Fenton Named Rimington Trophy Finalist - University of Colorado Athletics

BOULDER? Junior center Mark Fenton was named one of six finalists for the Rimington Trophy Thursday. The award is presented annually to the most outstanding center in Division 1-A college football.

“Mark Fenton has come the farthest out of any player on our team?maybe the farthest out of any player I’ve ever coached,” head coach Gary Barnett said Tuesday after Fenton was named first team All-Big 12 by the conference coaches.”

The award is named after David Rimington, a three-year starter and two-time All-American center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982.

“You win games up front and it all starts with the center,” Rimington said. “You may not hear their names announced during the game and you won’t see kids scrambling for their autographs or fans wearing jerseys with the center’s name on their backs.

“Teamwork, stability, intelligence, power and a quiet confidence are a center’s calling card. The success of the team they serve is their barometer of performance.”

Fenton has anchored an offensive line which has paved the way for 365 total yards of offense per game this year. He also has not allowed a sack on the season.

The other finalists for the Rimington Trophy are Florida’s Mike Degory, Minnesota’a Greg Eslinger, Ohio State’s Nick Mangold, West Virginia’s Dan Mozes and California’s Marvin Philip.

The winner will be selected by determining the most first team votes collected from four separate All-American Teams (American Football Coaches Association; Walter Camp Foundation; Sporting News; Football Writers Association of America). The winner will be announced on December 8, 2005, and will be honored at the Rimington Trophy Gala on January 7, 2006, at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Neb., where the featured speakers will be 1973 Heisman trophy winner John Cappelletti of Penn State, and the winningest coach in college football history, John Gagliardi.