Raiola Named Outland Finalist

Dallas - University of Nebraska All-American Dominic Raiola is one of three finalists for the 2000 Outland Trophy announced today. He is joined by Tennessee defensive tackle John Henderson and Texas offensive tackle Leonard Davis in balloting conducted by the Football Writers Association of America.

A first-team All-American by the FWAA, Walter Camp Foundation and Football News, Raiola anchors a Husker offense that leads the nation in rushing (349.3 yards per game) and also ranks in the top six nationally in both total offense (459.9) and scoring offense (41.5 ppg). He finished the regular season with 145 pancakes (13.2 per game), including double-figure totals in 10 of Nebraska's 11 games, breaking his own school record of 140 (12.67 per game in 12 games) set last year. The 6-2, 300-pound junior from Honolulu, Hawaii, was the ABC Chevrolet Player of the Game and Nebraska's nominee for Big 12 Offensive Player-of-the-Week honors against Kansas, marking the first time a Husker lineman had been nominated for the conference honor since 1996.

Raiola and the Husker offensive line has allowed just 10 sacks this season, and helped NU rush for 400 or more yards on the ground four times this season, including a season-high 505 yards against San Jose State. The winner will be announced on the night of Dec. 7 with the presentation occurring during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN from Orlando, Fla. The Outland Trophy Awards Banquet will be held on Jan. 10 in Omaha, Neb.

The Outland Trophy, presented since 1946, is the third oldest award in major college football. It is awarded annually to the best interior lineman in college football and named after the late Dr. John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn.