Dec. 4, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State senior A.Q. Shipley (Coraopolis) has been selected a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, presented to the nation's outstanding center.
The 2008 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, Shipley is the first Nittany Lion to be a finalist for the honor, which was first presented in 2000 in honor of former Nebraska standout Dave Rimington. The honor is presented by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which has raised more than $1.3 million for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation since in inception of the Rimington Trophy.
Shipley is one of six finalists for the 2008 Rimington Trophy. He is joined by: Antoine Caldwell (Alabama), Jonathan Luigs (Arkansas), Alex Mack (California), Max Unger (Oregon) and Eric Wood (Louisville).
The winner of the 2008 Rimington Trophy will be announced during the ESPNU/Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, December 11.
An offensive co-captain and the leader of the offensive line, Shipley has been instrumental in anchoring Penn State's best offensive line since 1995. Shipley and the O-Line lead one of the nation's most potent offenses, as Penn State ranks 11th nationally in scoring offense (40.2 ppg) and No. 15 in the nation in rushing (211.6 ypg) and total offense (452.2 ypg). The Lions lead the Big Ten in total and scoring offense and are second in rushing.
A three-year starter, Shipley has been instrumental in helping Penn State have a 1,000-yard rusher for four consecutive seasons (three different players). Behind the former Moon Area High School standout, the Lions lead the Big Ten and are No. 9 in the nation in fewest sacks allowed this season with 12.
Shipley is an employee and labor relations major on schedule to graduate this month.
The Rimington Trophy committee will select the winner of the 2008 honor based on the center selections of four All-America teams that will be announced later this momth - American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Walter Camp Football Foundation, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News.
The 2008 Rimington Trophy recipient will be honored at the Rimington Trophy Presentation in Lincoln, Neb., on January 17, 2009.
Coach Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions are ranked No. 8 in this week's BCS standings and will play in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2009. Penn State is No. 6 in the Associated Press, USA Today Coaches and Harris Interactive polls. The BCS pairings will be announced Sunday, Dec. 7 at 8:00 p.m. on FOX.
Penn State will be playing in its 35th bowl game under Paterno (23rd New Year's bowl), who is the all-time leader in bowl appearances and wins (23-10-1 record).