Harris a Finalist for Lombardi Award

Nov. 14, 2002

Norman, Okla. - Oklahoma sophomore defensive tackle Tommie Harris is one of four finalists for the Lombardi Award, which is presented annually to the college football's to interior player. OU linebacker Rocky Calmus was a finalist for the award last year.

Despite constant double-teaming by opponents, Harris remains a force in the middle of the Sooners defensive line. His is the 11th Oklahoma finalist and is looking to become their third winner, joining Lee Roy Selmon (1975) and Tony Casillas (1985).

"It's a blessing," Harris said. "To be considered among the best players in college football, in a group that includes all of the other players who have been finalists for this award and for an award that has Coach Lombardi's name, it's just a blessing. I am honored to represent my coaches and team and I want to continue playing to the best of my ability to prove my worthiness for this honor."

For the second consecutive year, the defense has held its own as four defensive players have been named finalists for the 2002 Rotary Lombardi Award.

In addition to Harris, the three who will gather in Houston on December 11 for the announcement are linebacker E.J. Henderson of Maryland and defensive ends Cory Redding of Texas and Terrell Suggs of Arizona State. They were selected in a vote of more than 400 members of the Rotary Lombardi Selection Committee, which is comprised of all Division I head coaches, a selection of sportswriters and broadcasters from around the country, and the 30 living past winners of the award.

OU head coach Bob Stoops said Harris is deserving of the honor.

"Tommie gets a lot of attention from the offenses we play," Stoops said. "Any time an offense schemes to play us, they have to account for Tommie before they can worry about much else. He has fought through multiple blockers to disrupt plays for tackles of his own and to create opportunities for others."

Harris has 23 tackles despite missing one game due to injury. He has a team-high 15 quarterback hurries to go with six tackles for loss, two sacks, a fumble recovery and one pass deflection.

OU linebacker Teddy Lehman, a Butkus Award finalist, said, "When you have a guy that good up front, it makes everything a lot easier for the rest of us. He gets double-teamed most of the time, but he's a great pass rusher and run stopper. Tommie is the total package and he's as important as anyone else on our defense."

OU's top tackler, Lance Mitchell, also a linebacker, added, "He's a guy that draws a lot of double and triple teams, which always frees up one of us to make plays. Even though he gets all of that attention, he still makes a lot of plays on his own, and I've made a lot of tackles this year because people were so worried about Tommie."

The four finalists will be flown to Houston to attend the gala Rotary Lombardi Award Dinner, which will be held on the field of Houston's Reliant Stadium on December 11th. Former President George Bush is the Honorary Chairman of the 2002 event and will speak at the dinner, as will legendary Green Bay Packer lineman Jerry Kramer and Houston Texans owner Bob McNair.

This marks the first time the Rotary Lombardi Award Dinner has moved from a hotel ballroom and also marks the first time an event of this type will be hosted in the newly-opened Reliant Stadium.

Now in its 33rd year of honoring the top lineman or linebacker in Division I football, the Rotary Lombardi Award Dinner has raised over $2.6 million for The American Cancer Society since it was first held in 1970. Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to Division I down linemen and those defensive players who line up within five yards of the football.

For more information about participating in, or supporting the 2002 Dinner, visit the official web site of the award, www.rotarylombardiaward.com.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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