University of Connecticut Athletics
Billy Irwin Named To Rimington Trophy Watch List
4/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 1, 2004
STORRS, CT - University of Connecticut senior center Billy Irwin has been named to the preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy, annually presented to the nation’s top center.
Irwin has appeared in 25 career games at center with 24 consecutive starts, the second longest active streak on the offensive line behind Brian Markowski’s 35. Last fall he started all 12 games at center as the Huskies recorded a 9-3 record. Irwin helped UConn rank eighth in the nation in total offense while also contributing to the team’s low total of just 10 sacks allowed on the season, third-lowest in the nation. He also shared the offensive game ball with the rest of the offensive line, tight end Dan Murray and tailback Terry Caulley after the Buffalo game (Sept. 20). Irwin’s success as a junior built off of a strong sophomore season in which he also started all 12 games at center, joining Markowski as the only UConn offensive linemen to start every game. He helped open holes for tailback Terry Caulley, who finished 10th in the nation in rushing at 124.7 ypg, and he shared the offensive game ball with the rest of the offensive line and tight ends after the Navy game (Nov. 16).
Irwin is one of just two BIG EAST centers named to the list as he is joined by sophomore Jeremy Hines of West Virginia. A player from the BIG EAST Conference has won the award in each of the past two seasons as Virginia Tech’s Jake Grove won it in 2003 following 2002 recipient Brett Romberg of Miami.
"I am happy that Billy has received this kind of recognition," says head coach Randy Edsall. "He is someone who has worked hard and tirelessly to improve himself throughout his four years here at UConn. He has persevered through some hard times both physically and personally. I am very proud of him."
The Rimington Trophy recipient is determined by a consensus of the four All-America teams: The Walter Camp Football Foundation, America Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, and "The Sporting News."
The five-year old trophy is presented by Canon USA and Black & Decker. The award is hosted 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 ’82 – years in which he became the John Outland Trophy’s only double winner as the nation’s premiere college interior lineman.
