DALLAS (FWAA) – The Football Writers Association of America has announced the prestigious 2003 Outland Trophy Watch List for college football's top interior lineman.

The winner of the 2003 Outland Trophy will be announced Dec. 11 on the ESPN College Football Awards Show from Orlando, Fla. Three finalists will be selected by the FWAA All-America Committee in late November and will appear on the show.

The winner also will receive his trophy during a banquet on Jan. 8 in Omaha, Neb. The banquet is sponsored by the Omaha Sports Committee, and will honor 1987 Outland winner Chad Hennings.

The first Outland Award was presented to the late George Connor of Notre Dame. Several notable linemen have won the Outland over the years. But the FWAA only started presenting a trophy to the winner in the last 15 years. Past winners who have do not have trophies are receiving them at the presentation banquet each January when the current-day winners receive their trophies.

Washington State's Rien Long won the 2002 Outland Trophy, leading his team to the Pac-10 championship and a berth in the Rose Bowl.

The Outland Trophy annually goes to the nation's top interior lineman – tackles, centers, guards on offense or defense are eligible – in college football. The FWAA All-America Committee selects the winner with input from the membership. Presented since 1946, the Outland is the third oldest award in major college football behind the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award.

The award is named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn at the turn of the century. Dr. Outland established the award in 1946, a year before his death, with the help of the FWAA. He believed it was important for lineman to receive greater recognition.

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