Football: Mozes Lombardi Semifinalist
October 18, 2006 09:52 AM | General
October 18, 2006
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| Dan Mozes |
HOUSTON- A pair of returnees highlight the list of 12 college football standouts named as semifinalists for the 37th Rotary Lombardi Award, presented by Wachovia Bank. This year's dinner, which benefits the American Cancer Society, will be held on December 6 at the Hilton Americas Hotel in Downtown Houston.
Linebacker Paul Posluszny of Penn State and offensive tackle Joe Thomas of Wisconsin were each semifinalists in 2005. They are joined by linebackers Buster Davis of Florida State and Patrick Willis of Mississippi; offensive tackles Justin Blalock of Texas and Dan Mozes of West Virginia; defensive ends Gaines Adams of Clemson, Mkristo Bruce (M-kristo) of Washington State, Quentin Moses of Georgia, Brian Smith of Missouri, and LaMarr Woodley of Michigan; and defensive tackle Quinn Pitock of Ohio State. All 12 players are playing their senior seasons for their respective schools.
Posluszny leads the Nittany Lions' defense with 57 tackles (34 solo) in seven games so far this season, while Thomas is a pre-season All-American and the cornerstone of a Badger attack that has notched 33 points per contest.
The leader in the middle of the Seminoles defense, Davis has racked up 57 tackles (30 solo) in six games. Willis leads the SEC with an average of 10.43 tackles per game as the centerpiece of an Ole Miss defense.
Blalock anchored the Longhorns' offensive line during their run to the National Championship in 2005, and is a big reason why the Horns are the 2nd highest scoring team in NCAA football this year. Mozes centers a line for the unbeaten Mountaineers that is tops in the nation with 328 yards rushing per game.
Adams tied a Clemson record by recording at least one sack in his fifth-straight game for the nation's 4th ranked defense. Bruce currently leads the nation with 10.0 sacks, while posting 29 solo tackles for the Cougars.
Pitock has recorded 7.0 sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss for the #1 ranked Buckeyes, while Moses (21 tackles), was named the pre-season SEC Defensive Player of the Year by The Sporting News. Smith is tied for 5th nationally with 7.5 sacks, and has also registered 8.5 tackles for a loss in seven games played. Woodley has also gathered 7.0 sacks and has 10.0 tackles for a loss for the # 3 ranked Wolverines.
This year's class of semifinalists includes nine defensive players and three offensive linemen. The Big Ten Conference leads the way with four semifinalists, followed by the ACC, Big XII, and SEC with two apiece, and the Big East and Pac-10 with one.
Founded in the weeks following the death of legendary football coach Vince Lombardi from cancer in 1970, the Rotary Lombardi Award presented by Wachovia Bank has annually delivered upon the mission set forth by Marie Lombardi when she first granted the use of her late husband's name. Her only stipulation was that all net proceeds from the event be donated to the American Cancer Society and over $3.1 million has been generated since that time.
This year's Rotary Lombardi Award is being presented by Wachovia Bank, which is in the second year of a two-year presentation sponsorship agreement with the Rotary Club of Houston Foundation to support the event and its fund raising component. Tables and individual tickets are now on sale through the Rotary Club of Houston office (713) 973-9936.
The Rotary Club of Houston, in operation since 1912, is an association of more than 300 successful business professionals, all prominent in their individual fields of endeavor, who volunteer their efforts through the work of some two dozen club committees. Assistance is provided to such diverse groups as troubled youngsters, former prison inmates, business oriented high school students, families of cancer patients, deserving college scholarship candidates and the nation's cancer research efforts. The Rotary Club of Houston is leading a neighborhood initiative to benefit Houston's East End. Through collaboration with major corporate, civic and philanthropic partners, including many Houston area Rotary Clubs, Rotary activities will respond to identified community needs in the areas of public health, education, vocational training and micro-enterprises.
