Hawk Returns from Five-event, Six-day Tour of Three Cities – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 12, 2005
Monday, Dec. 12
Whew! After five events in six days in three cities, I can’t wait to see my teammates again.
The Lott award was a first-class event held at the fantastic Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Calif. Marcus Allen presented me at the event last night. He knew a lot more about all three of us (along with DeMeco Ryans from Alabama and Darryl Tapp from Virginia Tech) than I would have expected.
It was an honor to be a Lott finalist. The award honors not just football success but equally, academics, community involvement and examples of character.
There were loads of celebrities at the event including Ronnie Lott, Lynn Swann, Marcus Allen, Bill Walsh, John Robinson, Tim Salmon, Sam (Bam) Cunningham, Jack Kemp, who was the featured speaker, and Pat Haden, who was the master of ceremonies.
I got to spend time with a baseball hero of mine, Tim Salmon of the Angels. I learned he is a Buckeye fan. In fact, he’s coming to the Fiesta Bowl to see us play Notre Dame.
Tell Bobby (Carpenter) and Anthony (Schlegel) that I can’t wait for them to be my workout partners again after a week lifting and running with my dad.
Though honored to represent my teammates and Ohio State at these events, I am super anxious to get home to Columbus tonight.
This was the seventh and final journal entry by A.J. Hawk, the Buckeye linebacker, co-captain and team MVP, from his tour on the awards circuit last week. Hawk, also the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, began the tour Tuesday in Houston for the Lombardi Award, which he won Wednesday night. Thursday, he was named a Walter Camp All-American and Friday he was named an All-American by the Football Writers Association of America. Hawk also was a finalist for the Walter Camp Award, the Bednarik Award, the Butkus Award and the Lott Trophy. He will rejoin his team in practice Tuesday morning as it prepares to face Notre Dame Jan. 2 in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
