Temple University Athletics
MIKE MENDENHALL NAMED TO ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD WATCH LIST
8.22.05 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - Temple senior defensive end Mike Mendenhall is one of 123 players named to the 2005 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List. The award is presented annually to the finest lineman in Division I-A college football.
Mendenhall (6-3, 250) has already been named to Blue Ribbon Yearbook's and CollegeFootballNews.com's preseason All-Independent teams. He was also cited as an Honorable Mention Preseason All-American by NationalChamps.net. Mendenhall was joined on CollegeFootballNews.com's preseason All-Independent squad by teammmates Antwon Burton (DT), John Gross (OT) and Travis Shelton (KR).
Mendenhall was a Second Team All-Big East Conference selection by the league's head coaches in 2004 after making 41 tackles (18 solo), including nine tackles-for-losses, and 3.5 sacks. He was cited by the coaching staff as the defensive player of the game for his performances against Florida A&M, Pittsburgh and Connecticut. Mendenhall has played in 32 games and earned 22 starts in Owl Country. In addition, he has played in 18 straight games and made 17 consecutive starts. He has totaled 102 (50 solo) career tackles, 17.0 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
This year's Watch List is divided up nearly equally, with 58 offensive players and 63 defensive players who meet the playing criteria currently on the list. To be eligible for the Rotary Lombardi Award, a player may play on the line of scrimmage (including tight ends on offensive) or must be a linebacker who lines up within five yards of the football.
The Rotary Lombardi Award will celebrate its 36th year of honoring the finest linemen in college football on December 7 at the Hilton Americas Hotel in Downtown Houston. All net proceeds from the dinner and related activities are donated to the American Cancer Society. Since the first dinner in 1971, nearly $3.1 million has been raised through the efforts of Rotarians and their guests.
