ATLANTA, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The national player of the week nominations are in and the polls are open. Bruin fans can cast their votes for UCLA quarterback Drew Olson for the Cingular Wireless/ABC Sports All- America Player of the Week, the only major college football honor determined exclusively by fans. Olson was nominated for the second time this season after completing 22 of 27 passes for 510 yards and six touchdowns -- setting a UCLA season touchdown pass record with 30 -- in the Bruins' 45 -- 35 win of Arizona State.
Olson is one of four candidates for the All-America Player of the Week, who are selected by a panel of ABC Sports and ESPN college football analysts. The other finalists are: University of Miami quarterback Kyle Wright, who was nominated for the first time in his career after completing 17 of 27 passes for 319 yards and five touchdowns -- which ties the school record -- in the Hurricanes' 47 - 17 win over Wake Forest; Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk, who was nominated after tying a team-high of eight tackles, one sack, one forced- fumble and a blocked punt that he returned for a touchdown. Hawk helped limit Northwestern's high-powered offense to a mere 251 yards in the Buckeyes' 48 - 7 win; and Auburn University running back Kenny Irons, who was nominated for the award for the first time in his career after 37 carries for 179 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the Tigers' 31 - 30 win over University of Georgia.
Previous Cingular/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Week winners this season include Georgia quarterback D.J. Shockley, Texas quarterback Vince Young, Texas A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal, Minnesota running back Laurence Maroney, Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, UCLA running back Maurice Drew, and Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski.
Who will be this week's winner now rests solely in the hands of college football fans nationwide. Fans have until Wednesday, November 16 at 11:59 p.m. EDT to submit their votes via wireless text messaging.* The winner will be announced November 17 in the first half of the ESPN Thursday Night College Football Game between Miami and Wake Forest. Fans can learn more about this week's nominees online at http://www.abcsportsallamerica.com/ or at http://www.cingularallamerica.com/.
Here's how fans can register to vote for the Cingular/ABC Sports All- America Player of the Week this week and every week throughout the 2005 season:
- Text "VOTE" to "87654" on your wireless phone
- Follow the prompt to vote for your All-America selection
- Cingular/ABC Sports Player of the Week candidates will be automatically
sent out via text messaging each week
Each time fans vote, they are entered into a sweepstakes to win a trip to the Bowl Championship Series game of their choice. Fans can vote as often as they like.
In December, fans will get a chance to say who the best player in the nation is by voting for the Cingular/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Year. The selection process will culminate in December in a one-hour special on ABC Sports when the Cingular/ABC Sports Player of the Year and the Football Writers Association of America All-America team will be announced. Last year, Texas running back and Chicago Bears first round draft pick Cedric Benson was selected by fans as the Player of the Year.
*Other wireless carriers must opt-in for their subscribers to participate
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CONTACT: Sarah Didier, Career Sports & Entertainment, +1-770-226-5550, +1-770-617-8737, sdidier@careersportsentertainment.com; or Clay Owen, Cingular Wireless, +1-404-236-6153, clay.owen@cingular.com
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