FWAA's All-America team to be named on ABC-TV

The Football Writers Association of America's 25- man All-America team will be announced on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 10, and shown during a tape-delayed program on ABC Television from Disney's Boardwalk in Orlando, Fla.

The FWAA All-American Team, the second longest continuously published team in college football, has been a staple of the college football scene since 1944. And for the third straight season, the unveiling of the team will be shown on television during a program sponsored by Cingular.

The FWAA joined with the Florida Citrus Sports Foundation for an All-America Team Celebration in 2002. The first two years, the event was staged in a climate-controlled tent on the floor of the Capital One Bowl's floor (Citrus Bowl Stadium). The event moved to the Disney property with the inclusion of television in 2004, with FCS still holding the banquet each year.

The FWAA All-America Team has a long history of media involvement in different forums and is perhaps the most prestigious team in college sports.

First selected three years after the organization was formed, the FWAA's inaugural team included Army's Heisman Trophy tandem of Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis and Georgia Tech's Frank Broyles, who later became Arkansas' football coach and athletic director.

From 1946-70, LOOK Magazine published the FWAA team and brought players and selected writers to New York City for a celebration. During that 25-year period, the team also was introduced on television shows by Bob Hope, Steve Allen, Perry Como and others.

After LOOK folded, the FWAA started a long association with NCAA Films (later known as NCAA Productions), which produced a 30-minute television show. The team was part of ABC Television's 1981 College Football Series. From 1983-90, the team was announced either on ABC or ESPN and now has returned to the national spotlight on ABC.

FWAA members will have a chance to vote for the 25-member team when ballots will be e-mailed to them in early November, along with where to transmit to their regional representative.