2 Hurricanes Named To All-America Team

Two University of Miami football players - senior center Brett Romberg and sophomore tailback Willis McGahee - have been named First Team All-Americans by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), it was announced Monday.

McGahee ranks sixth nationally in rushing (134.6 yards per game) and third in scoring (11.5 points per game). He has rushed for 1,481 yards and scored 21 touchdowns this year to help defending national champion Miami reach a No. 1 ranking in the polls. He has rushed for at least 100 yards nine times this year and has broken every meaningful UM single-season rushing record this season, setting new standards for rushing yardage, touchdowns, 100-yard rushing performances and all-purpose yards. Through 11 games, McGahee is averaging 6.6 yards per carry and 134.7 yards per game. He has caught 22 passes for 329 yards this season (15.0 avg.). He has accounted for 1,810 all-purpose yards this season. His 21 touchdowns have also set new UM single-season marks for scoring with 126 points through 11 games.

Romberg has anchored an offensive line that has paved the way for one of college football's most explosive offenses. Along the way, he has made the blocking calls for teams that have won 34 of 35 games since the start of the 2000 season. He's performed under pressure against college football's best, been productive in the game's most important contest and excelled in the spotlight. Romberg has helped the Hurricanes' offense set new standards for production the last two seasons while never grading under 88 percent in his blocking assignments in a single game. A two-time All-BIG EAST selection who was a first-team All-America selection by the Football Writers Association of America this season, Romberg aims to lead the Hurricanes to a second consecutive national championship in 2002. He has not allowed a quarterback sack in his college career, has been named an Offensive MVP by the coaching staff in five games during his UM career, is a three-time First-Team All-BIG EAST performer and was a First-Team All-America by Sportsline.com in 2001. In the classroom, Romberg graduated with a degree in business in December, 2001, and is currently enrolled in graduate school at UM. He has started the last 37 games at center for Miami.