Bischoff Named To Butkus Watch List
Aug 21 | Football
ORLANDO, Fla. - Senior SMU linebacker Brian Bischoff has been named to the 2003 Butkus Award Watch List, the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando announced today.
The Houston native came to SMU as a walk-on, but earned a scholarship as a redshirt freshman and has now been a four-year starter for the Mustangs. He was SMU?s sixth leading tackler a year ago with 59 stops, had 11 tackles-for-loss and tied for the team lead with four sacks. He enters 2003 having started 28 times in his career, including 20 straight games.
The Butkus Award is awarded annually to the nation's top college linebacker. This year's Watch List includes 90 candidates that represent schools and conferences from across the nation. The independent selection committee for the 2003 Butkus Award, comprised of 26 of the nation's foremost media members, is solely responsible for all voting in the selection process.
Selection Committee members have started evaluating the candidates and will continue their review throughout the entire football season. Additional Watch List candidates may be added as the season progresses. Voting for the three Butkus Award finalists and the Butkus Award winner will be conducted by confidential ballots of the selection committee.
The Butkus Award Watch List will be trimmed to 10 semi-finalists on Thursday, October 16. That list will be cut down to three finalists, who will be announced via a national teleconference with players, coaches, media members and Butkus Award officials on Thursday, November 13. The winner will be announced Friday, December 12, 2003 at the Butkus Award Gala in Orlando, FL.
Created in 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando Inc., the Butkus Award carries the name and support of one of the greatest middle linebackers in football history, Dick Butkus. The Butkus Award is regarded as one of the most elite individual honors in college football. Past recipients include such outstanding linebackers as: E.J. Henderson (2002-Maryland); Rocky Calmus (2001-Oklahoma); Dan Morgan (2000- Miami, FL); LaVar Arrington (1999-Penn State); Chris Claiborne (1998-Southern California); Andy Katzenmoyer (1997-Ohio State); Matt Russell (1996 Colorado); Kevin Hardy (1995-Illinois); Dana Howard (1994-Illinois); Trev Alberts (1993-Nebraska); Marvin Jones (1992-Florida State); Erick Anderson (1991-Michigan); Alfred Williams (1990-Colorado); Percy Snow (1989-Michigan State); Derrick Thomas (1988-Alabama); Paul McGowan (1997-Florida State); and Brian Bosworth (1985 and 1986-Oklahoma).
The following candidates have been recommended for the 2003 Butkus Award Watch List by the Butkus Award Selection Committee comprised of national media members.
Arnold, Randy?Middle TennesseeBaaqee, Mikal?Virginia TechBallard, Derrick?MemphisBischoff, Brian?SMUBlackstock, Darryl?Virginia Boley, Michael?Southern MissBoulware, Michael?Florida StateBrooks, Ahmad?Virginia Brupbacher, Ross?Louisiana-LafayetteBua, Tony?Arkansas Buhl, Josh?Kansas StateBurnett, Kevin?TennesseeCannon, Anthony?Tulane Capone, Gino?Penn StateCasey, Taylor?North TexasChillar, Brandon?UCLA Chukwuemeka, Dennis?Ohio Cooper, Marquis?Washington Daniels, Brooks?Alabama Dansby, Karlos?Auburn Davis, Rod?Southern MissDay, Rod?LouisvilleDerting, Will?Washington StateDiggs, Carl?MichiganDuffy, Nick?Northern IllinoisDurr, Pat?NorthwesternFowler, Ryan?DukeFox, Keyaron?Georgia TechGoolsby, Mike?Notre DameGrootegoed, Matt?USCHavner, Spencer?UCLAHenriquez, Anthony?Kent StateHickman, Bryan?Kansas StateJackson, Keon?ToledoJoe, Leon?MarylandJohnson, Derrick?TexasJohnson, Landon?PurdueJones, Maurice?USFJones, Terrell?Miami (OH)Kinney, James?MissouriKoutouvides, Niko?PurdueLeake, John?ClemsonLehman, Teddy?OklahomaLewis, Alex?WisconsinMack, Jeff?WisconsinMawhinney, T.J.?Mississippi StateMcCullough, Todd?Florida McGill, Bryce?Fresno StateMiller, Caleb?ArkansasMitchell, Kevin?Oregon Mitchell, Lance?OklahomaMoore, Lewis?PittsburghMorris, Jared?Texas A&MMorrison, Kirk?San Diego StateOtt, Josh?Boston CollegePaully, Eric?Colorado StatePope, Kendyll?Florida StateRembert, JT?MarshallRhule, Stanford?UCFRoach, Freddie?AlabamaRobinson, Vegas?Virginia TechRuud, Barrett?NebraskaSaldi, John?Texas TechScott, Lorenzo?Ball StateSeigler, Richard?Oregon StateSeward, Adam?UNLVSimon, Kevin?TennesseeSiofele, Joe?ArizonaSmith, Daryl?Georgia TechSonnier, Maurice?Louisana-MonroeSpencer, Cody?North TexasSteen, Grant?IowaStrother, Billy?New MexicoThomsa, Dantarrious?AuburnTowns, Daryl?NevadaTufts, Sean?Colorado Turner, Lionel?LSUVanover, Jeff?RiceVilma, Jonathan?Miami (FL)Wade, Justin?Mississippi Wake, Derek?Penn StateWalkenhorst, Paul?BYUWatson, Courtney?Notre DameWest, Ben?MinnesotaWiley, Grant?West VirginiaWilliams, D.J.?Miami (FL)Wood, Drew?Colorado StateWoodard, Tim?UTEPWoodfin, Zac?UABWortham, Cornelius?Alabama
