Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Five Tigers Named to Maxwell, Bednarik Watch Lists


Five members of the LSU football team – three on defense and two on offense -- have been named to watch lists for the 2008 Maxwell and Bednarik Awards, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Monday.
Headlining the list of LSU’s candidates for the Bednarik Award is senior defensive end Tyson Jackson, who has already been named as a preseason All-America selection. The other two Tigers on the Bednarik list include senior linebacker Darry Beckwith and junior defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois.
LSU senior wide receiver Demetrius Byrd and junior running back Keiland Williams are among 75 players from across the country named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the most outstanding collegiate football player.
Tim Tebow of the University of Florida was the recipient of the 71st Maxwell Award and Dan Connor of Penn State University was awarded the 13th Chuck Bednarik Award for their outstanding performance during the 2007 season. Tebow, the first sophomore to ever win the Maxwell Award, returns for his junior season with the Gators. Connor is now a member of the Carolina Panthers.
Last year, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey was a finalist for the Bednarik Award.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced in early November and three finalists for each award will be announced November 25th. The winners of the 2008 Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December. The formal presentation of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Harrah’s Entertainment Atlantic City on March 6, 2009.
2008 Maxwell Award Watch List
PLAYER NAME, SCHOOL, POSITION, CLASSBeckum, Travis, University of Wisconsin, TE, SRBenn, Arrelious, University of Illinois, WR, SOPHBoeckman, Todd, Ohio State University, QB, SRBradford, Sam, University of Oklahoma, QB, SOPHBritt, Kenny, Rutgers University, WR, JRByrd,, Demetrius, LSU, WR, SRCantwell, Hunter, University of Louisville, QB, SRCarpenter, Rudy, Arizona State University, QB, SRCarr, Greg, Florida State University, WR, SRClaussen, Jimmy, Notre Dame, QB , SOPHCoffman, Chase, University of Missouri, TE, SRCrabtree, Michael, Texas Tech, WR, SOPHCrompton, Jonathan, University of Tennessee, QB, JRDaniel, Chase, University of Missouri, QB, SRDavis, James, Clemson University, RB, SRDavis, Nate, Ball State, QB, JRDevine, Noel, West Virginia University, RB, SOPHDillard, Jarett, Rice , WR, SRFletcher, Damion, University of Southern Mississippi, RB, JRFoster, Adrian, University of Tennessee, RB, SRGibson, Brandon, Washington State University, WR, SRGoodson, Mike, Texas A&M, RB, JRGresham, Jermaine, University of Oklahoma, TE, JRGrothe, Matt, University of South Florida, QB, JRHall, Max, BYU, QB, JRHarper, Cullen, Clemson University, QB, SRHarrell, Graham, Texas Tech, QB, SRHarvin, Percy, University of Florida, WR, JRHerring, Keegan, Arizona State University, RB, SRHeyward-Bey, Darrius, University of Maryland, WR, JRHill, P.J., University of Wisconsin, RB, JRHolbrook, Chase, New Mexico State, QB, SRIglesias, Juaquin, University of Oklahoma, WR, SRJames, Javarris, University of Miami, RB, JRJarvis, Eugene, Kent State University, RB, JRJohnson, Ian, Boise State University, RB, SRJohnson, Stafon, University of Southern California, RB, JRKelly, Aaron, Clemson University, WR, SRKinder, Derek, University of Pittsburgh, WR, SRLane, Jorvorskie, Texas A&M, RB, SRLeFevour, Dan, Central Michigan, QB, JRLocker, Jake, University of Washington, QB, SOPHLucky, Marlon, University of Nebraska, RB, SRMaclin, Jeremy, University of Missouri, WR, SOPHMcCoy, Colt, University of Texas, QB, JRMcCoy, LeSean, University of Pittsburgh, RB, SOPHMcKinley, Kenny, University of South Carolina, WR, SRMcKnight, Joe, University of Southern California, RB, SOPHMoody, Emmanuel, University of Florida, RB, SOPHMoreno, Knowshon, University of Georgia, RB, SOPHMurray, DeMarco, University of Oklahoma, RB, SOPHPainter, Curtis, Purdue University, QB, SRReesing, Todd, University of Kansas, QB, JRRinger, Javon, Michigan State University, RB, SRRobinson, Zac, Oklahoma State University, QB, JRRobiskie, Brian, Ohio State University, WR, SRSanchez, Mark, University of Southern California, QB, JRSmith, Antone, Florida State University, RB, SRSpiller, C.J. , Clemson University, RB, JRStafford, Matthew, University of Georgia, QB, JRStroughter, Sammie, Oregon State University, WR, SRSutton, Tyrell, Northwestern, RB, SRTate, Ben, Auburn University, RB, JRTebow, Tim, University of Florida, QB, JRThomas, Mike, University of Arizona, WR, SRTuitama, Willie, University of Arizona, QB, SRTurner, Patrick, University of Southern California, WR, SRUnderwood, Tiquan, Rutgers University, WR, SRWeatherford, Drew, Florida State University, QB, SRWells, Chris (Beanie), Ohio State University, RB, JRWhite, Pat, West Virginia University, QB, SRWilliams, Jaison, University of Oregon, WR, SRWilliams, Keiland, LSU, RB, JRWilliams,Derrick, Penn State University, WR, SRWilson, John Parker, University of Alabama, QB, SR
2008 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
PLAYER NAME, SCHOOL, POSITION, CLASSAppleby, Antonio, University of Virginia, LB, SRAtkins, Geno, University of Georgia, DL, JRAustin, Marvin, University of North Carolina, DL, SOPHBeckwith, Derry, LSU, LB, SRBerry, Eric, University of Tennessee, DB, SOPHBrinkley, Jasper, University of South Carolina, LB, SRBrown, Everette, Florida State University, DE, JRBurnett, Joe, University of Central Florida, DB , SRByrd, Jarius, University of Oregon, DB, JRByrd, Terrill, University of Cincinatti, DL, SRCampbell, Ian, Kansas State University, DE, SRCarter, Reggie, UCLA, LB, JRChung, Patrick, University of Oregon, DB, SRColeman, Antonio, Auburn University, DE, JRCrum, Maurice, Notre Dame, LB, SRCurry, Aaron, Wake Forest, LB, SRCushing, Brian, University of Southern California, LB, SRDavis, Vontae, University of Illinois, DB, JRElimimian, Solomon, University of Hawaii, LB, SREllerbe, Dannell, University of Georgia, LB, SREllison, Kevin, University of Southern California, DB, SREnglish, Austin, University of Oklahoma, DE, JREvans, Maurice, Penn State University, DE, JRFollett, Zach, University of California, LB, SRFreeman, Marcus, Ohio State University, LB, SRGrainger, DeMarcus, University of Oklahoma, DL, JRGreene, Courtney, Rutgers University, DB, SRHamlin, Michael, Clemson University, DB, SRHardy, Greg, University of Mississippi, DE, JRHarris, Nic, University of Oklahoma, DB, SRHarris, Victor, Virginia Tech, DB, SRHeygood, Anthony, Purdue University, LB, SRHypolite, George, University of Colorado, DL, SRJackson, Tyson, LSU, DE, SRJean-Francois, Ricky, LSU, DL, JRJenkins, Malcolm, Ohio State University, DB, SRJohnson, Michael, Georgia Tech, DE, SRKing, Mitch, University of Iowa, DL, SRLaurinatis, James, Ohio State University, LB, SRLindley, Trevard, University of Kentucky, DB, JRMaualuga, Rey, University of Southern California, LB, SRMays, Taylor, University of Southern California, DB, JRMcCoy, Gerald, University of Oklahoma, DL, SOPHMcCoy, Rico, University of Tennessee, LB, JRMcGrath, Gerald, University of Southern Mississippi, LB, JRMcKenzie, Tyrone, University of South Florida, LB , SRMcKillop, Scott, University of Pittsburgh, LB, SRMickens, Mike, University of Cincinatti, DB, SRMiddleton, Greg, University of Indiania, DE, JRMiller, Roy, University of Texas, DL, SRMoala, Fili, University of Southern California, DL, SRMoore, William, University of Missouri, DB, SRNicholson, Derek, Florida State University, LB, SRNolan, Troy, Arizona State University, DB , SROghobaase, Vince, Duke, DL, JROwens, Jeff, University of Georgia, DL, SRPegues, Derek, Mississippi State University, DB, SRPeria, Jerry, University of Mississippi, DL, SRPhilistin, Dave, University of Maryland, LB, SRReynolds, Ryan, University of Oklahoma, LB, JRRivera, Mike, University of Kansas, LB, SRRobinson, Antwain, University of Arkansas, DE, SRRolle, Myron, Florida State University, DB, JRSapp, Ricky, Clemson University, DE, JRSelvie, George, University of South Florida, DE, JRShaughnessy, Matt, University of Wisconsin, DE, SRSmith, Alphonso, Wake Forest, DB, SRSnyder, Clinton, Stanford University, LB, JRSpikes, Brandon, University of Florida, LB, JRTaylor, Terrance, University of Michigan, DL, SRThurmond, Walter, University of Oregon, DB, JRToal, Brian, Boston College, LB, SRWalker, vance, Georgia Tech, DL, SRWesterman, Jamaal, Rutgers University, DE, SRWilliams, Worrell, University of California, LB, SR

Hardy, Jerry Make Bednarik Award Watch List


Ole Miss’ Greg Hardy and Peria Jerry are among 75 players named to the 2008 Watch List for the 14th Chuck Bednarik Award, as announced by Maxwell Football Club President Ron Jaworski. The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995 and is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a former University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Eagle great. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame (1969) and the NFL Hall of Fame (1967).Hardy, a junior end, and Jerry, a senior tackle, were also both named early candidates for the Nagurski Trophy in addition to earning preseason All-America accolades. Hardy has also been honored on the preliminary watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award and Jerry for the Outland Trophy.Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be determined in early November and the three finalists will be announced November 25. The winner of the 2008 Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December. The formal presentation of the award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Harrah’s Entertainment Atlantic City on March 6, 2009.The watch list candidates have been chosen by the Maxwell Football Club’s Selection Committee and the Maxwell Club reserves the right to make additions and subtractions to these lists as the 2008 season unfolds. All members of the Maxwell Football Club, NCAA Sports Information Directors, Head Coaches and selected national media are eligible to vote for these awards.Dan Connor of Penn State was awarded last year’s Bednarik Award and is now a member of the Carolina Panthers.

Sox win in Eighth



With one swing, Manny Ramírez changed everything last night at Fenway Park.
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This was shaping up as a pitching-dominated Minnesota victory, but Ramírez's two-run homer in the eighth tied the game and Brandon Moss's two-out single drove in Kevin Youkilis with the go-ahead run to cap a four-run inning and produce the Red Sox' second one-run victory in as many nights, 6-5, before 37,925.
Moss, who tied the season opener March 25 against the Oakland A's in Japan with a ninth-inning homer off Huston Street, got a rare start in left field and he didn't disappoint.
"I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit and drive it up the middle," Moss said. "We did such a great job battling back and Manny gave us a chance to pull it out. It was a fun night and we beat a great team. To win a game like this against a team like that is a big win for us."
This was basically two games in one - one dominated by Twins pitching, particularly starter Nick Blackburn, and the other marked by Boston's late-surging offense.
With the Sox trailing, 5-2 entering the eighth, Jacoby Ellsbury doubled off Dennys Reyes. In came Matt Guerrier, and Dustin Pedroia singled to shallow right- center to move Ellsbury to third. J.D. Drew grounded to second to produce the Sox' third run, then up came Ramírez, who had been 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
But he came through in a big way, just as he did the night before in the eighth inning, driving in the game's only run.
Ramírez has been long gone and unavailable to the media after games lately, but manager Terry Francona and other teammates have spoken on his behalf.
"It was nice seeing him hit the ball out of the ballpark," said Francona. "[Monday] night was what we needed - infield is in and he lines [a single] to right - but sometimes you need a home run."
And sometimes you need to continue an inning after a big home run. Thank Youkilis for that. He stroked a double into the gap in left-center, then got to third on a wild pitch. Moss then delivered his winning single to center.
Jonathan Papelbon came on to record his 27th save in the ninth in nail-biting fashion. Nick Punto doubled to center on a ball Coco Crisp dived for and went behind him. After a sacrifice by Denard Span advanced Punto to third, Papelbon struck out pinch hitter Jason Kubel on a 97-mile-per-hour fastball, passing on the splitter that sometimes gets him in trouble. He then got Alexi Casilla to ground to second to end the game.
The Crisp play could have been a mess.
"I got a great jump on it and I went for it," said Crisp of Punto's drive, which should have been a single. "It wasn't like I hesitated or anything. I play all those situations in my head; when I'm running, I thought I had it. And I end up missing it, but I thought I picked the right situation to go after it . . . but it didn't work out."
The Twins, who have 19 quality starts in 23 games since June 13, didn't give the Sox much over the first six innings.
Blackburn effectively worked both sides of the plate, keeping the Sox pounding the ball into the ground.
Jon Lester, who shut out the Yankees at the Stadium last Thursday, went 7 1/3 innings, allowing nine hits and five runs.
He was cruising until Justin Morneau singled to center with one out in the fourth. The lefthander, making his 20th start, induced a force from Craig Monroe for the second out, but suddenly, he began to get his pitches up and the Twins were relentless. A single to right by Delmon Young was followed by a triple into the right-field corner by Brendan Harris, scoring a pair. Punto followed with a single to center that made it 3-1.
"Harris did a great job of hitting," said Lester. "He stuck the bat out there and he hit the ball down the line. You've got to tip your hat to that."
The Twins added a run in the seventh as Lester began inching closer to 100 pitches. He allowed a leadoff double to Harris, and No. 9 hitter Span knocked in the fourth Minnesota run with a single.
"In the seventh inning, on the bloop hit to left, same deal," Lester said. "I executed the pitch I wanted to execute and he hit it."
The Sox scored on Drew's RBI double in the first after Ellsbury singled, but then Blackburn settled in.
The 6-foot-4-inch, 227-pound righthander threw seven shutout innings in a 7-0 win over Detroit last Wednesday and entered last night's game with a 7-4 record and a 3.78 ERA.
He retired the Sox in order in the second, third, and fourth innings; Youkilis's single to lead off the fifth ended his string at 11 straight outs. Pedroia extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a sixth-inning single, but other than that, Blackburn was in control.
In the bottom of the seventh, Youkilis hit a fly ball atop the left-center wall. The ball seemed to take an eternity to bounce off and equally long for center fielder Carlos Gomez to retrieve it. By that time, Youkilis was racing into third base.
With one out, Moss fell behind, 0 and 2, against Blackburn, but then sent a sacrifice fly to left-center to make it a two-run game.
"Blackburn was excellent all night," said Moss. "He threw a lot of strikes."
By the eighth it was evident Lester had begun to tire. He surrendered singles to Joe Mauer and Morneau. After he struck out Monroe, Francona yanked him following his 117th pitch. David Aardsma came on, but Young drilled a single to right to make it 5-2.
But the game was about to change in a big way. Thanks to Ramírez.