March 8, 2006
HOUSTON – University of New Mexico senior offensive lineman Robert Turner has been named to the preliminary Watch List for the 37th Rotary Lombardi Award, presented by Wachovia Bank. Turner, who will learn the offensive tackle position this spring, was a first team all-Mountain West Conference honoree at guard in 2005. He is one of three returning starters back on the New Mexico offensive line this season and the fourth member of The Hitmen named to the Lombardi watch list since 2003.
Turner enjoyed a career year in 2005 as he averaged 8.9 knockdown blocks per game and was one of the most assignment sound players on the offensive line. The Austin, Texas native posted overall performance grades of 88 percent or more in nine games and a grade of 90 percent or above in six games. He also had career-high overall performance grades of 95 percent in road games against TCU and Utah, which featured two of the league’s premier defensive fronts.
A first team Football Writers Association Freshman All-American in 2003, Turner has started all 36 games of his career. His average of 10.3 knockdown blocks per game during his three years is the best of any lineman during head coach Rocky Long’s eight-year tenure at UNM.
The 44 preliminary candidates earned a place on the initial Watch List by earning All-American honors at the end of the 2005 or previous seasons, or by being named to their respective all-conference team as selected by the conference’s head coaches. The Watch List will be updated prior to the start of the 2006 season, in order to identify those players who have been selected as pre-season honors candidates.
Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen and those defensive players who line up within five yards of the football. While the Watch Lists highlights players who have already received national recognition, any Division I player who meets the position requirements is eligible for consideration by the Rotary Lombardi Selection Committee. This committee is comprised of over 500 members, including all past finalists, all Division I head coaches and a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. The Rotary Lombardi Watch List, intended as a reference tool for the Selection Committee, will be periodically updated and revised through the conclusion of the voting to determine the 12 Semifinalists for 2006.
Founded in the weeks following the death of legendary football coach Vince Lombardi from cancer in 1970, the Rotary Lombardi Award presented by Wachovia Bank has annually delivered upon the mission set forth by Marie Lombardi when she first granted the use of her late husband’s name. Her only stipulation was that all net proceeds from the event be donated to the American Cancer Society and over $3.3 million has been generated since that time, including over $140,000 in 2005.