Bowling Green State University Athletics
P.J. Pope Nominated For Doak Walker Award
August 31, 2004 | Football
Aug. 31, 2004
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green State University junior running back P.J. Pope is one of 42 players in the running for the 2004 Doak Walker Award given annually to college football's top running back. Last year, Pope became just the third BGSU running back to earn first-team All-MAC honors since 1985 (Bernard White-1985, Zeb Jackson-1993). He rushed for 1,005 yards and 10 TDs and caught 48 passes for 433 yards as a sophomore. "Each new season of college football brings fans a fresh list of new 'stars' to watch. This year will be no different. As for the running back position...well, simply put this will be one of the more talented groups we've had the pleasure of following. This year's Doak Walker watch list is impressive. This year's winner will again exemplify the characteristics of Doak Walker. A tough and talented runner for sure, but just as important as the yards gained on the field, Doak was a model citizen and leader in the classroom, too. Good luck to the candidates," said Craig James, SMU alumnus and member of the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee. The SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will select the semifinalists on November 15, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will vote on the winner in late November. The National Selection Committee consists of former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2004 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on ESPN along with other NCFAA member awards on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 9. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held at The Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday, February 15, 2005. Former Michigan running back Chris Perry, currently with the Cincinnati Bengals, won the 2003 Doak Walker Award. The award, which is celebrating its 15th year, is named for SMU's three-time All-American running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification. Sponsors of the Forum include PricewaterhouseCoopers, American Airlines, The Dallas Morning News, Guaranty Bank, JPMorgan Chase and State Farm Bank®. Candidates include:
Josh Allen (Jr.), Maryland J.J. Arrington (Sr.), California Marion Barber (Sr.), Minnesota Chris Barclay (Jr.), Wake Forest Arliss Beach (Jr.), Kentucky Mike Bell (Jr.), Arizona Cedric Benson (Sr.), Texas Ronnie Brown (Sr.), Auburn Reggie Bush (So.), USC Earl Charles (Sr.), Marshall Patrick Cobbs (Sr.), North Texas P.J. Daniels (Jr.), Georgia Tech Anthony Davis (Sr.), Wisconsin Kyle Eckel (Sr.), Navy Anthony Evans (Sr.), Houston Lionel Gates (Sr.), Louisville Franklin Gore (Sr.), Miami E.B. Halsey (So.), Illinois Lynell Hamilton (So.), San Diego State Alex Haynes (Sr.), UCF Taurean Henderson (Jr.), Texas Tech Lonta Hobbs (Jr.), TCU Cedric Houston (Sr.), Tennessee Howard Jackson (Sr.), UTEP Chance Kretschmer (Sr.), Nevada Brian Leonard (Jr.), Rutgers Wali Lundy (Jr.), Virginia Sammy Maldonado (Sr.), Maryland Ronnie McGill (So.), UNC T.A. McLendon (Jr.), NC State Ryan Moats (Jr.), Louisiana Tech Foy Munlin (Sr.), SMU P.J. Pope (Jr.), Bowling Green Bobby Purify (Sr.), Colorado Walter Reyes (Sr.), Syracuse Lydell Ross (Sr.), Ohio State Darren Sproles (Sr.), Kansas State Justin Vincent (So.), LSU Jerod Void (Sr.), Purdue LenDale White (So.), USC DeAngelo Williams (Jr.), Memphis Carnell Williams (Sr.), Auburn
