Temple University Athletics
DB Dominique Harris
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Temple’s Dominique Harris Named a Finalist for the 2009 Wuerffel Trophy
11.11.09 | Football
Owls Travel to Akron on Friday Night
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – Temple senior DB Dominique Harris (Washington, D.C.) has been named one of 12 finalists for the 2009 Wuerffel Trophy, the All Sports Association announced.
“The membership of the All Sports Association is excited and proud of the Wuerffel finalists presented in this year's class,” All Sports President Robert McEachern said. “The process of selecting the finalists was difficult because of the outstanding quality of our nominations.”
The other finalists are LB Mike Nixon (Arizona State), QB Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan), QB Christian Ponder (Florida State), P Zoltan Mesko (Michigan), WR Blair White (Michigan State), WR Andrew Brewer (Northwestern), S Andrew Sendejo (Rice), WR Jordan Shipley (Texas), OL Zane Beadles (Utah), QB Tim Hiller (Western Michigan), and LB Reed Williams (West Virginia).
The Fort Walton Beach-based All Sports Association named the award after local icon Danny Wuerffel, who starred at Fort Walton Beach before leading Florida to the 1996 national title and winning the Heisman Trophy. The Wuerffel Trophy is presented annually to the Football Bowl Subdivision player that best combines exemplary community service with academic and athletic achievement.
The Wuerffel Trophy finalists will be distributed to the award's National Selection Committee for voting. Formal announcement of the winner will occur on Dec. 8 and presentation of the award will occur at the All Sports Association's 41st Annual Awards Dinner on Feb. 19 in Fort Walton Beach.
“Once again, I'm amazed to see the list of finalists, and in particular, their amazing accomplishments off the field,” Weurffel said. “Each year it is harder and harder for all of us on the selection committee to try to narrow it down and pick just one.”
Past winners of the Wuerffel Trophy are Florida QB Tim Tebow (2008), Tulsa QB Paul Smith (2007), Ohio State DL Joel Penton (2006), and Louisiana State OL Rudy Niswanger (2005).
A four-year starter and two-year team captain, Harris led the Owls in interceptions in 2007 and 2008. He ranks ninth on Temple's career interceptions list with eight interceptions. The recipient of the Athletic Department's 2009 Temple Teammates Community Service Award and the 2008 Captains' Award, Harris was named to the 2007 third-team All-MAC. He has earned the monthly Owl Outreach Award for Community Service twice.
A senior safety with a 3.50 grade-point average, Harris received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice last May. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in Liberal Arts.
Last week, Harris was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine first-team Academic All-District football team. As a first-team honoree in District 2, Harris is now on the national ballot for Academic All-America honors.
Temple (7-2, 5-0 MAC) travels to Akron (2-7, 1-4) on Friday, Nov. 13 at 8:30 p.m. at InfCision Stadium. ESPNU will televise the game live.
“The membership of the All Sports Association is excited and proud of the Wuerffel finalists presented in this year's class,” All Sports President Robert McEachern said. “The process of selecting the finalists was difficult because of the outstanding quality of our nominations.”
The other finalists are LB Mike Nixon (Arizona State), QB Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan), QB Christian Ponder (Florida State), P Zoltan Mesko (Michigan), WR Blair White (Michigan State), WR Andrew Brewer (Northwestern), S Andrew Sendejo (Rice), WR Jordan Shipley (Texas), OL Zane Beadles (Utah), QB Tim Hiller (Western Michigan), and LB Reed Williams (West Virginia).
The Fort Walton Beach-based All Sports Association named the award after local icon Danny Wuerffel, who starred at Fort Walton Beach before leading Florida to the 1996 national title and winning the Heisman Trophy. The Wuerffel Trophy is presented annually to the Football Bowl Subdivision player that best combines exemplary community service with academic and athletic achievement.
The Wuerffel Trophy finalists will be distributed to the award's National Selection Committee for voting. Formal announcement of the winner will occur on Dec. 8 and presentation of the award will occur at the All Sports Association's 41st Annual Awards Dinner on Feb. 19 in Fort Walton Beach.
“Once again, I'm amazed to see the list of finalists, and in particular, their amazing accomplishments off the field,” Weurffel said. “Each year it is harder and harder for all of us on the selection committee to try to narrow it down and pick just one.”
Past winners of the Wuerffel Trophy are Florida QB Tim Tebow (2008), Tulsa QB Paul Smith (2007), Ohio State DL Joel Penton (2006), and Louisiana State OL Rudy Niswanger (2005).
A four-year starter and two-year team captain, Harris led the Owls in interceptions in 2007 and 2008. He ranks ninth on Temple's career interceptions list with eight interceptions. The recipient of the Athletic Department's 2009 Temple Teammates Community Service Award and the 2008 Captains' Award, Harris was named to the 2007 third-team All-MAC. He has earned the monthly Owl Outreach Award for Community Service twice.
A senior safety with a 3.50 grade-point average, Harris received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice last May. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in Liberal Arts.
Last week, Harris was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine first-team Academic All-District football team. As a first-team honoree in District 2, Harris is now on the national ballot for Academic All-America honors.
Temple (7-2, 5-0 MAC) travels to Akron (2-7, 1-4) on Friday, Nov. 13 at 8:30 p.m. at InfCision Stadium. ESPNU will televise the game live.
Tuesday, June 02
Saturday, May 30
Tuesday, May 19
Tuesday, May 05
