ORLANDO, FLA. (FWAA) – The Football Writers Association of America's 62nd All-America Team was announced on Saturday afternoon during a televised program on ABC Sports from Disney's MGM studios.

The FWAA All-America Team, the second longest continuously published team in college football, has been a staple of the college football scene since 1944. And for the second straight season, the unveiling of the team has been televised and sponsored by Cingular.

Top-ranked Southern California and second-ranked Texas, which will meet in the Rose Bowl in the national title game on Jan. 4, 2006, each placed three players on the 25-man team. Big Ten co-champion Penn State and UCLA each had two players selected.

There are two repeat All-Americas on the squad, Outland Trophy winner Greg Eslinger of Minnesota, who repeated at center from a year ago, and USC's Reggie Bush, who made the team as a sophomore kick returner last season, is one of the All-America running backs in 2005.

Bush is joined on the 2005 team by USC teammates, wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett and offensive lineman Taitusi Lutui. Texas' three All-Americas are quarterback Vince Young, offensive lineman Jonathan Scott and defensive back Michael Huff.

Penn State placed two players on the FWAA defensive team – linebacker Paul Posuluszny and end Tamba Hali. UCLA's All-Americans are tight end Marcedes Lewis and kick returner Maurice Drew. Louisville defensive end Elvis Dumervil made the team as the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner (FWAA Defensive Player of the Year).

The Pac-10 led all conferences with seven players, the Big Ten had five players and the ACC and Big 12 four each.

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' head football coach and athletic director.

Over the years, the FWAA team has highlighted the college football's great players in several media forums.

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 FWAA team was introduced on national 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's 1981 college football series.

From 1983-90, the team was either on ABC or ESPN, and now has returned to the national spotlight on ABC.
The FWAA team has included most of the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Outland Trophy winners over the years. Those are the three oldest awards in major-college football.

This is the fourth year Florida Citrus Sports has held a gala celebration for the team in Orlando. The FCS brings all the members of the team to one spot to honor them with a banquet.

For 62 years, the FWAA has selected an All-America team with the help of its members and an All-America committee, which represents all the regions in the country.

Some of the true greats of the writing profession have helped to select this team over the years … Grantland Rice, Bert McGrane, Blackie Sherrod, Furman Bisher, Pat Harmon, Fred Russell, Edwin Pope, Murray Olderman, Paul Zimmerman and the list goes on and on.

For more information on the FWAA All-America Team and other FWAA awards, go to www.footballwriters.com.