Nov. 28, 2005
The national player of the week nominations are in and the polls are open. For the fourth time this season, Fighting Irish fans can cast their votes for one of their own. Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija was nominated this week for the Cingular Wireless/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Week, the only major college football honor determined exclusively by fans. Samardzija was nominated for the award after hauling in eight catches for a career-high of 191 yards and two touchdowns in the Fighting Irish’s 38 -31 win over Stanford
Samardzija is one of four candidates for the All-America Player of the Week, who are selected by a panel of ABC Sports and ESPN college football analysts. The other finalists are: University of Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, who was nominated for the award for the fourth time since its inception after rushing for a season-high of 237 yards and two touchdowns – including a career-high 84-yard touchdown run – in the Sooners’ 42 – 14 victory over Oklahoma State; Grambling State quarterback Bruce Eugene, who was nominated after passing for 418 yards and six touchdowns and rushing for another in the Tigers’ 50 – 35 win over Southern University; and Mississippi State running back Jerious Norwood, who had 34 carries for 204 rushing-yards and four touchdowns – all marking career-high’s – in the Bulldogs’ 35 – 14 win over the Ole Miss Rebels.
Previous Cingular/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Week winners this season include Georgia quarterback D.J. Shockley, Texas quarterback Vince Young, Texas A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal, Minnesota running back Laurence Maroney, Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, UCLA running back Maurice Drew, and Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski, Auburn running back Kenny Irons, and USC running back Reggie Bush.
Who will be this week’s winner now rests solely in the hands of college football fans nationwide. Fans have until Wednesday, November 30 at 11:59 p.m. EST to submit their votes via wireless text messaging.* The winner will be announced November 31 on ESPN during the Akron vs. Northern Illinois game. Fans can learn more about this week’s nominees online at www.abcsportsallamerica.com or at www.cingularallamerica.com. Here’s how fans can register to vote for the Cingular/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Week this week and every week throughout the 2005 season:
Text “VOTE” to “87654” on yourwireless phone
Follow the prompt to vote for your All-America selection
Cingular/ABC Sports Player of the Week candidates will be automatically sent out via text messaging each week Each time fans vote, they are entered into a sweepstakes to win a trip to the Bowl Championship Series game of their choice. Fans can vote as often as they like.
On December 1, fans will get a chance to say who the best player in the nation is by voting for the Cingular/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Year. The selection process will culminate on December 10 in a one-hour special on ABC Sports when the Cingular/ABC Sports Player of the Year and the Football Writers Association of America All-America team will be announced. Last year, Texas running back and Chicago Bears first round draft pick Cedric Benson was selected by fans as the Player of the Year.
*Other wireless carriers must opt-in for their subscribers to participate