ABC Sports, ESPN College Football Analysts Nominate Ohio State Quarterback Troy Smith For the Cingular/ABC Sports All-America Pl – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 21, 2005
ATLANTA — The national player of the week nominations are in and the polls are open. For the second week in a row, Buckeye fans can cast their votes for one of their own – this week quarterback Troy Smith is nominated for the Cingular Wireless/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Week, the only major college football honor determined exclusively by fans. Smith was nominated after passing for 301 yards and scoring two touchdowns in the Buckeyes’ come-from-behind 25-21 win at rival Michigan Saturday. Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk received a nomination for the award last week.
Smith is one of four candidates for the All-America Player of the Week, who are selected by a panel of ABC Sports and ESPN college football analysts. The other finalists are: USC running back Reggie Bush, who accounted for 513 all-purpose yards, the second most total in NCAA Division I-A history, in the Trojans’ 50-42 win over Fresno State; Iowa wide receiver Ed Hinkel, who hauled in seven catches for 151 yards and four touchdowns in the Hawkeyes’ 52-28 victory over Minnesota; and Penn State cornerback Alan Zemaitis, who had three interceptions in the Nittany Lions’ 31-22 win at Michigan State.
Previous Cingular/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Week winners this season include Georgia quarterback D.J. Shockley, Texas quarterback Vince Young, Texas A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal, Minnesota running back Laurence Maroney, Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, UCLA running back Maurice Drew, and Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski and Auburn running back Kenny Irons.
Who will be this week’s winner now rests solely in the hands of college football fans nationwide. Fans have until Wednesday, November 23 at 11:59 p.m. EST to submit their votes via wireless text messaging.* The winner will be announced November 24 on ESPN during the Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia game. Fans can learn more about this week’s nominees online at www.abcsportsallamerica.com or at www.cingularallamerica.com.
Here’s how fans can register to vote for the Cingular/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Week this week and every week throughout the 2005 season:
Text “VOTE” to “87654” on your wireless phone Follow the promptto vote for your All-America selection Cingular/ABC Sports Playerof the Week candidates will be automatically sent out via textmessaging each week
Each time fans vote, they are entered into a sweepstakes to win a trip to the Bowl Championship Series game of their choice. Fans can vote as often as they like.
On December 1, fans will get a chance to say who the best player in the nation is by voting for the Cingular/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Year. The selection process will culminate on December 10 in a one-hour special on ABC Sports when the Cingular/ABC Sports Player of the Year and the Football Writers Association of America All-America team will be announced. Last year, Texas running back and Chicago Bears first round draft pick Cedric Benson was selected by fans as the Player of the Year.
*Other wireless carriers must opt-in for their subscribers to participate
