Rimington Finalist

University of Miami senior center Brett Romberg has been named one of five finalists for the Dave Rimington Trophy presented to the nation's premier college football center. The five finalists are Jeff Faine of Notre Dame, Al Johnson of Wisconsin, Dan Koppen of Boston College, Bruce Nelson of Iowa, and Romberg.

The winner will be honored at a presentation banquet in Lincoln, Nebraska, on December 14. Rimington the award's namesake, was a consensus first-team All-America center at Nebraska in 1981-82 - years in which he became the John Outland Trophy's only double winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman. This is Romberg's second consecutive year to be named a Rimington finalist.

Romberg is the nerve center of the most dominant offensive line in college football. He's 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.