Newport Beach, Ca. – Jerry Hughes of TCU has been named the winner of the sixth annual Lott Trophy at a gala banquet Sunday night at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California.

Hughes is a senior Defensive End from Sugar Land, Texas and has been the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year each of the past two seasons. He led the undefeated Horned Frogs in sacks (11.5) and tackles for losses (15) this season.

Hughes was named the winner of the Hendricks Award earlier this week as the top defensive end in college football.

TCU will receive $25,000 for its general scholarship fund for Hughes’ accomplishment.

The other three finalists were Eric Berry of Tennessee, Rolando McClain of Alabama and Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska.

The award is sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation.

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its sixth year, the Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.

Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation in Newport Beach, the award is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

Hughes has been very involved in charity outreach programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and was honored with a Local Hero award earlier this season. He will graduate on time from TCU in the spring after carrying 18 units this past semester.

TCU will play Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl Jan. 5 in Phoenix.

Past winners of The Lott Trophy:
2004 – David Pollack, Georgia
2005 – DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
2006 – Dante Hughes, California
2007 – Glenn Dorsey, LSU
2008 – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State

In six years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated more than $750,000 to various charities, including $25,000 to each of the winners’ universities.

Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the IMPACT Foundation, the IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisors comprised of retired NFL players and the Legends Coaches, a distinguished group of former college head coaches.

Named after Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Founded in 2004 by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The Lott Trophy is the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. The Lott Trophy is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and the Legends Coaches which is a distinguished group of former college football head coaches. The sixth annual Lott Trophy dinner will be held December 13th at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. For more information on The Lott Trophy visit at www.LottTrophy.com or become a Lott Trophy fan on Facebook.

Florida head coach Urban Meyer and former West Virginia head coach Don Nehlen join Tim Brando on the SN Radio Network to discuss the SEC championship game.

• Meyer said one of the first calls he made when he was hired at Bowling Green was Don Nehlen.
• Nehlen said the Legends Poll voters believe the SEC Championship may decide the national championship.
• Meyer said the SEC is as tough as ever. He said the teams are knocking each other off.
• Nehlen asked Meyer if Florida can stop the running game of Alabama. Meyer said that McElroy has improved at quarterback and agreed the key is to stop Ingram and the running game.

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• James said it means a lot to him that Saban is succeeding in his career.
• Saban said his team has struggled in rivalry games, but showed resiliency.
• Saban said the SEC Championship game is a one-game season.
• James said Florida’s defense is tough and Saban agreed.

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SN Today question: Who will win the rematch between Clemson – Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship game in Tampa?

Virginia coach George Welsh: “I think the ACC championship game will go down to the wire. Georgia Tech has been rolling over opponents lately, but they had a close call with Clemson early in the season. Here are some things to consider about Clemson now.  Their offense is better now; the quarterback has gotten a whole lot better.  They are utilizing their great speed with Spiller and Ford. And any time you have to play a team a second time in the same season, you can have a chance to correct your mistakes from the first game. Georgia Tech doesn’t have the greatest defense and they just squeaked out that earlier win. I could see Clemson winning this one if they stay away from mistakes.”

The 2009 regular season is culminating with several intriguing match-ups on championship weekend, and all of the questions will be answered. Which team will prevail in the SEC championship game? Which Oregon school will win the Pac-10 and go to the Rose Bowl? Can Nebraska pull of the upset over Texas? The Legends weighed in on a roundtable discussion.

Who goes to the Rose Bowl?

John Robinson: I think Oregon has played just a bit better all year. And with Masoli, the quarterback for Oregon, you can’t find the ball. It is incredible the coaching job done at Oregon State. They don’t bring in highly wanted guys, but they certainly bring guys who can play.

Mike Riley is an excellent QB coach and his players have flourished under him. I was up there with those Civil War battles. And Oregon is a finesse teams and if Oregon State can force fumbles and create their opportunity, they could win.

Don James: I was really impressed with the Pac-10 with 5 teams in most top 25 polls who have to play everybody. On another note, I wanted to compliment Boise State playing through that weather vs. Nevada. I have been very impressed with that team and how well they are coached.

What does Nebraska do well that could help win the Big 12?

Fisher DeBerry: Defensively they are pretty good, but offensively they are just solid. I think they will be ready and we will just have to wait and see. I think all and all I have to say their defense is pretty good. I was impressed with Texas and offensively they are a darn good football team. I was also impressed with A&M’s growth this season.

Who will win the ACC Championship game?

Vince Dooley: I don’t know how good Clemson is on offense. I said early in the year Georgia Tech was only average on defense. They had no answer for Georgia, and I think they caught Georgia on and all time emotional high and Georgia Tech couldn’t keep up with them. Who knows what Paul Johnson will do versus Clemson.

I think both teams will be ready to play. And Georgia’s offensive line finally played like they were capable of doing and shut down Tech on the inside. I think the line of scrimmage is the key to the game.

I think Clemson can get the penetration on Tech.

The Lott Shots features the Top 5 bone-crushing hits from Week 10. The Legends Channel rated Texas A&M DB Trent Hunter No. 1 this week.

What do you think?

Watch the video and vote for your favorite hit by Tuesday Dec. 8.

The top vote-getter will be named the Lott Shot of the week!

NEWPORT BEACH, Ca. – Alabama Linebacker Rolando McClain has been named the Lott Trophy IMPACT Player of the Week for the second time this season.

McClain, a junior from Decatur, Georgia, led the Crimson Tide with 12 tackles in the 26-21 win over Auburn last Friday.

McClain, a Lott Trophy finalist, leads Alabama with 96 tackles on the season.  He has 12 tackles for losses, four sacks, 11 quarterback hurries and two interceptions.

Alabama will receive $1,000 for its general scholarship fund in recognition of McClain’s achievement.

“In my opinion McClain is the best defensive player in the country,” said former Auburn Coach Pat Dye, a member of the Legends Coaches who selected the Player of the Week.  “All you have to do is look at what he did against Auburn in a very tight game.  He had a huge sack in the closing minutes, and then bats down the Auburn Hail Mary pass in the end zone on the final play to preserve Alabama’s win.”

McClain was also selected the SEC Defensive Player of the Week.

Other players nominated for the Player of the Week were Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska, Eric Berry of Tennessee and Jerry Hughes of TCU.

2009 Lott Trophy IMPACT Players of the Week

Week 1 – Mike Nixon, Arizona State

Week 2 – Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech

Week 3 – Eric Berry, Tennessee

Week 4 – Pat Angerer, Iowa

Week 5 – Taylor Mays, USC

Week 6 – Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska

Week 7 – Rolando McClain, Alabama

Week 8 – Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska

Week 9 – Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri

Week 10 – Eric Berry, Tennessee

Week 11 – Jerry Hughes, TCU

Week 12 – Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska.

Week 13 – Rolando McClain, Alabama

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.  Now in its sixth year, the Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.

Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation in Newport Beach, the award is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

Past winners of The Lott Trophy:

2004 – David Pollack, Georgia

2005 – DeMeco Ryans, Alabama

2006 – Dante Hughes, California

2007 – Glenn Dorsey, LSU

2008 – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State

In five years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated more than $650,000 to various charities, including $25,000 to each of the winners’ universities.

Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the IMPACT Foundation, the IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisors comprised of retired NFL players and the Legends Coaches, a distinguished group of former college head coaches.

Named after Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Founded in 2004 by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The Lott Trophy is the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. The Lott Trophy is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and the Legends Coaches which is a distinguished group of former college football head coaches. The sixth annual Lott Trophy dinner will be held December 13th at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. For more information on The Lott Trophy visit:http://www.LottTrophy.com

SN Today question: Which team do you think will prevail in the Big 12 Conference Championship game?

Former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum: “Nebraska will have a difficult time beating Texas. First, because of the Longhorns’ outstanding defense led by Kindle, Acho brothers and Muckelroy. This will be the best defense on the field in the Big 12 championship game. On offense, Texas has good balance, with a solid running game and a diverse passing game led by Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley. Special teams have been good, for the most part this season, with Shipley being a threat to go all the way every time he touches the ball.”

SN Today question: Who are you picking to win the SEC Championship Title game this weekend?[amprotect=2,4]

Former Auburn coach Pat Dye: “I really don’t think Florida is quite as good as Alabama on defense. Mississippi State moved the ball against Florida and couldn’t at all versus Alabama. Alabama, if they get to where they can do what they did against Mississippi State, stretching the field with the deep pass on top of the unstoppable run game, they are hard to beat. But I don’t think Florida can beat them. Maybe Florida can put pressure on the Alabama quarterback McElroy, but Alabama will be tough to beat if they can get the  play action working and throw the deep ball. And Alabama only got two penalties versus Mississippi State. I think it will be a great game, but I think Alabama will win.”

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The Florida Gators remain perfect in the swamp beating the Florida State Seminoles 37-10.  Tim Tebow led the way in his final home performance for the Gators as he was 17 of 21 for 221 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Tebow also added two rushing touchdowns.  Tebow ended his senior regular season with a Florida and SEC record of 11,389 total career yards.

For his great play, Tim Tebow is awarded the “Legends Nike Game Ball” for the National Offensive Player of the Week.

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