University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Boley Named Butkus Award Semifinalist
10/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Boley Named Butkus Award Semifinalist
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ? Southern Miss senior linebacker Michael Boley was named one of 12 semifinalists for the Butkus Award today by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc., given annually to the nation?s top linebacker.
This marks the third year in a row that Southern Miss has had a Butkus Award semifinalist. Former Golden Eagles standout and current Minnesota Viking Rod Davis was twice named a semifinalist in 2002 and 2003.
The list, which includes 12 semifinalists this year instead of the usual 10 because of a 10th-place tie in the Selection Committee voting, was determined by confidential balloting of the 30-member Butkus Award Selection Committee, comprised of the nation?s foremost media members. The Selection Committee made their selections from the initial Butkus Award Watch List of 68 college linebackers, which was announced back on Aug. 19. The independent selection committee is solely responsible for all voting in the selection process. The Selection Committee members have already started evaluating the semifinalists and will continue their review throughout the entire football season. The three finalists for the Butkus Award will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 11, at a national press/teleconference in Orlando. The winner will be announced Friday, Dec.10, at the black-tie Butkus Award Gala. The Butkus Award, created in 1985 by the DOAC, is named after Dick Butkus, a former University of Illinois and Chicago Bear NFL Hall of Fame member. Butkus will present the award to the winner. The finalists, their coaches and families are invited to attend the Butkus Award Gala festivities, including a welcome reception, golf tournament and silent auction. Former award winner and current ESPN college football analyst Trev Alberts will be the master of ceremonies. Boley has had an outstanding senior season thus far this season. He leads the team with 52 total tackles, including 30 solos and 22 assists. He has five tackles for a loss, two sacks, one interception, and three forced fumbles on the season. Boley earned Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week honors and FWAA-Bronco Nagurski National Player of the Week honors following his performance in the team?s season opening 21-17 win at Nebraska Sept. 11. In the game, Boley finished 20 tackles, two forced fumbles, a tackle for a loss, and a pass breakup. Boley earned Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week honors for a second time this season Oct. 11, following a 19-tackle and a sack performance in the team?s Oct. 7, 35-29 overtime victory over Houston. The game marked Boley?s 18
The 12 semi-finalists (in alphabetical order) for the 2004 Butkus Award are Michael Boley (Southern Miss); Ahmad Brooks (Virginia); Kevin Burnett (Tennessee); Channing Crowder (Florida); Matt Grootegoed ( USC); Spencer Havner (UCLA); A.J. Hawk (Ohio State); Derrick Johnson (Texas); Lance Mitchell (Oklahoma); Kirk Morrison (San Diego St.); Odell Thurman (Georgia) and Leon Williams (Miami (Fla.).
