Nov. 28, 2007

DALLAS - University of Missouri senior center Adam Spieker (Webb City, Mo.) has been named one of six finalists for the Rimington Trophy, which is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding center. Joining Spieker on the list of finalists are Steve Justice (Wake Forest), Kory Lichtensteiger (Bowling Green), Jonathan Luigs (Arkansas), Alex Mack (California), and Cody Wallace (Texas A&M).

The winner of the Rimington Trophy will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards show, broadcast live from Orlando, Florida on ESPN on Thursday, December 6, 2007.

Spieker is the anchor of an offensive line that is paving and protecting the way for one of the nation's top offensive attacks. Mizzou is the only team in the nation to score a minimum of 30 points in each game this season, and the Tigers, thanks to the efforts of Spieker and his linemates, rank 5th in the NCAA in total offense (507.33 ypg) and 6th in scoring (41.92 ppg). Spieker, who has tied the MU career record for most consecutive starts, with 48 entering Saturday's Big 12 Championship Game, will break the record when he takes the field versus Oklahoma.

The winner of the Rimington Trophy is selected by determining the consensus All-American center pick from four existing All-America teams.

While more than a dozen All-America teams are selected annually, the Rimington Trophy committee uses these four prestigious teams to determine a winner:

• American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)
• Walter Camp Foundation (WCF)
• The Sporting News (SN)
• Football Writers Association of America (FWAA)

The center with the most first team votes will be determined the winner. If there is a tie with first team votes, then the center with the most second team votes will win. If there is still a tie, the winner will be determined by a majority vote from the Rimington Trophy committee. The winner will be recognized at the Rimington Trophy Presentation at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday, January 12, 2008.

About the Rimington Trophy

The eight-year old trophy is presented by Canon and The Cornhusker Marriott. The award is presented by the Boomer Esiason Foundation. Esiason created his foundation in 1993 to support research and treatment of cystic fibrosis. Esiason and Dave Rimington were teammates on the Cincinnati Bengals from 1984-87. Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus first team All- America center at Nebraska in 1981 and 1982 during which he became the John Outland Trophy's only double winner as the nation's premiere college interior lineman.