1998 Rotary Lombardi Award Finalists Named
Nov 09, 1998 | Football
November 09, 1998
Two offensive tackles and two Linebackers have been named finalists for the 1998 Rotary Lombardi Award, announced Saturday, November 7 in Columbus, Ohio. In alphabetical order, the four finalists are Wisconsin offensive tackle Aaron Gibson, Ohio State linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer, Texas A&M linebacker Dat Nguyen, and offensive tackle Matt Stinchcomb of the University of Georgia.
The 29th Annual Rotary Lombardi Award will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1998 in Houston. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Houston, the award dinner has raised more than $2.25 million for the American Cancer Society's programs of cancer research since its inception in 1970. The award is presented to the college lineman (offensive or defensive) who, in addition to outstanding performance on the field, best exemplifies the characteristics and discipline of Vince Lombardi.
Gibson is the first Rotary Lombardi Award finalist ever from the University of Wisconsin. The nation's largest player at 6-7, 371 pounds, he has been the lead blocker for Wisconsin all-America running back Ron Dayne for the past three seasons. His Badgers are one of only six undefeated teams in the country and are currently ranked as high as sixth in the nation.
Katzenmoyer is the only junior among the four and the sole returning finalist after becoming just the second sophomore ever to be named a Rotary Lombardi Award finalist in 1997. The leader of the nation's third-ranked defense, he has 49 tackles for Ohio State in eight games and was the Big-10 co-Defensive Player of the Week after the Buckeyes' 38-7 win over Indiana on Oct. 31.
Nguyen became Texas A&M's all-time leading tackler in the Aggies' win at Oklahoma State. He has 91 tackles in nine games in 1998 and 461 career tackles. His career totals also include eight recovered fumbles, nine forced fumbles, five interceptions and four touchdowns. He is A&M's fourth Rotary Lombardi Award finalist and the first since Sam Adams in 1993.
Stinchcomb is the first Rotary Lombardi Award finalist ever from the University of Georgia. He's a three-year starter and the leader of a young Georgia team which began the season 5-0 including an upset win at LSU. An outstanding student, he sports a 3.94 GPA in a business major and will receive the 1998 National Football Foundation Post-Graduate Scholarship.
The award's finalists were named in Columbus, Ohio prior to the Ohio State-Michigan State football game. On hand to make the official announcement was ex-Buckeye Jim Stillwagon, the very first recipient back in 1970. Ohio State has produced more Lombardi Award winners (5) than any other school.
The four finalists and their head coaches will fly to Houston on Dec. 7 and spend two days in the Space City with a busy agenda which includes visits to local hospitals and area youth clubs. The Rotary Lombardi Award recipient, as chosen by a panel of more than 300 national media members, college football coaches and past winners, will be named at a black-tie dinner at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Houston on Dec. 8.
Tickets for the event are still available by calling the Rotary Club of Houston at (713) 973-9936.
To follow the progress of this year's nominees, fans can go online and visit the official Lombardi website at http://chili.collegesportsnews.com/lombardi -- Sections on the site include a history of the award, information on the Rotary Club as well as the charities involved which benefit from the dinner, finalist biographies, and a form where people can order tickets to this year's event.
1998 ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD FINALISTS
Name School Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Cl. Hometown
Aaron Gibson Wisconsin OT 6-7 371 Sr. Indianapolis, IN
Andy Katzenmoyer Ohio State LB 6-4 265 Jr. Westerville, OH
Dat Nguyen Texas A&M LB 5-11 221 Sr. Rockport, TX
Matt Stinchcomb Georgia OT 6-6 290 Sr. Lilbrun, GA
