November 1, 2001

COLUMBIA, S.C. –
South Carolina’s Kalimba Edwards, already a semi-finalist for the Butkus Award, was named a semi-finalist for the Lombardi Trophy today. A list of four finalists will be named the week of November 11. The Butkus award will name its three finalists on November 15.

Edwards is tied for the team lead with 64 tackles. He has four tackles for a loss, two sacks, one pass break-up and 11 quarterback hurries.

The four Finalists for the 2001 Rotary Lombardi Award will be announced the week of November 11 after a second round of voting among nearly 300 members of the selection committee made up of sportswriters, broadcasters and Division I head coaches from around the country.

Other candidates include: Offensive tackles Bryant McKinnie and Joaquin Gonzalez of Miami, Guard Toniu Fonoti of Nebraska, linebacker Rocky Calmus of Oklahoma and defensive end Alex Brown of Florida, defensive tackle Wendell Bryant of Wisconsin, defensive end Dwight Freeney of Syracuse, defensive tackle John Henderson of Tennessee, defensive end Julius Peppers of North Carolina, linebacker Robert Thomas of UCLA and defensive tackle Larry Triplett of Washington.

This year’s list features nine defensive players and three from the offensive side of the ball. Jamal Reynolds of Florida State was the 2000 Rotary Lombardi winner.

The Big East and Southeastern Conference have each placed three players among the semifinalists, followed by the Big 12 and Pac 10 with two. The Big 10 and the ACC each are represented by one player.

The four Finalists and their head coaches will be flown to Houston on December 4 for a myriad of activities in Houston, which include visits to local hospitals and area youth groups. The culmination of their activities in Houston will be the black tie dinner at the J.W. Marriott Hotel on December 5, where the 32nd recipient of The Rotary Lombardi Award will be revealed. Dom Capers, head coach of the Houston Texans will be the featured speaker, while longtime Houston broadcaster Ron Stone will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.