same weight some linebackers carry.  But they are active, pursue well and just don’t make mistakes.

“We’ve had players in the past who couldn’t take it from the classroom to the field or from the field to the game,” says Kansas defensive coordinator Bill Young. “This team can.  (Larson and Brorsen) are about as intelligent defensive linemen as you could ask for.”

“We’re part of a defense that is very assignment sound,” says Larson.
For their contributions on the field and their excellence in the classroom, Larson and Brorsen have both been nominated for The Lott Trophy. 

Named after Hall of Fa mer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.  The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. 

Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

David Pollack of Georgia won the initial Lott Trophy in 2004.  DeMeco Ryans of Alabama won the award in 2005 Daymeion Hughes of Cal was the recipient in 2006 and Glenn Dorsey of LSU in 2007.  Georgia, Alabama, Cal and LSU each received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds.  In four years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated more than $450,000 to various charities, including the four universities.

Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisers comprised of retired NFL players and Master Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.

Larson and Brorsen were both academic All-Americans last year.  Brorsen earning first team honors with a 3.96 grade point average in chemistry.  He plans on entering dental school upon completing his graduate work.  Larson, with a 3.69 GPA in economics, was named second-team AA.  He plans on attending medical school. 

And make no mistake, they are far from underachievers on the Kansas defense.  Brorsen had 36 tackles last season and Larson had 43, including 12 for losses along with two interceptions and three forced fumbles. 

It’s likely their future is not on the playing fields of the NFL, though.

“He’ll (Brorsen) cure some disease or invent the ever-burning light bulb at some point in his professional career,” says line coach Bob Clements.  “He’s a very talented individual.

“He’s also as tough a football player as I’ve ever been around.  On the field, off the field, I don’t have to worry about him.  You can tell him about something he can work on and he’s gong to work on it.”

Following their Cinderella success of a year ago, the bookend defensive ends are ready for their final chapter at Kansas.
“I think there’s been an effort to make sure everyone stays grounded,” says Brorsen.  “I’m just looking forward to playing that first game.  See if we can win some games again, get on a roll again.”
Mr. Brorsen and Mr. Larson are already on a roll.  In life.

Pete Donovan
Media Director, The Lott Trophy
760/360-0414
Plays4pars@aol.com

The Mini-Biography of George Selvie (So Far)

Name: George Selvie

School: University of South Florida

Occupation: Quarterback-Seeking Defensive End

At age 1, George is nearly killed when a car falls on him.  He still has a scar extending up from the left side of his forehead.

As a high school freshman, he walks into the coaches office and tells him he’d like to be a center.  That’s the football coach, not the basketball coach.  “That was very impressive to me,” said the coach, Jerry Pollaro of Pine Forest High in Pensacola , Fla. “You normally don’t get kids with his (athletic) makeup coming here and telling you stuff like that.  They’re all quarterbacks the first day.”

At South Florida, the only Division I school to recruit him, George starts out as a center, but is moved to defensive end after redshirting as a freshman (where he wins the Overachieving Award for his work in strength and conditioning). He is so nervous that first year that he has to stuff Pepto Bismols down before the games.  Still, George has a nice first year for the up-and-coming Bulls, collecting 15.5 tackles for losses, 5 sacks and becoming a freshman All-American. 

In George’s sophomore season of 2007, he emerges as a star.  A superstar, at that.

He leads the nation in tackles for losses with 31.5 (one shy of the NCAA record) and is second in sacks with 14.5.  He makes virtually every All-American team and is a finalist for both the Nagurski and Hendricks Awards.  South Florida rockets up the national charts, getting as high as the No. 2 ranking in October before losing three in a row.

South Florida Coach Jim Leavitt knows what he has in the 6-4, 245-pound junior: “Why he’s so good is his heart, his character, his focus.  He always tries to get better,” says Leavitt. 

All of this leads Selvie to be on the watch list for the fifth annual Lott Trophy. 

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.  Now in its fifth year, The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. 

Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation in Newport Beach, the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

David Pollack of Georgia won the initial Lott Trophy in 2004.  DeMeco Ryans of Alabama won the award in 2005 Daymeion Hughes of Cal was the recipient in 2006 and Glenn Dorsey of LSU in 2007.  Georgia, Alabama, Cal and LSU each received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds.  In four years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated more than $450,000 to various charities, including the four universities.

Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisers comprised of many retired NFL players and Master Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.

The winner will be announced at the SOLD OUT gala black-tie banquet at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Ca. on December 14th, 2008.

If the voters are looking for endorsements regarding Selvie, they are plentiful.

“He’s one of those explosive guys you have to make sure you get a hat on and not let him disrupt you because he can be very disruptive,” said former West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez.

“I’m excited and happy for (his success),” said USF nose tackle Richard Clebert.  “Because he works so hard.  Twenty-four/seven.  You see the way he plays in a game, that’s the way he practices.”

“He’s a runner and a hitter,” said South Florida Defensive Coordinator Wally Burnham.  “He plays with a defensive attitude and that’s hard to get sometimes – a guy whose motor runs all the time.”

And George Selvie’s motor will keep on running all the way through this football season – and beyond.

Newport Beach, Ca. – For four years, The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has proudly honored the college football defensive player of the year who has had the biggest IMPACT both on and off the field. 

The award, the only one in college sports that combines both performance and character, is named after Ronnie Lott:  The Lott Trophy has come to symbolize the very best in college football, promoting those student-athletes who exhibit excellence in the classroom, on the field and in the community.

Now, after 168 players have been nominated for the Trophy (42 on the watch list each year) since 2004, the IMPACT Foundation has announced it will take another step forward in recognizing those student-athletes by creating a national ‘IMPACT Player Of The Week’ award.

“As we have come to learn about more and more of the great things these young men are doing with their lives while competing at such a high level, we wanted to spread the news even farther,” said John Hamilton, Chairman of the Board of The IMPACT Foundation. “The ‘IMPACT Player of the Week’ award will include $1,000 donated to the school’s general scholarship fund”. 

Each year, the university of The Lott Trophy winner receives $25,000 for its general scholarship fund while the universities of the three finalists are awarded $5,000 each.

Voting for the ‘Player of the Week’ will be conducted by The Master Coaches, a group of 17 distinguished former head college coaches, who will review tapes of games each week to aid them in their selection.

“All 42 players on our watch list every year have been nominated by their schools so we already know of their character,” said Hamilton.  “The coaches will be choosing the IMPACT ‘Player of the Week’ based on his on-field accomplishments.  However, we always take into account off-field activities such as volunteerism and academics.”

‘The IMPACT Player of the Week’ will be featured at halftime each week during the broadcast of the College Game of the Week on Sports USA Radio Network.

For more information:

Pete Donovan

The Lott Trophy

760/360-0414

Plays4pars@aol.com

Please visit our website at TheLottTrophy.com

5 past keynote speakers at the annual Lott Trophy Awards Dinner:

*John Robinson, 2004 (former USC, L.A. Rams head coach).  Coached Ronnit Lott in college and spoke on “Why Sports are Important.”

*Bill Walsh, 2004 (former Stanford, San Francisco 49ers head coach). Coached Lott in the pros and spoke on “What is an Impact Player.”

*Jack Kemp, 2005 (former NFL quarterback, United States congressman and Secretary of HUD).  Spoke on “A Lifetime of Character.”

*Frank Gifford, 2006 (NFL Hall of Famer). Spoke on “What Football Has Given Me.”

*Merlin Olsen, 2007 (NFL Hall of Famer). Spoke on “The Opportunity Football Provides.”

Note: Keith Jackson, the voice of college football for nearly five decades, will be the keynote speaker this year.

5 Lott Trophy finalists who are now starting in the NFL:

*Derrick Johnson (LB, Chiefs), 2004 Finalist

*DeMeco Ryans (LB, Texans), 2005 Winner

*A.J. Hawk (LB, Packers), 2005 Finalist

*Darryl Tapp (DE, Seahawks), 2005 Finalist

*Paul Posluszny (LB, Bills), 2006 Finalist

5 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in attendance at last year’s banquet:

*Howie Long (DE, Raiders).  His son, Chris (Virginia), was a finalist for the award.

*Merlin Olsen (DT, Rams).  Keynote speaker

*Marcus Allen (RB, Raiders, Chiefs).  Guest

*Ron Yary (OT, Vikings).  Guest

*Ronnie Lott (DB, 49ers, Raiders, Jets).  Host.

5 Big Ten players who have attended the first four banquets as finalists (but none have won):

*Jim Leonhard (DB, Wisconsin). 2004 finalist.

*A.J. Hawk (LB, Ohio State), 2005 finalist.

*Quinn Pitcock (DT, Ohio State), 2006 finalist.

*J Leman (LB, Illinois), 2007 finalist

*James Laurinaits (LB, Ohio State), 2007 finalist.

5 Coaches on The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation Board of Directors and the Lott Trophy Board of Advisors:

*Terry Donahue (UCLA), IMPACT Board

*John Robinson (USC, Rams, UNLV), IMPACT Board

*Mike White (Cal, Illinois, Raiders), IMPACT Board

*Chuck Knox (Rams, Bills, Seahawks), Board of Advisors

*Jack Del Rio (Jaguars), Board of Advisors

The legendary college football broadcaster will serve as the keynote speaker for the fifth annual Lott Trophy Awards Banquet Dec. 14 at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach.

A network announcer for 53 years, Jackson has worked most every major event in sports, including the Olympics, the World Series and the NBA Finals.  But he is most associated with college football and his trademark sayings such as “Fummm-ble” and “The big uglies,” a reference to offensive linemen.

Jackson has been named National Sportscaster of the year five times in his career and is a member of the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame and the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame. 

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.  The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. 

Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

David Pollack of Georgia won the initial Lott Trophy in 2004.  DeMeco Ryans of Alabama won the award in 2005 Daymeion Hughes of Cal was the recipient in 2006 and Glenn Dorsey of LSU in 2007.  Georgia, Alabama, Cal and LSU each received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds.  In four years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated more than $450,000 to various charities, including the four universities.

Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisors comprised of retired NFL players and Master Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.

Previous keynote speakers at the banquet have been Jack Kemp, Frank Gifford, Bill Walsh, John Robinson, Marcus Allen and Merlin Olsen. 

George Hypolite spends much of his other time working in soup kitchens, feeding AIDS patients, caring for seniors, helping distribute holiday gifts and generally doing good deeds on a routine basis. 

In other words, he’s Mother Teresa in cleats.  All 285 pounds of him. 

The 21-year-old senior defensive tackle at Colorado might someday be a star in the National Football League.  Or, he might volunteer at a children’s camp in Sri Lanka.  Or, he might head the Peace Corps.  Or be a lawyer.  Or he may choose any one of dozens of other professions he seems fully capable of mastering.

And, while he’s a pre-season 2008 All-America selection by some publications, he’s already made one team he’s unusually proud of – The American Football Coaches Assn. Good Works team.  He was recognized for the work he has done summers in his hometown of Los Angeles, donating between 300 and 400 hours preparing food for homebound AIDs patients as well as working at a L.A. area shelter for battered women. 

“If I can give five minutes so people can take their minds off their problems, that’s five minutes of gold to me,” Hypolite told Natalie Meisler of the Denver Post.  “Volunteering will always be part of my life, I love giving back, seeing a smile on a kid’s face.  I was more blessed (making food) than those being helped.”

And now, he’s helped himself onto the 2008 Watch List for The Lott Trophy. 

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.  Now in its fourth year, The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. 

Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation in Newport Beach, the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

David Pollack of Georgia won the initial Lott Trophy in 2004.  DeMeco Ryans of Alabama won the award in 2005 Daymeion Hughes of Cal was the recipient in 2006 and Glenn Dorsey of LSU in 2007.  Georgia, Alabama, Cal and LSU each received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds.  In four years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated more than $450,000 to various charities, including the four universities.

Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisers comprised of many retired NFL players and Master Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.

The winner will be announced at a gala black-tie banquet at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Ca. on December 14th, 2008.

It would certainly be no surprise to see Hypolite as one of the finalists.

*As a player, he was named All-Big 12 last season when he led Buffalo linemen in tackles with 44, added 11 tackles for losses and recorded six quarterback sacks.

*As a student, Hypolite graduated this past May in less than three years on the Boulder campus.  He has been named to the All-Big 12 academic team the past two years, majoring in ethnic studies with an emphasis in American Indian studies and a counter emphasis in African-American studies.  His grade point average has been as high as 3.79

*His community service record is unparalleled and easily among the most impressive of any player nominated for The Lott Trophy in its first five years.

“I got where I am today by people telling me from an early age that I was special and that hard work will lead to success,” he told Conner Duffy of the Colorado Daily.  “I would not be where I am if I wasn’t encouraged by special people in my life. So I try to encourage children so they can reach their potential.  To look in their eyes and know I made their day is a great reward.”

Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins realizes what a special player he has in Hypolite:  “One of the things that makes George a leader is he’s very smart.  When some team is lining up in a formation, he will stand right up and say what they’re running.

“He (Hypolite) puts in a lot of time (volunteering) and it’s something we’re really trying to foster within our football program.  I’m certainly glad that he got honored (The Good Works team) because he does his share and more.”

Defensive line coach Romeo Bandison on Hypolite: “He’s a very confident guy.  He knows he wants to be a lawyer and I know he will achieve that.  He’s an easy player to coach and is one of the most well-rounded individuals I know.”

Hypolite is on the Watch List for the Lombardi Award, the Nagurski Award and the Outland Trophy, as well as The Lott Trophy.

The word is out: Watch Out for George Hypolite, on and off the field. 

For further information on The Lott Trophy, please visit our website at Lotttrophy.com. 
Pete Donovan
Media Director, The Lott Trophy
760/360-0414

Oregon’s senior defensive end keeps going and going and going…

Undersized at 255 pounds, he is a relentless pass rusher who has been going and going since he arrived on the Eugene campus four years ago. 

And where did it get him?  Well, the 12 sacks and 22.5 tackles for losses got him first team All Pac-10 honors (along with second team All-American recognition from SI.com).  And he didn’t stop going when he left the football field, either.  He kept right on going to a 3.39 grade point average in history that earned him Academic All-American honors. 

And now, he’s gotten himself all the way to the 2008 Watch List for The Lott Trophy. 

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.  Now in its fourth year, The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. 

Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation in Newport Beach, the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

David Pollack of Georgia won the initial Lott Trophy in 2004.  DeMeco Ryans of Alabama won the award in 2005 Daymeion Hughes of Cal was the recipient in 2006 and Glenn Dorsey of LSU in 2007.  Georgia, Alabama, Cal and LSU each received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds.  In four years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated more than $450,000 to various charities, including the four universities.

Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisers comprised of many retired NFL players and Master Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.

The winner will be announced at a gala black-tie banquet at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Ca. on December 14th, 2008.

It would be no surprise to see Reed at the banquet as one of the four finalists who are flown in for the annual event.  It would be a homecoming for Reed, who starred at Mission Viejo High School and was named The Register’s Defensive Player of The Year in 2004. 

Last year he was a finalist for The Ted Hendricks Award (top defensive end in the country) and, in addition to The Lott Trophy, is on the watch list for the Nagurski Award (top defensive player in the country). 

And, he will not turn 21 until Sept. 1. 

Hardly the prototypical defensive end, Reed is driven by a large motor.

“If Nick walked into a room with six of the top defensive ends in the Pac-10, he’d be the last guy you’d pick to say, this is the guy that leads the league in sacks,” Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti told Rob Moseley of The Eugene Register-Guard

“But I just keep calling him the Tasmanian Devil. He plays so hard.

“He’s everything you want in a football player. It would be nice if he was 6-4, 275. But then maybe he wouldn’t have the little extra something he has that makes him special.”

Reed likely appeared at least 6-4, 275 against some 2007 opponents.  Against Washington State he had 11 tackles, including 5 for losses and was named National Player of the Week.  Against Arizona State he repeated those numbers and was chosen Pac-10 Player of the Week.

At Oregon, he heads a ferocious defense that led the entire country in tackles for losses a year ago with 122.  Reed’s 22.5 were the third highest total for individual players. 

Reed also relies on his brains while attacking football.

“I’d say I play smart football. But I wouldn’t say I’m a smart guy. I’m not going to be operating on hearts.

“I take pride in studying, knowing our opponents and knowing who I’m going up against.”

Going?  That’s what Nick Reed keeps doing. 

For further information on The Lott Trophy, please visit our website at http://www.TheLottTrophy.com. 

Pete Donovan
Media Director, The Lott Trophy
760/360-0414

After all, he is the perfect role model for today’s classroom student and athletic star.

The NCAA should sign him to a post-eligibility contract now, allowing his story to be rolled out to every prospective athlete who holds hope of attending a university to participate in sports.

“He’s the poster boy for what you’d like a college student-athlete to be,” says Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden. “If all of your players were like him, coaches wouldn’t have a lot of worries. I haven’t had many like him.”

Fittingly, Rolle is on the Watch List for the fifth annual Lott Trophy

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.  The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. 

Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

The winner will be announced at the annual black-tie gala in December at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Ca.
Rolle figures to be one of the favorites for the award. 

To put it simply 21-year-old Rolle is breathtaking and a stunning example of all that can be good in intercollegiate sports.

*He graduated from high school a semester early.  Besides being a two-sport star and a whiz in the classroom, Rolle played the lead in the musical “Fiddler on the Roof”.
*At Florida State, he’s majoring in exercise sciences; has stated that his goal is to attend medical school when he is done playing; and is aiming for a Rhodes Scholarship.
*He’s the vice president of FSU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council.
*He will graduate in August, two years ahead of schedule.
*He was selected to speak before the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics looking on a panel dealing with recruiting.
*He spent part of last summer studying in London as part of the school’s international program. “I took comparative politics, holistic medicine, and a grief and loss class,” Rolle says.
*He was awarded a Florida State University 2008 Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Award.  The purpose of the award, according to the university, is “to help Rolle realize his intellectual and creative potential, clarify his career goals and help him prepare for graduate school and national fellowship competitions.”
*The Rolle family was featured in a December, 2007 Sports Illustrated story by S.L. Price.
*He was the No. 1 high school prospect in the country in 2006. 
*He was the 2006 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and a Freshman All-American.  In 2007, Rolle was named to the All-ACC Academic team.
*Scout.com already ranks him as the No. 1 strong safety pro prospect in the country, although he’s only played two seasons.
Rolle learned early on from his family that life was not all about athletics. 

“I was always told that being an athlete carries a great responsibility. We have something a lot of people don’t. So use it.

“I had guidance. I was shown the right direction. But I see a lot of kids that need that same kind of inspiration. In Tallahassee, they look up to football players. Maybe they get positives from their teachers and parents, but it’s different when they see someone like me doing the right things in the classroom and in the community as well as in my football uniform. They listen. And hopefully learn.

“I’m just trying to live my life the way I was taught,” he continued. “I’ve never shied away from that. I’m in a position to make a difference.

“As a kid, I couldn’t play unless my homework was done. That’s when I realized my parents took it quite seriously. So I did, too,” he told Mike Kern of the Philadelphia Daily News.

“You have a sense from him that football is an important part of his life, but there are things he wants to do that are equally and more important,” said Jody Spooner, former director of FSU’s Office of National Fellowships. “He’s a kid with perspective on his whole life.”

Rolle’s role model?  It’s Benjamin Carson, a doctor and director of pediatric neurosurgery at John Hopkins Medical Institution. He’s the guy who turned cerebral hemispherectomy surgery - a once-unpopular procedure that includes half the patient’s brain being removed during surgery - into a widely used operation to treat brain tumors during the past two decades.

“He’s (Carson) very inspirational, being an accomplished neurosurgeon, being black and coming from a lower income level,” Rolle told Scott Carter of the Tampa Tribune. “Public service is always something I wanted to do and I’m interested in science. Being a physician, I think, is a calling for me, obviously after football is done. It’s one of my ultimate goals in life. I saw [Carson’s] life and wanted to emulate it as best as possible.”

It appears that sooner or later others will be emulating Rolle’s life.

For further information on The Lott Trophy, please visit our website at http://www.TheLottTrophy.com. 

Media Contact:
Pete Donovan

760/360-0414

About the Lott Trophy:

The Lott Trophy was established by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation to honor college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.

The award is unique because it represents the first trophy to give equal weight to personal character as well as athletic performance from a defensive college player and is the first national college football award based on the West Coast.

The Lott Trophy was named in honor of Ronnie Lott - a two time All -American for USC and College Football Hall of Fame inductee. Ronnie Lott went on to win four Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers, ten trips to the Pro Bowl and a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Always known as a fierce competitor, he was a leader who had IMPACT both on and off the field. 

OUT OF CHARACTER: In a special to USATODAY.com, Rob Rang wrote, “Several high-profile prospects fell out of the first two rounds due to character concerns.” Michigan WR Mario Manningham and Nebraska OT Carl Nicks are two players “worthy of first-round consideration” who were drafted No. 95 and No. 164, respectively (USATODAY.com, 4/26). FOXSPORTS.com’s Mark Kriegel wrote character “isn’t the issue. It’s the knucklehead issue. In this respect, NFL franchises aren’t unlike those you work for. They don’t want embarrassment. They don’t want guys missing work. They don’t want knuckleheads” (FOXSPORTS.com, 4/26).

AROUND THE LEAGUE: In St. Louis, Bernie Miklasz wrote of the Rams’ selection of Long, “I believe character is important. Anytime the Rams can add a first-rate individual to the locker room, that’s a plus”. (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 4/27)….Falcons Owner Arthur Blank said of drafting Boston College QB Matt Ryan with the No. 3 pick with suspended QB Michael Vick in prison, “We owe it to our fans, coaches and players to move on. Selecting Matt Ryan was the important way to do that” (USA TODAY, 4/28)....Univ. of Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said of RB Jonathan Stewart, who was selected with the No. 13 pick, “In terms of running and strength and character, he will surpass anybody’s expectations” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/27)....In Boston, John Tomase writes the Patriots pulled off “one of the surprises of the NFL draft yesterday by selecting San Diego State QB Kevin O’Connell 94th overall, continuing a meteoric rise for one of the highest-character players among this year’s prospects” (BOSTON HERALD, 4/28).

LSU’s Glenn Dorsey, the winner of the 2007 Lott Trophy, was the fifth overall selection in the annual National Football League draft, being chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs while Virginia’s Chris Long, a finalist for the award, was selected second overall by the St. Louis Rams. 

Dorsey became the highest drafted winner of the award and Long became the highest drafted finalist. 

Previously, three Lott finalists were selected in the first round, the highest being A.J. Hawk of Ohio State, chosen fifth overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 2006 draft.  Hawk was a finalist that year.  Georgia’s David Pollack, the inaugural winner of the award in 2004, was the 17th selection in 2005 by the Cincinnati Bengals.  That same year, linebacker Derrick Johnson of Texas, who was a Lott finalist, was the 15th pick in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Here is how the Lott finalists have been drafted:

2005
David Pollack, Georgia (winner), 1st round, Cincinnati
Derrick Johnson, Texas (finalist), 1st round, Kansas City
Jim Leonhard*, Wisconsin (finalist), undrafted walk-on with Buffalo Bills
2006
DeMeco Ryans**, Alabama (winner), 2nd round, Houston
A.J. Hawk, Ohio State (finalist), 1st round, Green Bay
Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech (finalist), 2nd round, Seattle

2007
Dante Hughes, Cal (winner), 3rd round, Indianapolis
Paul Posluszny, Penn State (finalist), 2nd round, Buffalo
Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State (finalist), 3rd round, Indianapolis

2008
Glenn Dorsey, LSU (winner), 1st round, Kansas City
Chris Long, Virginia (finalist), 1st round, St. Louis
J Leman, Illinois (finalist), undrafted signed with Minnesota Vikings
James Laurinatis, Ohio State (finalist), Junior, returned to college

*Leonhard signed a free agent contract with Buffalo and is still with the Bills
**Ryans’ was the first pick in the 2nd round and went on to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

For more information on The Lott Trophy, please visit our website at www.TheLottTrophy.com

Media Contact:
Pete Donovan

760/360-0414

About the Lott Trophy:

The Lott Trophy was established by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation to honor college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.

The award is unique because it represents the first trophy to give equal weight to personal character as well as athletic performance from a defensive college player and is the first national college football award based on the West Coast.

The Lott Trophy was named in honor of Ronnie Lott - a two time All -American for USC and College Football Hall of Fame inductee. Ronnie Lott went on to win four Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers, ten trips to the Pro Bowl and a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Always known as a fierce competitor, he was a leader who had IMPACT both on and off the field. 

Newport Beach, Ca. – Forty-two of the nation’s top collegiate defensive players have been named to the 2008 Lott Trophy Watch List, it was announced today.

There are seven repeat nominees for the award, including James Laurinaitis of Ohio State, a finalist last year.  The other players nominated for a second straight year are Jonathan Casillas of Wisconsin, Maurice Crum, Jr. of Notre Dame, Brian Cushing of USC, Zack Follett of Cal, Nic Harris of Oklahoma and Darryl Richard of Georgia Tech.

Thirty-five different schools are represented on the Watch List.

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.  Now in its fourth year, The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. 

Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

David Pollack of Georgia won the initial Lott Trophy in 2004.  DeMeco Ryans of Alabama won the award in 2005 Daymeion Hughes of Cal was the recipient in 2006 and Glenn Dorsey of LSU in 2007.  Georgia, Alabama, Cal and LSU each received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds.  In four years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated more than $450,000 to various charities, including the four universities.

Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisers comprised of many retired NFL players and Master Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.

The winner will be announced at a gala black-tie banquet at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Ca. on December 14th, 2008.

The 2008 Lott Trophy Watch List

Asher Allen, CB, Georgia, Jr., 5-10, 198 (Tucker, Ga)
Ted Bentler, DT, Army, Sr., 6-3, 251 (Bettendorf. Ia)
Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee, So., 5-11, 195 (Fairburn, Ga)
Russell Brorsen, DE, Kansas, Sr., 6-4, 240 (Stillwater, Ok)
Reggie Carter, LB, UCLA, Jr., 6-1, 220 (Los Angeles)
Jonathan Casillas, LB, Wisconsin, Sr., 6-2, 214 (New Brunswick, NJ)
Maurice Crum, Jr., LB, Notre Dame, Sr., 6-0, 225 (Riverview, Fl)
Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest, Sr., 6-3, 240 (Fayetville, NC)
Brian Cushing, LB, USC, Sr., 6-4, 245 (Park Ridge, NJ)
Zack Follett, LB, Cal, Sr., 6-2, 237 (Clovis, Ca)
Courtney Greene, S, Rutgers, Sr., 6-2, 210 (New Rochelle, NY)
Nic Harris, DB, Oklahoma, Sr., 6-3, 226 (Alexandria, La)
Mark Herzlich, LB, Boston College, Jr., 6-4, 238 (Wayne, Pa)
Brandon Hughes, CB, Oregon State, Sr., 5-11, 182 (Bloomington, In)
George Hypolite, DE, Colorado, Sr., 6-1, 285 (Los Angeles)
Jeremy Jarmon, DE, Kentucky, Jr., 6-3, 268 (Collierville, Tn)
Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State, Sr., 6-1, 208 (Piscataway, NJ)
Jan Jorgensen, DE, BYU, Jr., 6-3, 260, (Helper, Ut)
Mitch King, DT, Iowa, Sr., 6-3, 264 (Burlington, Ia)
John Larson, DL, Kansas, Sr., 6-3, 250 (Kansas City)
James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State, Sr., 6-3, 244 (Hamel, Mn)
Taylor Mays, S, USC, Jr., 6-4, 225 (Seattle)
Tyrone McKenzie, LB, South Florida, Sr., 6-2, 235 (Riverview, Fl)
Bo McNally, S, Stanford, Sr., 6-0, 208 (Salt Lake City)
Greg Middleton, DE, Indiana, Jr., 6-3, 275 (Indianapolis)
Scott Mikillop, LB, Pitt, Sr., 6-2, 240 (Export, Pa)
Brit Miller, LB, Illinois, Sr., 6-1, 251 (Decatur, Il)
William Moore, S, Missouri, Sr., 6-1, 215 (Hayti, Mo)
Troy Nolan, S, Arizona State, Sr., 6-2, 204 (Los Angeles)
Eric Norwood, DE, South Carolina, Jr., 6-0, 258 (Acworth, Ga)
Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas, Sr., 6-4, 260 (Houston)
Jeff Owens, DT, Georgia, Sr., 6-3, 298 (Sunrise, Fl)
Kirston Pittman, DE, LSU, Sr., 6-4, 252 (Garyville, La)
Zach Potter, DE, Nebraska, Sr., 6-7, 285 (Omaha)
Nick Reed, DE, Oregon, Sr., 6-2, 255 (Trabuco Canyon, Ca)
Darryl Richard, DT, Georgia Tech, Sr., 6-4, 285 (Destrehan, La)
Myron Rolle, DB, Florida State, Jr., 6-2, 215 (Galloway, NJ)
George Selvie, DE, South Florida, Jr., 6-4, 242 (Pensacola, Fl)
Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida, Jr., 6-3, 245 (Shelby, NC)
Alterraun Verner, DB, UCLA, Jr., 5-11, 178 (Carson, Ca)
Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri, Jr., 6-1, 230 (Jasper, Tx)
Reed Williams, LB, West Virginia, Sr., 6-2, 225 (Moorefield, WVa)

For Further Information Contact:

Pete Donovan
Media Relations, The Lott Trophy
Plays4pars@aol.com

About the Lott Trophy:

The Lott Trophy was established by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation to honor college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.

The award is unique because it represents the first trophy to give equal weight to personal character as well as athletic performance from a defensive college player and is the first national college football award based on the West Coast.

The Lott Trophy was named in honor of Ronnie Lott - a two time All -American for USC and College Football Hall of Fame inductee. Ronnie Lott went on to win four Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers, ten trips to the Pro Bowl and a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Always known as a fierce competitor, he was a leader who had IMPACT both on and off the field. 

A look at The Lott Trophy, by the numbers:
2—Defensive Linemen who have won the award (David Pollack, Georgia, 2004; Dorsey, LSU, 2007 – the others were Linebacker DeMeco Ryans, Alabama, 2005, and Defensive Back Dante Hughes, Cal, 2006)

3—Winners from SEC schools (Pollack, Georgia, 2004; Ryans,Alabama, 2005; Dorsey, LSU, 2007).

3—Finalists from The Ohio State University (AJ Hawk, 2005; Quinn Pitcock, 2006; James Laurinaitis, 2007).  No other school has had more than one.

4—Number of Lott Trophy banquets held.

4—Number of Lott Trophy banquets sold out.

4—Major awards won by Glenn Dorsey in 2007 – Lott, Lombardi, Outland, Nagurski.

6—Finalists from the Big Ten (Jim Leonhard, Wisconsin; Paul Posluszny, Penn State; J Leman, Illinois plus three Ohio State players – ACC is the only other school with at least two: Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech, 2005; Chris Long, Virginia, 2007)

7—Finalists who have won starting jobs in the NFL (at least one game) – Pollack (Bengals), Derrick Johnson, Texas (Chiefs), Leonhard (Bills), Ryans (Texans), Hawk (Packers), Tapp (Seahawks), Posluszny (Bills).

8—Pro Football Hall of Famers attending The Lott Banquet over the years (Marcus Allen, Frank Gifford, Howie Long, Ronnie Lott, Merlin Olsen, Lynn Swann, Bill Walsh, Ron Yary)

12—College Football Hall of Famers attending The Lott Banquet (Allen, Jon Arnett, Brad Budde, Terry Donahue, Pat Dye, Mike Garrett, Gifford, Frank Kush, Lott, Olsen, Swann, Yary)

440,000—Dollars raised for charity in first four years of the banquet.

Dorsey is a 6-2, 300-pound senior from Gonzales, La. who has already won the Nagurski, Lombardi and Outland awards this week.

Dorsey was presented the trophy by Ronnie Lott, the Hall of Fame defensive back who starred at USC and was an All-Pro in the NFL.

The other finalists were James Laurinaitis of Ohio State, J Leman of Illinois and Chris Long of Virginia.

In its fourth year, The Lott Trophy honors the college football Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.  The student-athlete is judged on both his on-field performance and his off-field performance.  The Lott Trophy is the first sports award based on personal character and is appropriately named after the legendary defensive back, Ronnie Lott.  The first three winners were David Pollack of Georgia, DeMeco Ryans of Alabama and Dante Hughes of Cal.

Voting for the winner was conducted by Ernst & Young with ballots being sent to college offensive and defensive coordinators, national media, The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation Board of Directors, a Board of Advisors made up of former NFL players and coaches as well as the Master Coaches, a group of distinguished former college head coaches.

LSU will receive $25,000 from The Pacific Club’s IMPACT Foundation for its general scholarship fund while Ohio State, Illinois and Virginia will each receive $5,000.

The 16 quarter-finalists will be announced Oct. 22; the seven semi-finalists Nov. 12 and the four finalists Nov. 27.

The four finalists will be flown to Newport Beach for the banquet.  The university of the winner will receive $25,000 for its general scholarship fund while the three universities of the runnerups will receive $5,000 each for their general scholarship fund.

Voters for The Lott Trophy are college offensive and defensive coordinators, former head coaches who make up the Master Coaches, the Board of Directors of The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The Lott Trophy Board of Advisors and selected members of the national media.

The Dec. 9 black-tie banquet at The Pacific Club, already sold out for the fourth consecutive year, will be televised live by Fox Sports.  Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen will receive The Lott Trophy Lifetime IMPACT Award.  There will also be a video tribute to the late Bill Walsh, a founding member of the Board.

Former banquets have featured Bill Walsh, John Robinson, Terry Donahue, Frank Gifford, Marcus Allen, Jack Kemp, Mike Garrett, Pat Haden and Will Ferrell as keynote speakers.

The 2007 Lott Trophy Watch List
Xavier Adibi, LB, Virginia Tech, Sr., 6-2, 226 (Hampton, Va)
Jamar Adams, S, Michigan, Sr., 6-2, 212 (Charlotte, NC)
Josh Barrett, S, Arizona St., Sr., 6-2, 227 (Reno, Nv)
Tommy Blake, DE, TCU, Sr., 6-3, 250 (Aransas Pass, Tx)
Caleb Campbell, DB, Army, Sr., 6-2, 224 (Perryton, Tx)
Jonathan Casillas, LB, Wisconsin, Jr., 6-2, 214 (New Brunswick, NJ)
Antoine Cason, DB, Arizona, Sr., 6-0, 182 (Long Beach, Ca)
Simeon Castille, CB, Alabama, Sr., 6-1, 189, (Birmingham, Al)
Dan Connor, LB, Penn State, Sr., 6-3, 225 (Wallingford, Pa)
Shawn Crable, LB, Michigan, Sr., 6-5, 245 (Massillon, Oh)
Maurice Crum, LB, Notre Dame, Sr., 6-0, 225 (Riverview, Fl)
Brian Cushing, LB, USC, Jr., 6-4, 245 (Park Ridge, NJ)
Bruce Davis, DE, UCLA, Sr., 6-3, 237 (Houston, Tx)
Jordan Dizon, LB, Colorado, Sr., 6-0, 225 (Kauai, Hawaii)
Glenn Dorsey, DL, LSU, Sr., 6-2, 299 (Gonzales, La)
Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC, Sr., 6-1, 295 (Chino, Ca)
Zack Follett, LB, Cal, Jr., 6-2, 237 (Clovis, Ca)
Eric Foster, DT, Rutgers, Sr., 6-2, 265 (Homestead, Fl)
Vince Hall, LB, Virginia Tech, Sr., 6-0, 240 (Chesapeake, Va)
Chris Harrington, DL, Texas A&M, Sr., 6-5, 267 (Houston)
Nic Harris, DB, Oklahoma, Jr., 6-3, 226 (Alexandria, La)
Derrick Harvey, DL, Florida, Jr., 6-4, 245 (Greenbelt, Md)
Jonathan Hefney, S, Tennessee, Sr., 5-9, 186 (Rock Hill, SC)
Chris Horton, CB, UCLA, Sr., 6-1, 210 (New Orleans)
Kelin Johnson, SS, Georgia, Sr., 6-1, 194 (Daytona Beach, Fl)
Cody Kase, LB, New Mexico, Sr., 6-2, 212 (Valencia, Ca)
Drew Kelson, LB, Texas, Sr., 6-2, 215 (Houston)
Mike Klinkenborg, LB, Iowa, Sr., 6-2, 240 (Rock Rapids, Ia)
Nick Larkin, DE, Boston College, Sr., 6-4, 250 (Cincinnati)
James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State, Jr., 6-3, 244 (Hamel, Mn)
J Leman, LB, Illinois, Sr., 6-3, 244 (Champaign, Il)
Chris Long, DL, Virginia, Sr., 6-4, 284 (Ivy, Va)
Derek Lokey, DT, Texas, Sr., 6-2, 280 (Denton, Tx)
Dwight Lowery, CB, San Jose State, Sr., 6-1, 185 (Santa Cruz, Ca)
Marc Magro, LB, West Virginia, Sr., 6-3, 240 (Morgantown, WVa)
Jeff Van Orsow, DL, Oregon State, Sr., 6-4, 262 (Las Vegas)
Darryl Richard, DT, Georgia Tech, Sr., 6-4, 285 (Destrehan, La)
Keith Rivers, LB, USC, Sr., 6-3, 230 (Lake Mary, Fl)
Bo Ruud, LB, Nebraska, Sr., 6-3, 235 (Lincoln, Ne)
Eric Wicks, DB, West Virginia, Sr., 6-1, 205 (Pittsburgh)
Wesley Woodyard, LB, Kentucky, Sr., 6-1, 212 (La Grange, Ga)
Tom Zbikowski, S, Notre Dame, Sr., 6-0, 210 (Arlington Hts, Il)

The award goes to a former athlete who excelled on the field and went on to a distinguished post-football career.

Olsen, a member of the fabled Fearsome Foursome of the Los Angeles Rams, was a college All-American at Utah State where he won the 1961 Outland Trophy as the outstanding lineman in the nation.  Drafted in the first round by the Rams in 1962, he played in a record 14 consecutive Pro Bowls, the most in NFL history.  He is widely considered the finest defensive tackle to ever play in the league and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Moreover, Olsen was also a superb student.  He received his master’s degree in economics from Utah State where he was Phi Kappa Phi and was inducted in the first class of the Academic All-American Hall of Fame.

Following his football career, Olsen became a highly acclaimed football announcer for NBC as well as an accomplished actor, appearing as a regular in “Little House on the Prairie” and then starring in his own show, “Father Murphy.”

Among his many charitable endeavors is the Children’s Miracle Network, which has raised monies for various children’s hospital around the nation for the past 25 years. 

Known as one of the most dynamic motivational and inspirational speakers in the country, Olsen has been a popular figure on the banquet circuit for many years.

Merlin Olsen and his wife Susan have been married 44 years.  They have three children—Kelly, Jill and Nathan—and four grandchildren.

The Lott Trophy is named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott and goes to the outstanding college defensive player of the year who has had the biggest IMPACT on his team both on and off the field.  IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. It represents the first college football trophy to give equal weight to personal character as well as athletic performance.

Sponsored by the The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the Lott Trophy has donated nearly $300,000 to various charities throughout the United States in just three years.

Forty-two of the top college players in the country have been named to the “Watch List” for 2007 with the winner being announced at the annual banquet.

The previous winners have been David Pollack of Georgia in 2004, DeMeco Ryans of Alabama in 2005 and Daymeion Hughes of Cal in 2006.  Ryans went on to be named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year last season with the Houston Texans.

The banquet, a gala black-tie event at The Pacific Club, has featured Jack Kemp, Frank Gifford, Will Ferrell, John Robinson and Bill Walsh as speakers in the past.  It is sold out for 2007.