Aug. 18, 2009
MEMPHIS, TENN. -
Junior offensive lineman Dominik Riley was placed on the 40th annual Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List as announced Tuesday afternoon. The Rotary Lombardi Award is presented annually by Houston's Rotary Club to the nation's top college football lineman (offense or defense) who, in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the discipline of Vince Lombardi.
A native of Montgomery, Ala., Riley is among 153 players from 79 teams and 11 conferences that make up the preseason watch list, which was formed by using 2008 postseason and 2009 preseason all-conference and AllÂ]America teams. Additional nominations were accepted from Rotary Lombardi Award voters and college sports information directors.
Riley started all 13 games at left guard, and was the only underclassman to start all 13 games on the Tiger offensive line last year. He was part of a line that ranked second in C-USA in fewest sacks allowed with 17. The Tiger offensive line contributed to Memphis ranking 22nd nationally in rushing offense and 26th in total offense in 2008. The front line also had to make several adjustments throughout the season as four different quarterbacks were utilized due to injuries. In fact, the Tigers had ranked as high as 14th nationally in passing offense prior to Arkelon Hall and Will Hudgens being injured in the ECU game. The Tiger O-line also contributed to Memphis having a 100-yard receiver or 100-yard rusher in three of the last five games of the season. Riley was named to the 2009 All-C-USA Preseason Team as selected by the leagueÂfs 12 coaches this summer.
On Oct. 14, the 12 semifinalists for the Rotary Lombardi Award will be announced. On Nov. 11, the four finalists will be named. All of the finalists will travel to Houston for the ceremony to announce the winner on Dec. 9 at the Hilton Americas.
The 2008 Rotary Lombardi Award winner was Brian Orakpo, a defensive end from the University of Texas. He was the first round draft selection of the Washington Redskins. The Rotary Club of Houston founded the Rotary Lombardi Award in 1970, in the weeks following the death of legendary football coach Vince Lombardi from cancer.
The Rotary Club of Houston, in operation since 1912, is an association of more than 350 successful business professionals, all prominent in their individual fields of endeavor, who volunteer their efforts through the work of some two dozen club committees. Assistance is provided to such diverse groups as troubled youngsters, former prison inmates, business oriented high school students, families of cancer patients, deserving college scholarship candidates and the nation's cancer research efforts. The clubÂfs most recent community project is the East End Healthy ChildrenÂfs Collaborative which provides much needed access to primary health care for residents on HoustonÂfs East side.
