Dumervil Named Lombardi Award Finalist
November 15, 2005 | Football
Nov. 15, 2005
HOUSTON- - Senior Elvis Dumervil of the University of Louisville is one of the four finalists for the 36th Rotary Lombardi Award, presented by Wachovia. The winner will be named on December 7.
The other three selections are Rod Wright of the University of Texas, A.J. Hawk of Ohio State and Paul Posluszny of Penn State.
The annual honor, which benefits the American Cancer Society, will be presented in Houston on December 7. Tickets are on sale now through the Rotary Club of Houston (713) 973-9936. Aaron Taylor, the 1993 winner of the Rotary Lombardi Award, will deliver the keynote speech. Former Houston Oiler and 1985 Lombardi semifinalist Ray Childress is the event's Honorary Chairman. Randy McIlvoy, Sports Director of KPRC TV will once again serve as the event's emcee.
Dumervil has had a magical season from his defensive end position. He leads the country in sacks with 20 and has set a NCAA record by forcing 10 fumbles this season. In the Cards first season of Big East play, Dumervill already has shattered the conference mark for sacks (17.5), which was set by 2001 Lombardi finalist Dwight Freeney of Syracuse. He is well within reach of the NCAA mark of 24, set by 2002 Lombardi winner Terrell Suggs or Arizona State.
The native of Miami, Fla., also leads the team in tackles with 56. He set an NCAA record earlier this season with six sacks in a game against Kentucky and also set a record for sacks in consecutive games with nine.
A semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award last year, Hawk (6-1, 240) has led the Buckeyes in tackles in nine of 10 games this season and has five games with 10-or-more tackles this season. Hawk is the fifth OSU linebacker to be named a Lombardi finalist and is looking to become the sixth Buckeye to win the honor, more than any other school. He is the first Buckeye finalist since Andy Katzenmoyer earned the honor in both 1997 and 1998.
A major force in Penn State's return to the top of the Big Ten standings, Posluszny (6-2, 229) is fourth in the conference with 106 tackles, including a single game high of 22 vs. Northwestern. The only junior in the group, Posluszny has totaled more than 100 tackles in back-to-back seasons. He is looking to become the second Nittany Lion to win the award, joining Bruce Clark in 1978. He is PSU's first finalist since Lavar Arrington and Courtney Brown were honored in 1999.
Wright (6-5, 310) has anchored the Longhorns defensive efforts this season. He has 38 tackles, including 12 for losses of 46 yards, and has been credited with an additional 13 quarterback pressures. He is looking to become the first Houston high school product to win the Rotary Lombardi Award. He is the third Longhorn finalist in the last four years and is looking to be the schools first winner since Tony Degrate in 1984.
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.
