Bischoff named to Butkus watch list

[PonyPride]

Senior has been a four-year starter for Mustangs


Senior SMU linebacker Brian Bischoff has been named to the 2003 Butkus Award Watch List, the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando announced Thursday.

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 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, [deleted] 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 Tennessee
Baaqee, Mikal - Virginia Tech
Ballard, Derrick - Memphis
Bischoff, Brian - SMU
Blackstock, Darryl - Virginia
Boley, Michael - Southern Miss
Boulware, Michael - Florida State
Brooks, Ahmad - Virginia
Brupbacher, Ross - Louisiana-Lafayette
Bua, Tony - Arkansas
Buhl, Josh - Kansas State
Burnett, Kevin - Tennessee
Cannon, Anthony - Tulane
Capone, Gino - Penn State
Casey, Taylor - North Texas
Chillar, Brandon - UCLA
Chukwuemeka, Dennis - Ohio
Cooper, Marquis - Washington
Daniels, Brooks - Alabama
Dansby, Karlos - Auburn
Davis, Rod - Southern Miss
Day, Rod - Louisville
Derting, Will - Washington State
Diggs, Carl - Michigan
Duffy, Nick - Northern Illinois
Durr, Pat - Northwestern
Fowler, Ryan - Duke
Fox, Keyaron - Georgia Tech
Goolsby, Mike - Notre Dame
Grootegoed, Matt - USC
Havner, Spencer - UCLA
Henriquez, Anthony - Kent State
Hickman, Bryan - Kansas State
Jackson, Keon - Toledo
Joe, Leon - Maryland
Johnson, Derrick - Texas
Johnson, Landon - Purdue
Jones, Maurice - USF
Jones, Terrell - Miami (OH)
Kinney, James - Missouri
Koutouvides, Niko - Purdue
Leake, John - Clemson
Lehman, Teddy - Oklahoma
Lewis, Alex - Wisconsin
Mack, Jeff - Wisconsin
Mawhinney, T.J. - Mississippi State
McCullough, Todd - Florida
McGill, Bryce - Fresno State
Miller, Caleb - Arkansas
Mitchell, Kevin - Oregon
Mitchell, Lance - Oklahoma
Moore, Lewis - Pittsburgh
Morris, Jared - Texas A&M
Morrison, Kirk - San Diego State
Ott, Josh - Boston College
Paully, Eric - Colorado State
Pope, Kendyll - Florida State
Rembert, JT - Marshall
Rhule, Stanford - UCF
Roach, Freddie - Alabama
Robinson, Vegas - Virginia Tech
Ruud, Barrett - Nebraska
Saldi, John - Texas Tech
Scott, Lorenzo - Ball State
Seigler, Richard - Oregon State
Seward, Adam - UNLV
Simon, Kevin - Tennessee
Siofele, Joe - Arizona
Smith, Daryl - Georgia Tech
Sonnier, Maurice - Louisana-Monroe
Spencer, Cody - North Texas
Steen, Grant - Iowa
Strother, Billy - New Mexico
Thomsa, Dantarrious - Auburn
Towns, Daryl - Nevada
Tufts, Sean - Colorado
Turner, Lionel - LSU
Vanover, Jeff - Rice
Vilma, Jonathan - Miami (FL)
Wade, Justin - Mississippi
Wake, Derek - Penn State
Walkenhorst, Paul - BYU
Watson, Courtney - Notre Dame
West, Ben - Minnesota
Wiley, Grant - West Virginia
Williams, D.J. - Miami (FL)
Wood, Drew - Colorado State
Woodard, Tim - UTEP
Woodfin, Zac - UAB
Wortham, Cornelius - Alabama

[mrydel]

Brain's percentage of winning odds are a little better. Tony Bua at Arkansas is now a safety, but the nominating committee missed the position change.

[Otto]

Congratulations to Brian. He's very deserving of the recognition!