War Eagle Extra has moved!

You should be automatically redirected in 4 seconds. If not, visit
http://www.wareagleextra.com
and update your bookmarks.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Fairley wins Lombardi Award as best lineman

Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley has one more thing in common with his position coach after winning the Rotary Lombardi Award as college football’s top lineman.

The junior was presented the award in Houston on Wednesday, joining Tigers defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, who won the award with Auburn in 1988.

Fairley emerged from a group of three other finalists that included Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers, who beat him out Monday for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which goes to the nation’s top defensive player.

In his second year at Auburn after transferring from junior college, Fairley led the SEC in both sacks (10.5) and tackles for a loss (21). He set the school record in TFLs.

"Knowing that Coach Rocker had won in 1988, and seeing all the other great names on that trophy," Fairley said, "adding my name to it is a tremendous honor."

It was part of a full day of awards for the Tigers. Quarterback Cam Newton was the coaches’ choice for SEC Offensive Player of the Year, left tackle Lee Ziemba was awarded the Jacobs Trophy as the league’s best blocker and head coach Gene Chizik was named Home Depot National Coach of the Year.

Auburn could add to its awards haul Thursday night in Orlando, Fla. Newton is up for the Maxwell (best all-around player) and the Davey O’Brien (best quarterback).Fairley is up for the Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player) and Ryan Pugh the Rimington Trophy (best center).

5 comments:

Tyson said...

Wasn't there a certain beat writer who thought Auburn fans were being too optimistic when they compared Fairley to Rocker earlier in the year? ;)

au1duke said...

Congratulations Nick, keep it up in Glendale! WAR EAGLE!

Andy Bitter said...

I have no comment. (And hopefully there's no easily accessible archive of previous comments.)

RW said...

Below is a link to your video where Rocker says Nick is "a hell of a lot better" than he was. Half jokingly, of course, but now we know it wasn't a complete joke.

http://wareagleextra.blogspot.com/2010/10/video-knocking-out-quarterbacks-another.html

Could have sworn this video was where you made said comment that Tyson is referring to, AB...

MikeP said...

I've seen them all sine then and in my opinion Fairley is the best since Rocker. Fairley's plays may be a little more sensational but don't tell Rocker I said that!