Jan. 16, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - Penn State's A.Q. Shipley (Coraopolis, Pa.) will receive the Dave Rimington Trophy on Saturday, as he will be recognized as the first Nittany Lion to be selected the nation's Outstanding Center.
A first team All-American, Shipley will be honored at the Ninth Annual Rimington Trophy Presentation at the Rococco Theatre in Lincoln, Neb. He will receive the honor from the award's namesake, Dave Rimington, who was a first team All-America center at Nebraska in 1981 and '82 and won the Outland Trophy twice.
Shipley was announced as the recipient of the Rimington Trophy at the ESPNU/Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December. The honor was first presented in 2000 as a tribute to the career of Rimington, The award is presented by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, a charitable organization that has raised more than $1.3 million for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation since the inception of the Rimington Trophy.
Bill Curry, a former college and NFL head coach and standout center, will receive the President Gerald R. Ford Legends Center Award at the Rimington Trophy Presentation. Former Dallas Cowboys standout receiver Drew Pearson is the featured speaker.
Shipley was selected a first team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), ESPN.com and CollegeFootballNews.com. He also earned second team honors from the Associated Press and SI.com.
The 2008 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, Shipley joined defensive end Aaron Maybin in becoming Penn State's 92nd and 93rd first team All-Americans all-time; the 75th and 76th under Coach Joe Paterno. Penn State has had at least one All-American in 38 of his 43 years as head coach.
An offensive co-captain and the leader of the offensive line, Shipley was instrumental in anchoring Penn State's best offensive line in more than a decade. Shipley and his line mates lead one of the nation's most potent offenses, as Penn State ranked 11th nationally in scoring offense (38.9 ppg), No. 14 in total offense (448.9 pg) and No. 17 in the nation in rushing (205.8 ypg). The Lions led the Big Ten in total and scoring offense, were second in rushing and third in passing offense (243.1 ypg)
A three-year starter and first team All-Big Ten selection in 2007 and `08, Shipley played a major role in helping Penn State have a 1,000-yard rusher the four seasons (three different players). Behind the former Moon Area High School standout, the Lions lead the Big Ten and were tied for No. 4 in the nation in fewest sacks allowed this past season with 13.
The Nittany Lions (11-2) won their second Big Ten title and Bowl Championship berth in the past four years during the 2008 season. Penn State was No. 8 in the final Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls, earning its 22nd final Top 10 ranking under Paterno. The Lions won at least 11 games for the 14th time under the Hall of Fame coach.
Penn State has earned one of the nation's Top 10 records since the start of the 2005 season, posting a 40-11 (78.4) mark, good for No. 9 nationally. The Nittany Lions have won 42 of their last 53 games overall, dating to the final two games of the 2004 season.