ORLANDO, FLA. (FWAA) The Football Writers Association of
America's 62nd All-America Team was announced on Saturday afternoon
during a televised program on ABC Sports from Disney's MGM studios.
The
FWAA All-America Team, the second longest continuously published team in
college football, has been a staple of the college football scene since
1944. And for the second straight season, the unveiling of the team has
been televised and sponsored by Cingular.
Top-ranked Southern California and second-ranked Texas, which will meet
in the Rose Bowl in the national title game on Jan. 4, 2006, each placed three
players on the 25-man team. Big Ten co-champion Penn State and UCLA each
had two players selected.
There are two repeat All-Americas on the squad, Outland Trophy winner
Greg Eslinger of Minnesota, who repeated at center from a year ago, and
USC's Reggie Bush, who made the team as a sophomore kick returner last
season, is one of the All-America running backs in 2005.
Bush is joined on the 2005 team by USC teammates, wide receiver Dwayne
Jarrett and offensive lineman Taitusi Lutui. Texas' three All-Americas are
quarterback Vince Young, offensive lineman Jonathan Scott and defensive
back Michael Huff.
Penn State placed two players on the FWAA defensive team linebacker
Paul Posuluszny and end Tamba Hali. UCLA's All-Americans are tight end Marcedes
Lewis and kick returner Maurice Drew. Louisville defensive end Elvis Dumervil made
the team as the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner (FWAA Defensive Player of
the Year).
The Pac-10 led all conferences with seven players, the Big Ten had five
players and the ACC and Big 12 four each.
First selected three years after the organization was formed, the FWAA's
inaugural team included Army's Heisman Trophy tandem of Doc Blanchard and
Glenn Davis and Georgia Tech's Frank Broyles, who later became Arkansas'
head football coach and athletic director.
Over the years, the FWAA team has highlighted the college football's great players
in several media forums.
From 1946-70, LOOK Magazine published the FWAA team and brought players
and selected writers to New York City for a celebration. During that 25-year
period, the FWAA team was introduced on national television shows by Bob
Hope, Steve Allen, Perry Como and others.
After LOOK folded, the FWAA started a long association with NCAA Films
(later known as NCAA Productions), which produced a 30-minute television
show. The team was part of ABC's 1981
college football series.
From 1983-90, the team was either on ABC or ESPN, and now has returned
to the national spotlight on ABC.
The FWAA team has included most of the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and
Outland Trophy winners over the years. Those are the three oldest
awards in major-college football.
This
is the fourth year Florida Citrus Sports has held a gala celebration for
the team in Orlando. The FCS brings all the members of the team to one spot
to honor them with a banquet.
For 62 years, the FWAA has selected an All-America team with the help
of its members and an All-America committee, which represents all the regions
in the country.
Some of the true greats of the writing profession have helped to select
this team over the years Grantland Rice, Bert McGrane, Blackie Sherrod,
Furman Bisher, Pat Harmon, Fred Russell, Edwin Pope, Murray Olderman, Paul
Zimmerman and the list goes on and on.
For more information on the FWAA All-America Team and other FWAA awards,
go to www.footballwriters.com.