3 Hurricanes Included On Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
May 9, 2001
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HOUSTON – Three Miami Hurricanes – offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, offensive tackle Joaquin Gonzalez and tight end Jeremy Shockey – are featured as the Executive Committee of the 2001 Rotary Lombardi Award has released its Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List comprised of 52 preliminary candidates for the 32nd Rotary Lombardi Award. This year’s award winner will be announced on December 5th in Houston.
McKinnie and Gonzalez, a pair of seniors who received first-team All-America acclaim in 2000, join Shockey, a junior who earned first-team All-BIG EAST honors last season, on the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List. The list is comprised of returning Division I college football players who meet the basic position requirements for the Award and who have earned either All-American or first-team All-Conference recognition in a previous season. All-Conference designations were limited to those voted upon by the coaches of each conference. Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen and those defenders who line up within five yards of the football.
Among the players included on the list is a pair of linemen (defensive end Alex Brown of Florida and defensive tackle Wendell Bryant of Wisconsin) who were semifinalists for the 2000 Rotary Lombardi Award. Defending National Champions Oklahoma is represented by linebacker Rocky Calmus while 2000 Outland Trophy winner John Henderson is also on the list. A total of 44 schools are represented, with the University of Miami leading the way with three players (Gonzalez, McKinnie and Shockey).
This initial grouping acknowledges those players who are returning for the 2001 football season with underclass recognition as an All-American or All-Conference player. However, any Division I player who meets the position requirements is eligible for consideration from the Rotary Lombardi Selection Committee, which is comprised of nearly 300 members, including all Division I head coaches, former winners, sportswriters and broadcasters. The Rotary Lombardi Watch List, intended as a reference tool for the Selection Committee, will be periodically updated and revised through the conclusion of the voting to determine the 12 Semifinalists for the 2001 honor.
“We are pleased to issue this Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List and recognize this fine collection of college linemen that have already been honored by being named to an All American team or All Conference team as underclassmen”, said Marc K. Rieke, Chairman of the Executive Committee. “We also recognize that there are some quality candidates, omitted from this list, who intend to make their presence known at the beginning of the 2001 football season. Our ultimate goal is to identify and honor the outstanding college lineman that best exemplifies the traditions of discipline and excellence for which Vince Lombardi was renowned.”
Now in its 32nd year of honoring the top lineman in Division I football, the Rotary Lombardi Award Dinner has raised over $2.5 million for The American Cancer Society since it was first held in 1970.
