Missouri’s Weatherspoon
Named Lott Player of the Week
NEWPORT BEACH, Ca. – Missouri Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon has been named the winner of The Lott Trophy IMPACT Player of the Week presented by Wachovia.
Weatherspoon had 13 tackles, 2 tackles for losses, a sack (for a 17-yard loss) and a pass breakup in Missouri ‘s 41-24 win over Kansas State . Missouri will receive $1,000 for its general scholarship fund in recognition of Weatherspoon’s performance.
Weatherspoon (6-1, 230, Junior, Jasper, Texas ) was selected by The Legends Football Coaches Association. Former Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder, a member of the Legends Coaches, said, “Weatherspoon has been a tremendous player for Missouri ... their “Bell Cow” on defense. He’s a team leader and has been impressive in every game this year.”
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 fifth 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 , Ca., the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
David Pollack of Georgia won the initial Lott Trophy in 2004. DeMeco Ryans of Alabama won the award in 2005 Daymeion Hughes of Cal was the recipient in 2006 and Glenn Dorsey of LSU in 2007. Georgia , Alabama , Cal and LSU each received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds. In four years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated more than $450,000 to various charities, including the four universities.
Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisors comprised of many retired NFL players and the Legends Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.
Other players receiving consideration from the Legends Coaches this week were: Eric Norwood of South Carolina, Brian Cushing of USC, Mark Herzlich of Boston College and James Laurinaitis of Ohio State .
The Lott Trophy IMPACT Players of the Week, 2008
Week I – Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA
Week II – Zack Follett, LB, Cal
Week III – George Selvie, DE, South Florida
Week IV – Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
Week V – Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
Week VI – Scott McKillop, LB, Pitt
Week VII - Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
Week VIII – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Week IX – Brit Miller, LB, Illinois
Week X – Zack Follett, LB, Cal
Week XI – Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
LOTT SHOTS: Wake Forest Linebacker Aaron Curry had 2.5 tackles for losses, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a quarterback hurry and a pass broken up in 28-17 victory over Virginia…Mark Herzlich of Boston College led his team with 11 tackles and had three passes broken up in a 17-0 shutout of Notre Dame…Pitt Linebacker Scott McKillop returned an interception for a touchdown in a 41-7 win over Louisville…Oregon Defensive End Nick Reed had 8 tackles (1.5 for losses) as the Ducks defeated Stanford, 35-28…Ohio State Linebacker James Laurinaitis had his 16th career game with 10 or more tackles in a 45-10 win over Northwestern. Laurinaitis had 11 tackles and an interception…Brit Miller was credited with 17 total tackles, but Illinois lost to Western Michigan , 23-17. Miller also forced a fumble and recovered a fumble…South Carolina’s Eric Norwood had a career best three sacks and 9 total tackles in a 34-21 win over Arkansas…Florida Linebacker Brandon Spikes had 7 tackles, 2 for losses in a 42-14 win over Vanderbilt…Texas Defensive End Brian Orakpo did not play against Baylor, but was a team captain for the game.