Dec. 9, 1999

Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri football senior Rob Riti has been named as the center on the 1999 Burger King Coaches' All-America First Team announced today by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). The Burger King Coaches' All-America Team is made up of players from NCAA Division I institutions. Riti is the first All-American offensive lineman at MU since 1986, and the 25th first-team All-American in history at Missouri.

The team will be announced Thursday night on the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN and ESPN2. The show will air live from Disney's Wide World of Sports Fieldhouse in Orlando, Fla. at 5 p.m. Eastern time on ESPN and will be rebroadcast at 8:30 Eastern on ESPN2.

As the only senior and only returning starter on MU's offensive line, Riti was a true leader for the Tigers in 1999. He ended his career with 44 consecutive starts for Missouri, including 42 consecutive regular season starts, tying a school record. The 6-3, 289 lb. lineman graded at 95 percent against Western Michigan, the highest grade ever for an offensive lineman in Larry Smith's 23 years as a head coach.

The AFCA honor is the highest post-season award received thus far by the senior, who has been tabbed for several All-America squads over the past month. A two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection, Riti is also the holder of the Missouri squat lift record, 1,000 pounds.

The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all four of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players best--the coaches themselves.