RIVERSIDE, Ca. -- Former All-Pro Kermit Alexander, a member of the IMPACT Foundation Board of Directors for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, will once again host a Super Bowl Party to raise support for child abuse prevention. 

On Feb. 5, over a dozen former NFL players will team together with Prevent Child Abuse Riverside for the 3rd Annual Super Bowl Sunday Game Day Event, "Legends of the Gridiron.”

The VIP Party includes large screen viewing, free food, comfy couches and non-alcoholic beverages. A no host wine & beer garden is available. And an opportunity to mingle with former NFL Pros who know the game inside and out!

“This is a great way to watch the game,” says Alexander, a 14 year veteran with the 49ers, Rams and Eagles, “and it gives us retired players a chance to do something good for our community.”

Sponsored in part by Riverside City Councilman Paul Davis, Riverside Parks and Recreation and Riverside Community Hospital fans will have the best venue to watch football, meet the former NFL players, get autographs, win prizes and pig out on the best tailgate ribs, sliders, burgers and more while raising support for child abuse prevention.

The guest list includes Dwight Hicks, Jesse Sapolu, Joe Sweet, Craig McEwen, Cedrick Hardman, Marlin Briscoe, Marv Fleming, LeRoy Irvin, Dana Hall, Mike Lansford, Efren Herrera, Reggie Doss, Ivory Sully, Sam Cunningham, Leonard Russell and Frank Corral.

“You never know which former players are coming to the party,” explains Eldon Baber, Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Riverside County, “we just have to wait to see which teams make it into the championship to see who’s available. But whoever shows up we always have a great time!”

Guests 16 years and older can purchase a VIP Pass for $46 per person, while children (ages 6 to 15) VIP passes are just $10.Any child younger than six is free. In addition, a Family VIP Pass is available for $100, which includes two adults and two children. Only 350 VIP tickets available and can be purchased online at www.pcafootball.com.

Since 1983 Prevent Child Abuse Riverside County has been the designated council on child abuse and neglect. Just over 2000 children are removed annually from their homes and placed into foster care. We are actively seeking qualified foster families to help support children in crisis. For more information visit our website at www.pcariverside.org.

Doors to the event open 1 hour before schedule kickoff time (approx 3:30 p.m.)

For Information

Tami Alexander, 951-522-9653

talexander@pcariverside.org

NEWPORT BEACH, Ca. – Boston College Linebacker Luke Kuechly was named the 2011 winner of the Lott IMPACT Trophy at the annual awards banquet here Sunday night.

        The 6-3, 237-pound junior from Cincinnati led the nation in tackles each of the past two seasons and this year was named the winner of the Butkus Award as the top linebacker in the country and the Lombardi Award as the top lineman/linebacker.  He has recorded a school and ACC record 532 tackles in just three seasons.

        The other finalists for the award were Emmanuel Acho of Texas, Dont’a Hightower of Alabama and Manti Te’o of Notre Dame.

        Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. The Lott Trophy is the only college football award where character counts. The student-athlete must be making an IMPACT on the field as well as off the field in such areas as academics, community and leadership. IMPACT is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.  

        Boston College will receive $25,000 for its general scholarship fund in recognition of Kuechly’s achievement.  Each of the runnerups schools received $5,000. 

        In addition to his prodigious skills on the field, Kuechly is an honor student at Boston College, an officer on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for the second straight year and a participant in the HEAR (Help Educate through Athletic Responsibility) Program, which involves him visiting local schools and sharing experiences as student-athletes.

 Boston College Dean Andrew Boynton said this about Kuechly: “”I have been a university professor for over fifteen years and a dean at Boston College for six and Luke is the most impressive student-athlete I have met. He has a very, very high standard for himself in all areas. What strikes me, and everyone, about Luke are his values, maturity, integrity and modesty.

Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer, the most recent winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor, was presented with an Honorary Lott IMPACT Trophy. 

        The IMPACT Trophy is sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation in Newport Beach.

In eight years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated $400,000 to universities throughout the country and nearly $1 million to all charities. 

Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the IMPACT Foundation, the IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisors and former college coaches and players.

Past winners of The Lott IMPACT Trophy:

2004 – David Pollack, Georgia

2005 – DeMeco Ryans, Alabama

2006 – Dante Hughes, California

2007 – Glenn Dorsey, LSU

2008 – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State

2009 – Jerry Hughes, TCU

2010 – J.J. Watt, Wisconsin

2011 – Luke Kuechly, Boston College

NEWPORT BEACH, Ca. – Congressional Medal of Honor winner Dakota Meyer will receive an honorary Lott IMPACT Trophy at the annual Lott IMPACT Trophy awards banquet Dec. 11 at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Ca.

The former Marine sergeant was recently awarded the nation’s highest award for valor. 

On September 8, 2009, Meyer was one of 13 American military trainers embedded with a unit of 80 Afghan soldiers headed for a routine meeting with local elders in the village of Ganjgal , located in a valley along the border with Pakistan .

Four trainers at the front of the U.S.-Afghan force were immediately trapped by the heavy enemy fire believed to be coming from as many as 150 Taliban fighters.

Positioned at the rear when the ambush began, Meyer and other members of his unit disobeyed orders to remain in place and used a Humvee to rush into the kill zone to try and rescue the four trapped at the head of their column.

Manning the Humvee’s turret gun, Meyer killed at least eight insurgents and rescued 36 Afghan and American troops in his first four attempts to reach the four trapped trainers. He and his team members finally broke through to their position on the fifth attempt and moved on foot through a hail of gunfire only to find they had been killed in the fighting. Meyer then retrieved their remains.

When he presented the award to Meyer in September, President Obama said: “You did your duty above and beyond, and you kept the faith with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps you love.  You represent the best of a generation that has served with distinction through a decade of war.”

In an interview with ABC’s Bob Woodruff on ABC’s “World News with Diane Sawyer,” Meyer said that if he was faced with the same situation again, “I would do it a hundred times” though he would change only one thing: “I wish I could have kept them alive.”

He insists he is not a hero, but was only doing “what Marines do…I’m the furthest thing from a hero,” he says, “if this is what it feels like to be a hero you can have it.” He adds, “What gives me the right to be standing here today and not their kids? I feel like I failed them and I failed their families.”

Meyer wears bracelets with the names of the four Americans killed in Ganjgal that day and feels some guilt that he survived the battle. “I guess what’s stuck in my mind is you either get guys out alive or you die trying, if you didn’t die trying, you didn’t try hard enough.”

Now 23, Meyer was born and raised in Kentucky , where he currently resides. 

This is the fifth honorary Lott Trophy awarded:  Pat Tillman (posthumously, 2004); Mark Herzlich (2009); Owen Marecic (2010) and Tyrone Fahie (2010). 

A National Voter Panel will select the winner of the annual Lott IMPACT Trophy, which goes to college football’s best defensive player who has the biggest IMPACT on his team both on and off the field.

The winner’s school will receive $25,000 for its general scholarship fund while the three other finalists will receive $5,000 for their schools.  The IMPACT Foundation has already donated more than $850,000 to local and national charities. 

Hall of Fame broadcaster Brent Musburger will be the keynote speaker. 

Named after Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Ronnie Lott, The Lott IMPACT  Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Founded in 2004 by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The Lott Trophy is the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. The Lott Trophy is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and a distinguished group of former college football head coaches. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $850,000 to various charities throughout the country. The eighth annual Lott Trophy dinner will be held Dec. 11th at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. For more information on The Lott Trophy visit: www.LottTrophy.com . Follow college football by going to the Lott Blog at www.LottTrophy.com

Kuechly is a 6-3, 237-pound junior linebacker from Cincinnati who had a team high 18 tackles in the Eagles’ win over North Carolina State, 14-10.  Kuechly, who has had double figure tackles in 32 consecutive games, had nine straight tackles at one point in the second half.  He leads the country in tackles for the second straight season with 168.

Kuechly had bruised his elbow in the third quarter and Boston College Defensive Coordinator Bill McGovern approached him on the sideline: “I was saying to him, ‘What you need is a play off and get back in there.’  It’s another credit to him.  He turns it up when we need it and he’s got it in him to make plays as well.”

Kuechly now has 509 career totals in just under three seasons.  He is a Lott Trophy semi-finalist, a Butkus Award semi-finalist and a Lombardi Award finalist. 

In recognition of Kuechly’s performance, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, sponsors of the Lott IMPACT Trophy, will make a $1,000 donation to the general scholarship fund at Boston College.

An interview with Kuechly can be heard at halftime of Saturday’s LSU-Ole Miss game on Sports USA Radio Network.  The IMPACT Player of the Week is also featured on FOX college football games this weekend. 

Other notable performances by Lott IMPACT Trophy semi-finalists were:

*Emmanuel Acho, Texas.  Had four tackles for losses, 12 total tackles, a forced fumble and two passes broken up in loss to Missouri, 17-5.

*Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State.  Led team with 7 tackles, one for a loss, and broke up one pass in 66-6 win over Texas Tech as Cowboys went to 10-0 for first time in history. 

*Dont’a Hightower, Alabama.  Led Crimson Tide with 11 tackles, had 2.5 tackles for losses and 1.5 sacks in 24-7 win over Mississippi State. 

*Lavonte David, Nebraska.  Had 9 tackles, three on late drive by Penn State, in 17-14 win over the Nittany Lions.

*Chase Minnifield, Virginia.  Returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown and had five total tackles in 31-21 win over Duke.

Lott IMPACT Players of the Week

Week 1 – Jordan Kovacs, Michigan

Week 2 – Shayne Skov, Stanford

Week 3 – Luke Kuechly, Boston College

Week 4 – Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State

Week 5 – T.J. McDonald, USC

Week 6 – Lavonte David, Nebraska

Week 7 – John Simon, Ohio State

Week 8 – Dont’a Hightower, Alabama

Week 9 – Lavonte David, Nebraska

Week 10 – Emmanuel Acho, Texas

Week 11 – Luke Kuechly, Boston College

Named after Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Ronnie Lott, The Lott IMPACT  Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Founded in 2004 by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The Lott Trophy is the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. The Lott Trophy is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and a distinguished group of former college football head coaches. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $850,000 to various charities throughout the country. The eighth annual Lott Trophy dinner will be held Dec. 11th at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. For more information on The Lott Trophy visit: www.LottTrophy.com . Follow college football by going to the Lott Blog at www.LottTrophy.com

  NEWPORT BEACH, Ca. – The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has announced eight semi-finalists for the Eighth Annual Lott IMPACT Trophy. 

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.  Now in its eighth year, the Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.

Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation in Newport Beach, the award is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

The eighth annual awards banquet will be held Sunday evening, Dec. 11, at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Ca.  Hall of Fame broadcaster Brent Musburger will be the keynote speaker.

This year’s semi-finalist list includes five linebackers, two defensive backs and one defensive lineman.  There are two players from the Big-12, two from the Big Ten, two from the ACC, one from the SEC and one from Notre Dame.

The players are:

Emmanuel Acho, LB, Texas

Brodrick Brown, DB, Oklahoma State

Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska

Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama

Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Chase Minnifield, DB, Virginia

John Simon, DL, Ohio State

Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame

A National Voter Panel will select the winner and three other finalists, all of whom will be invited to the 8^th annual Lott IMPACT Trophy awards banquet Dec. 11 at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach.

The winner’s school will receive $25,000 for its general scholarship fund while the three other finalists will receive $5,000 for their schools.

Previous Lott IMPACT Trophy winners:

2004: David Pollack, DL, Georgia

2005: DeMeco Ryans, LB, Alabama

2006: Dante Hughes, DB, Cal

2007: Glenn Dorsey, DL, LSU

2008: James Laurinaities, LB, Ohio State

2009: Jerry Hughes, DL, TCU

2010: J.J. Watt, DL, Wisconsin

The 2011 Lott IMPACT Trophy Semi-Finalists

Emmanuel Acho , Texas (6-2), LB, 6-2, 240 (Dallas): Lott Player of the Week, Week 10…All Big-12 (mid-season, Phil Steele)…Leads Longhorns with 71 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries and two sacks…Six-time honor student at Texas, two-time Academic All Big-12…On both American Football Coaches Assn Good Works team and Lowe’s Senior Class Team…Finalist for Campbell Trophy…Brother Sam was a Lott finalist in 2010…Goes on medical missions to Nigeria with his family each summer

Brodrick Brown , Oklahoma State (9-0), CB, 5-8, 188 (Houston): Lott POW Week 4….Four interceptions this season…two fumble recoveries…10 tackles in win against Kansas State…35 tackles on season and 9 passes broken up (leads team)…second on team with 77 tackles last year…Had one of the most acrobatic interceptions in recent history last year….Academic All Big-12

Lavonte David , Nebraska (7-2) , LB, 6-1, 210 (Miami, Fl): Phil Steele All-American (second team)…CBS mid-season All-American (second team)…Leads team with 93 tackles, seven tackles for loss and an interception…Lott IMPACT POW Week 6 and Week 9…Set Nebraska record with 152 tackles last year…Rated No. 2 Linebacker in country…All-American as a junior

Dont’a Hightower , Alabama (8-1), LB, 6-4, 260 (Lewisburg, Tn): Phil Steele Mid-season All-American and CBS mid-season All-American…Leads Tide with 54 tackles, 6 tackles for losses…Lott POW, Week 8…Second team All SEC…Rated No. 4 linebacker by Rivals.com

Luke Kuechly , Boston College (2-7), LB, 6-3, 235 (Cincinnati): Named on four mid-season All-American teams (ESPN, CBS, Sporting News, Phil Steele)… Leads country in tackles (150) for second straight year…Lott POW Week 3…Has 10 or more tackles in 31 consecutive games…Leads team with 8.5 tackles for loss…Has one interception…Led the nation in tackles with 183 last season…Consensus All-American…Finalist for both the Butkus and Nagurski awards last year…Rated No. 1 linebacker

Chase Minnifield , Virginia (6-3), CB, 6-0, 185 (Lexington, Ky):  Phil Steele Mid-season All-American (third team)…Has 37 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and a blocked field goal…Rated No. 6 defensive back….Lowe’s Senior Class Team…Had six interceptions (tied for fifth in the country) and 48 tackles…Honorable mention All-American…Academic all-state in high school…Son of former NFL star Frank Minnifield.

John Simon , Ohio State (6-3), DT, 6-2, 270 (Youngstown):  Lott Player of the Week 7 when he had four tackles for loss and two sacks against Illinois…Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week…11 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries…High school national honor society…Rated No. 3 DL in nation.

Manti Te’o , Notre Dame (6-3), LB, 6-2, 245 (Laie, Hi): Phil Steele Mid-season All-American…CBS mid-season All-American (second team)…His 87 tackles are among the most in NCAA… Led Irish with 144 tackles and 16 tackles for losses last season...Was named Sporting News High School Athlete of the Year (first Hawaiian and first Polynesian to receive that honor)…Prep honor student…Second team All-American last season…Rated No. 5 linebacker

Lott IMPACT Players of the Week, 2011

Week 1 – Jordan Kovacs, Michigan

Week 2 – Shayne Skov, Stanford

Week 3 – Luke Kuechly, Boston College

Week 4 – Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State

Week 5 – T.J. McDonald, USC

Week 6 – Lavonte David, Nebraska

Week 7 – John Simon, Ohio State

Week 8 – Dont’a Hightower, Alabama

Week 9 – Lavonte David. Nebraska

Week 10 – Emmanuel Acho, Texas

Named after Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Ronnie Lott, The Lott IMPACT  Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Founded in 2004 by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The Lott Trophy is the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. The Lott Trophy is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and a distinguished group of former college football head coaches. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $850,000 to various charities throughout the country. The eighth annual Lott Trophy dinner will be held Dec. 11th at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. For more information on The Lott Trophy visit: www.LottTrophy.com . Follow college football by going to the Lott Blog at www.LottTrophy.com

NEWPORT BEACH, Ca. – Emmanuel Acho of Texas has been named the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week.

Acho is a 6-2, 245-pound senior linebacker from Dallas who had a team high 11 tackles, two for losses, and defended one pass in the Longhorns’ 52-20 win over Texas Tech Saturday. 

For the season, Acho leads Texas in tackles with 71 and has 10 tackles for loss, two sacks and 10 quarterback hurries.  He was a mid-season All Big-12 selection.

One of the outstanding student-athletes in the country, Acho is a six-time member of the Texas Athletic Director Honor Roll, a two-time Academic All Big-12 choice, a semifinalist for the Campbell (Academic Heisman) Award, a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award and a member of the American Football Coaches Assn. Good Works Team. 

His middle name Cinedum means “God Guides Me.”  Acho, his brother Sam (a Lott IMPACT Trophy finalist last year and now a member of the Arizona Cardinals) and his family, makes medical mission trips to Nigeria each summer. 

In recognition of Acho’s performance, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, sponsors of the Lott IMPACT Trophy, will make a $1,000 donation to the general scholarship fund at Texas.

An interview with Acho can be heard at halftime of Saturday’s Florida-South Carolina game on Sports USA Radio Network.  The IMPACT Player of the Week is also featured on FOX college football games this weekend. 

Other notable performances by players on the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List were:

*Mark Barron, Alabama.  Had six tackles and an interception in 9-6 loss to LSU in overtime.

        *Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State.  Had 10 tackles, all solo, and credited with two passes defended in 52-45 win over Kansas State.

        *Dont’a Hightower, Alabama.  Had seven tackles and two quarterback hurries in loss to LSU, 9-6, in overtime. 

*Lavonte David, Nebraska.  Had 11 tackles and an interception in loss to Northwestern, 28-25.

*Luke Kuechly, Boston College,  Had 20 tackles in 38-7 loss to Florida State.

*Kendall Reyes, Connecticut.  Seven tackles (credited with ½ sack) and one pass breakup in win over Syracuse, 28-21. 

*John Simon, Ohio State.  Led team with 10 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, one sack in win over Indiana, 34-20.

Brandon Taylor, LSU.  Had five tackles, one for loss and a pass break up in win over Alabama, 9-6, in overtime. 

Lott IMPACT Players of the Week

Week 1 – Jordan Kovacs, Michigan

Week 2 – Shayne Skov, Stanford

Week 3 – Luke Kuechly, Boston College

Week 4 – Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State

Week 5 – T.J. McDonald, USC

Week 6 – Lavonte David, Nebraska

Week 7 – John Simon, Ohio State

Week 8 – Dont’a Hightower, Alabama

Week 9 – Lavonte David, Nebraska

Week 10 – Emmanuel Acho, Texas

Named after Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Ronnie Lott, The Lott IMPACT  Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Founded in 2004 by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The Lott Trophy is the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. The Lott Trophy is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and a distinguished group of former college football head coaches. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $850,000 to various charities throughout the country. The eighth annual Lott Trophy dinner will be held Dec. 11th at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. For more information on The Lott Trophy visit: www.LottTrophy.com . Follow college football by going to the Lott Blog at www.LottTrophy.com

by Ian Massey

    Alabama is 8-0 and rolling.

            The success of the 2011 Crimson Tide is in large part due to a defense that is ranked No. 1 in the country, allowing just seven points a game. And at the heart of that defense is linebacker Dont’a Hightower, a 260-pound force.

But for Hightower, a Lott IMPACT Trophy candidate and a highly regarded NFL draft prospect, a national championship would be the cherry on top of a bittersweet Thursday in January 2010.

Alabama had defeated Texas 37-21 for its 13th national title in school history on Jan. 7, 2010, but Hightower was left hobbling the sidelines with a bummed ACL that was mid-rehabilitation.

“I’m not a selfish person at all, but I felt like I should have been part of the win for the national championship, so yeah, it hurt,” Hightower said. “It’s one of those things you have to go through. I want to get one (championship).”

With his legs under him alongside teammates that are hungry for a BCS title game, Hightower hasn’t favored his knee this season. Instead, he’s been punishing ball-carriers, en route to a team-high 39 tackles and 5 tackles for loss. He’s a Phil Steele Mid-season All-American with more hardware in his sight.

A student-athlete who represents the Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Athleticism, Community and Tenacity that goes along with his Lott IMPACT Trophy nomination, Hightower’s powerful tackles and  character have caught the attention of coaches, teammates, teachers and even children.

“I think you are the strongest man in the world,” wrote 8-year-old Brian to Hightower. “When you beat up players, you win games. But you are nice because you try not to hurt them. I saw you on the news and it made me excited because I knew you. […] Please be safe at the football game.”

Brian is a third grader in Mrs. Heisler’s class at Mt. Laurel Elementary School in Tuscaloosa , and he’s Hightower’s pen pal. Hightower is one of a few Crimson Tide players who volunteer time at Brian’s elementary school and correspond weekly with elementary aged fanatics.

“It was amazing that’s what the kids picked up on, because they didn’t care about the dances in the end zone, but they were commenting about how we had really good players and they were picking people up after they tackled them,” Heisler said.

“I don’t know if players know how much of an impact they have on people,” she continued. “They’re inspiring people with everything they do on the field.”

            With one year of eligibility left on the field, Hightower is scheduled to graduate early this December.

He’s a workhorse in the film room, often studying Julius Peppers for inspiration and opposing offenses for preparation. Blessed with power and burst, intelligence and leadership skills, he’s been a nightmare for SEC offensive linemen and quarterbacks.

            “He’s a hard hitter. He’s tough. Big, fast, strong, pass rush. He’s very versatile,” former Heisman Trophy winner and teammate Mark Ingram said of Hightower, who challenged Ingram in practice for years before being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in April.

            “He’s tough to get away from running the ball and it’s tough to block him,” Ingram added. “He can bull rush, he can swim move. He’s very athletic. He gives problems for everyone on the other side of the ball.”

            Last season, Hightower was named one of three team captains after fighting through rehabilitation and returning from reconstructive knee surgery to the field sooner than expected. He made 69 stops, 3.5 tackles for loss, and forced 9 quarterback hurries at less than 100 percent.

            Kirby Smart , Alabama ’s defensive coordinator, has no doubt as to who the leader of his defense is in 2011.

            “Dont’a Hightower. He’s the guy,” Smart said. “I certainly think Dont’a has the capability to be that leader. He wanted to do that last year. He just really never could get around to doing it because he wasn’t 100 percent. […] He’s really got a good attitude. I think he has more confidence in his leadership skills when he plays well, and he’s playing well right now.”

            Hightower is a leader worth following. Before taking a helmet to his knee on a chop block that forced him to medical redshirt as sophomore, Hightower won Alabama ’s Defensive Achievement Award for playing a critical role in the Crimson Tide’s defensive unit as a true freshman in 2008. He was one of 11 true freshmen since 1972 to start the season opener for Alabama . After returning from knee surgery, Hightower won the Mal Moore Leadership Award in the spring of 2010, and most recently, the Lee Roy Headhunter Award as the team’s biggest hitter this past spring.

            “When your star player is on task and on target, it’s a lot easier to get everyone else to be on task and on target,” Hightower’s high school coach, Dan Thomas, said. “And Dont’a did everything we asked and more.

            “He’s a tremendous young man,” Thomas continued. “I think that’s what makes him so special is because he has a tremendous athletic ability and then his character and integrity are great.”

            Forever indebted to his family, Hightower gained strength from his mother and sister while recovering from knee surgery.

            His mother, L’Tanya, sends her son a text message every morning that says, “Today will be the best day of your life.”

            Hightower will text her back, “Today will be the best day of our life.”       

            That day may well be when Alabama once again plays for the national championship.

(Oct. 31,2011)                                                            

NEWPORT BEACH, Ca. – Nebraska Linebacker Lavonte David has been named the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week for the second time this season.

David, 6-1, 225, is a senior from Miami who had 13 tackles Saturday as the Cornhuskers shut down Michigan State in impressive fashion, 24-3.  The Nebraska defense held the Spartans to just 187 yards in total offense and no touchdowns. 

For the season, David leads Nebraska in tackles with 77.  He also has 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hurries, an interception and a fumble recovery.  David was the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week Oct. 8 when he helped lead the Cornhuskers to a comeback win over Ohio State.

Nebraska is now 7-1 and ranked No. 10 in the nation. 

David set a Nebraska team record last year with 152 tackles.  He was the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year after transferring from Ft. Scott Junior College in Kansas. 

David is a criminology and criminal justice major who is a frequent volunteer for various Nebraska charities .  Academics remains a top priority for the senior: "My goal was to come here and get a degree for my family, for my parents. That's one thing they all wanted me to get, so that's what I'm focused on doing," he said. 

In recognition of David’s performance, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, sponsors of the Lott IMPACT Trophy, will make a $1,000 donation to the general scholarship fund at Nebraska.

An interview with David can be heard at halftime of Saturday’s Texas-Texas Tech game on Sports USA Radio Network.  The IMPACT Player of the Week is also featured on FOX college football games this weekend. 

Other notable performances by players on the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List were:

*Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State.  Recovered two fumbles (and returned them 47 yards) as Oklahoma State remained undefeated in 59-24 rout of Baylor.

*Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina.  Intercepted a pass, blocked a kick, broke up one pass and had two tackles in win over Tennessee, 14-3.

*Aaron Henry, Wisconsin.  Recorded nine tackles, two for losses with a sack in loss to Ohio State, 33-29.

*Joe Holland, Purdue.  Had team high 10 tackles with an interception in loss to Michigan, 36-14.

*Luke Kuechly, Boston College.  Led Eagles with 12 tackles, one for a loss, and had an interception in win over Maryland, 28-17. 

*John Simon, Ohio State.  Had two sacks in win over Wisconsin, 33-29. 

*Manti Te’o, Notre Dame. Led Irish with 13 tackles, 2.5 tackles for losses, in win over Navy, 56-14.

. 

Lott IMPACT Players of the Week

Week 1 – Jordan Kovacs, Michigan

Week 2 – Shayne Skov, Stanford

Week 3 – Luke Kuechly, Boston College

Week 4 – Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State

Week 5 – T.J. McDonald, USC

Week 6 – Lavonte David, Nebraska

Week 7 – John Simon, Ohio State

Week 8 – Dont’a Hightower, Alabama

Week 9 – Lavonte David, Nebraska

Named after Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Ronnie Lott, The Lott IMPACT  Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Founded in 2004 by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The Lott Trophy is the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. The Lott Trophy is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and a distinguished group of former college football head coaches. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $850,000 to various charities throughout the country. The eighth annual Lott Trophy dinner will be held Dec. 11th at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. For more information on The Lott Trophy visit: www.LottTrophy.com .

Follow college football by going to the Lott Blog at www.LottTrophy.com

NEWPORT BEACH, Ca. – The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has announced 20 quarter-finalists for the annual Lott IMPACT Trophy.

The list includes four defensive linemen, six linebackers and 10 defensive backs. There are six players from the Big Ten, four from the SEC, three from the Pac-12, three from the ACC, two from the Big-12 and one each from the Big East and an independent, Notre Dame.

Previous Lott IMPACT Trophy winners:

2004: David Pollack, DL, Georgia

2005: DeMeco Ryans, LB, Alabama

2006: Dante Hughes, DB, Cal

2007: Glenn Dorsey, DL, LSU

2008: James Laurinaites, LB, Ohio State

2009: Jerry Hughes, DL, TCU

2010: J.J. Watt, DL, Wisconsin

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its eighth year, the Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.

Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation in Newport Beach, the award is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

The quarter-finalists (alphabetically)

Emmanauel Acho (LB, Texas)

Mark Barron (S, Alabama)

John Boyett (S, Oregon)

Brodrick Brown (CB, Oklahoma State)

Quinton Coples (DL, North Carolina)

Lavonte David (LB, Nebraska)

Stephon Gilmore (CB, South Carolina)

Aaron Henry (DB, Wisconsin)

Dont’a Hightower (LB, Alabama)

Joe Holland (LB, Purdue)

Delano Howell (S, Stanford)

Jordan Kovacs (S, Michigan)

Luke Kuechly (LB, Boston College)

Chase Minnifield (CB, Virginia)

T.J. McDonald (S, USC)

Kendall Reyes (DL, Connecticut)

John Simon (DL, Ohio State)

Brandon Taylor (DB, LSU)

Manti Te’o (LB, Notre Dame)

Jerel Worthy (DL, Michigan State)

The 2011 Lott IMPACT Trophy Quarter-Finalists

Emmanuel Acho , Texas (4-2), LB, 6-2, 240 (Dallas): All Big-12 (mid-season, Phil Steele)…Leads Longhorns with 58 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries and two sacks…Honor student at Texas, two-time Academic All Big-12…On the American Football Coaches Assn. Good Works team and a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award…Finalist for Campbell Trophy…Brother Sam was a Lott finalist in 2010…Goes on medical missions to Nigeria with his family each summer.

Mark Barron , Alabama (8-0), S, 6-2, 210 (Mobile, Al): ESPN Mid-season All-American, Phil Steele Mid-season All-American and CBS mid-season All-American…Returning All-American…On Lott Watch List a year ago…Has 39 tackles, interception, fumble recovery and five passes defended…Led SEC with seven interceptions as a junior…Team captain.

John Boyett , Oregon (6-1), 5-11, 202, Napa, Ca. All Pac-12 (mid-season, Phil Steele)…44 tackles leads team…Has two blocked kicks, 2 tackles for loss, 5 passes defended…Second team All-American last year.

Brodrick Brown , Oklahoma State (7-0), CB, 5-8, 188 (Houston): Lott IMPACT POW Week 4….Four interceptions this season…Second on team with 77 tackles last year…Academic All Big-12.

Quinton Coples , North Carolina (5-3), DE, 6-6, 275 (Kinston, NC): All ACC second team (mid-season, Phil Steele)…Has played both tackle and end for Tar Heels…Projected first round pick…Has 31 tackles, 4.5 sacks…Led Tar Heels in tackles for loss (15.5), sacks (10) and quarterback hurries (12) as a junior…Double major in communications and African-American studies.

Lavonte David , Nebraska (6-1) , LB, 6-1, 210 (Miami, Fl): Phil Steele All-American (second team)…CBS mid-season All-American (second team)…Leads team with 69 tackles and seven tackles for loss…Lott IMPACT POW Week 6…Set Nebraska record with 152 tackles last year…Rated No. 2 Linebacker in country…All-American as a junior.

Stephon Gilmore , South Carolina (6-1), CB, 6-1, 189 (Rock Hill, SC): Rated No. 5 defensive back in country…29 tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery to date…ALL SEC…Academic All SEC.

Aaron Henry , Wisconsin (6-1), DB, 6-0, 204 (Immokalee, Fl): All Big Ten (mid-season, Phil Steele)…third on team with 30 tackles…two interceptions…Academic All-Big Ten…58 tackles, 2 interceptions last season…second team All-Big Ten.

Dont’a Hightower , Alabama (8-0), LB, 6-4, 260 (Lewisburg, Tn): Phil Steele Mid-season All-American and CBS mid-season All-American…Lott IMPACT POW Week 8…Leads Tide with 47 tackles, 6 tackles for losses and has an interception…second team All SEC last year…Rated No. 4 linebacker by Rivals.com.

Joe Holland , Purdue (4-3), LB, 6-1, 225 (Indianapolis): Leads team with 54 tackles this season…Academic All-American with a 3.99 GPA in Movement and Sports Science…73 tackles last season and 7.5 tackles for loss.

Delano Howell , Stanford (7-0), DB, 5-11, 198 (Newhall, Ca): Injured, missed Washington game…25 tackles this season (third on team)… Had team high five interceptions in 2010…60 tackles…Second team all-conference.

Jordan Kovacs , Michigan (6-1), S, 6-0, 195: All Big Ten (mid-season, second team, Phil Steele)…Lott IMPACT POW Week 1…Second in Big Ten in tackles last season with 116…Has five career interceptions…Honorable mention All-Big Ten…Was Academic All Ohio in high school.

Luke Kuechly , Boston College (1-6), LB, 6-3, 235 (Cincinnati): Named on all four mid-season All-American teams (ESPN, CBS, Sporting News, Phil Steele)… Leads country in tackles (118) for second straight year…Lott POW Week 3…Leads team with 7.5 tackles for loss…Led the nation in tackles with 183 last season…His 459 career tackles leaves him 86 shy of the all-time NCAA record for tackles (545)…Consensus All-American…Finalist for both the Butkus and Nagurski awards last year…No. 1 linebacker by Rivals.com.

T.J. McDonald , USC (6-1), S, 6-3, 205 (Fresno): Second team Phil Steele Mid-season All-American and second team CBS mid-season All-American…Lott POW Week 5…Had two interceptions in win against Arizona…Led Trojans in tackles with 89 last year…Had three interceptions…Son of former USC All-American Tim McDonald.

Chase Minnifield , Virginia (4-3), CB, 6-0, 185 (Lexington, Ky): Phil Steele Mid-season All-American (third team)…Has 32 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and a blocked field goal…Rated No. 6 defensive back….Lowe’s Senior Class Award finalist…Had six interceptions (tied for fifth in the country) and 48 tackles…Honorable mention All-American…Academic all-state in high school…Son of former NFL star Frank Minnifield.

Kendall Reyes , Connecticut (3-4), DT, 6-4, 298 (Nashua, NH): Has 11 tackles for loss this season, among leaders in country…Team captain had 10 tackles for loss and two interceptions last season…Was high school honor student and class president.

John Simon , Ohio State (4-3), DT, 6-2, 270 (Youngstown): LOTT Player of the Week 7 when he had four tackles for loss and two sacks against Illinois…Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week…Eight tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries…High school national honor society.

Brandon Taylor , LSU (8-0), S, 6-0, 195 (Franklinton, La): Leads LSU in tackles with 48, two interceptions, four passes broken up…Had 44 tackles, four tackles for loss and five passes broken up last season before injury…Two-year starter.

Manti Te’o , Notre Dame (4-3), LB, 6-2, 245 (Laie, Hi): Phil Steele Mid-season All-American…CBS mid-season All-American (second team)…His 69 tackles are among the most in NCAA…Has 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks… Led Irish with 144 tackles and 16 tackles for losses last season...Was named Sporting News High School Athlete of the Year (first Hawaiian and first Polynesian to receive that honor)…Prep honor student…Second team All-American last season.

Jerel Worthy , Michigan State (6-1), DT, 6-3, 305 (Huber Heights, Oh): Named mid-season All-American (ESPN, Sporting News, Phil Steele, CBS)…Has 15 tackles, 5.5 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, one blocked kick…Michigan State No. 1 defense in country, allows 2.8 yards per rush attempt…Projected first-round draft pick…Ranked No. 3 defensive lineman…Active in Athletes in Action sports ministry…Freshman All-American.

Lott IMPACT Players of the Week, 2011

Week 1 – Jordan Kovacs, Michigan

Week 2 – Shayne Skov, Stanford

Week 3 – Luke Kuechly, Boston College

Week 4 – Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State

Week 5 – T.J. McDonald, USC

Week 6 – Lavonte David, Nebraska

Week 7 – John Simon, Ohio State

Week 8 – Dont’a Hightower, Alabama

Named after Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Ronnie Lott, The Lott IMPACT Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Founded in 2004 by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The Lott Trophy is the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. The Lott Trophy is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and a distinguished group of former college football head coaches. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $850,000 to various charities throughout the country. The eighth annual Lott Trophy dinner will be held Dec. 11th at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. For more information on The Lott Trophy visit: www.LottTrophy.com . Follow college football by going to the Lott Blog at www.LottTrophy.com