[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 885]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  IN RECOGNITION OF THE OUTLAND TROPHY

   Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, today I wish to 
recognize the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, the Omaha World-Herald, 
and the Downtown Omaha Rotary, which tonight will continue a long-
running tradition in honoring college football's top interior lineman.
  The Outland Trophy has been awarded every year since 1946 by the 
Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John 
Outland, who was an All-American tackle at the University of 
Pennsylvania in 1897. Mr. Outland created the award in 1946 because he 
believed his fellow linemen deserved more recognition for their 
contributions. Indeed, the game of football is often won in the 
trenches, with the most physically dominating linemen deciding the 
game's outcome.
  From 1946 to 1989, Outland winners received only a plaque, and there 
was no public ceremony to honor their remarkable achievements. That has 
since changed, thanks to the dedication of football supporters in 
Omaha, NE, who not only prepared an impressive trophy presentation but 
began an annual banquet and public award ceremony.
  It is only fitting that the Outland Trophy is awarded in Nebraska, as 
the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers lead the Nation with seven 
Outland Trophy winners, while three other Huskers have been named 
runners up.
  This year, we congratulate Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas, who 
at 6 feet, 8 inches, 315 pounds, becomes the first Badger to earn the 
honor. Mr. Thomas led the Badgers' offense to average 30.3 points per 
game as the team compiled a 12-to-1 record. Congratulations as well to 
Bill Fischer, the 1948 Outland Trophy winner at offensive guard for the 
University of Notre Dame and a member of the national championship-
winning Fighting Irish teams of 1946 and 1947. Mr. Fisher will receive 
an authentic Outland Trophy to replace his plaque in a long-overdue 
award ceremony.
  Tonight the State of Nebraska is honored to welcome these men, 
together with other past winners, in what is sure to be another 
prestigious evening for the giants of college football. 

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