Glenn Dorsey Receives Outland
LSU Defensive Tackle Also Received Lombardi and Nagurski Trophies
At the annual Omaha banquet last night, Dorsey offically received the Outland Trophy for being college football's outstanding lineman.
Glenn Dorsey of LSU received the Outland Trophy as college football's best interior lineman. Presenting the award to Dorsey in front of a crowd of five hundred at the Downtown Doubletree Inn was Bo Pellini, the former LSU defensive coordinator and now head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. "You want to talk about a coach's dream, he's right over there," Pellini said.
Dorsey's Past Season
Dorsey, in an injury plagued senior season, still managed to accumulate some impressive statistics. He had 64 tackles, including 11.5 for losses and six quarterback sacks, four pass breakups, and four hurried passes. The 6-2, 300 lb. defensive player from LSU had passed up an opportunity to be a high NFL selection following his junior season to return to Baton Rouge. It was a decision that he's never regretted, noting that he would never have been a part of a national championship team had he done so.
The Outland Presentation
Dorsey was overwhelmed at the two days that he spent in Omaha, thanking the city and the Greater Omaha Sports Committee for it's hospitality. "Last night I might have had one of the biggest steaks I've ever ate," he said. He even got a rare glimpse of snow.
Former Oklahoma lineman and 1975 Outland winner Lee Roy Selmon also was present at the ceremony to receive his belated trophy. Prior to 1989, the actually trophy went to the winner's school while the recipient received a plaque. In recent years, the Greater Omaha Sports Association has selected a pre-1989 winner yearly to attend the banquet and receive a duplicate statuette. Selmon was this year's selection.
Selmon had an outstanding career with the Sooners and in the NFL and is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. After retiring from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Selmon later became a member of the University of South Florida athletic department, eventually becoming athletic director. Under his guidance, and that of coach Jim Leavitt, USF fielded its first football team in 1997 in Division II. Since then, the Bulls have risen to national prominence in Division I.
Dorsey Visits Boys Town
Both Dorsey and Selmon first arrived in Omaha on Wednesday. After a Rotary club luncheon, the two men were taken to nearby Boys Town where they met with a contingent of admirers. After welcoming remarks by Robert Labron, captain of the Boys Town football and basketball teams, both men were presented gifts. In his remarks, Labron thanked Dorsey for deciding to return for his senior year, noting that his decision to postpone a lucrative pro contract was an inspiration to the young men and women surrounding him.
For the complete story, see: Omaha World-Herald, Thursday morning, January 10, 2008; Omaha World-Herald, Friday morning, January 11, 2008.
Another article on Glenn Dorsey.
