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Rice University Athletics
Sendejo Named Wuerffel Trophy Finalist
11/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 11, 2009
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. -- The All Sports Association, Inc., announced today that Andrew Sendejo of Rice is one of 12 finalists for the 2009 Wuerffel Trophy, the national award that honors the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement.
The award is named after former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, who led the Florida Gators to the 1996 national championship, played six years in the National Football League and has received national recognition for his humanitarian and community service efforts with Desire Street Ministries in New Orleans and around the country.
A four-year starter at Rice whose senior season came to an early end when he suffered an injury to his left leg that required surgery, Sendejo closed his career tied for second on the Owls career list with 318 tackles. At the time of his injury, Sendejo was on pace to lead the team in tackles for a third consecutive season and he was the NCAA career active leader in solo tackles. At the end of both his sophomore and junior seasons, he was voted as a team captain by his teammate for his leadership on and off the field. He is a three-time ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA District VI academic honoree with a 3.55 GPA in Sports Management.
"The membership of the All Sports Association is excited and proud of the Wuerffel finalists presented in this year's class," commented All Sports President Robert McEachern. "The process of selecting the finalists was difficult because of the outstanding quality of our nominations. The nominations clearly revealed we have great student/athletes, as well as men of character and service. We are honored to recognize them and how they help reflect upon what is really good in college football."
The remaining finalists, who were nominated by their schools' sports information directors or football liaisons, are (listed alphabetically by university):
- Mike Nixon, Senior - Linebacker, Arizona State
- Dan LeFevour, Senior - Quarterback, Central Michigan
- Christian Ponder, Junior - Quarterback, Florida State
- Zoltan Mesko, Senior - Punter, Michigan
- Blair White, Senior - Wide Receiver - Michigan State
- Andrew Brewer, Senior - Wide Receiver - Northwestern
- Dominique Harris, Senior - Defensive Back, Temple
- Jordan Shipley, Senior - Wide Receiver, Texas
- Zane Beadles, Senior - Offensive Lineman, Utah
- Reed Williams, Senior - Linebacker, West Virginia
- Tim Hiller, Senior - Quarterback, Western Michigan
A committee that includes the Wuerffel Trophy national directors and selection committee members will vote on the finalists later this month, and the winner will be formally announced on December 8.
"Once again, I'm amazed to see the list of finalists, and in particular, their amazing accomplishments off the field," said Danny Wuerffel. "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".
The 2009 Wuerffel Trophy will be presented to the winner at the All Sports Association's 41th Annual Awards Banquet on February 19, 2010. For more information, please visit the Wuerffel Award web site
