The 44th annual Vince Lombardi Down Lineman of the Year Award banquet is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Clinton County Fairgrounds Expo Center.
The nominees are Gage Smith and Porter Pagett of Wilmington, Jaren Evans and Nick Mess from East Clinton, Cody Messer and Isaac Green from Clinton-Massie, and Marcos Torres-Garcia and Dylan Fawley of Blanchester.
Blanchester graduate Chris Oliver, who has led the Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders football team to the NAIA national tournament again this year, will be the keynote speaker.
Eight football players, two offensive or defensive down linemen from each of the Clinton County high school teams, are nominated each year by their respective coaches for the honor. The winner receives a block of granite award, which is similar to the one awarded to the top collegiate lineman each year.
The block of granite is in reference to Lombardi’s playing days as a lineman for Fordham University. The unit was so strong they were called “seven blocks of granite.”
The collegiate award was started shortly after the death of Vince Lombardi, legendary NFL coach of the Green Bay Packers and, at the time of his death, the Washington Redskins.
Lombardi passed away in September 1970. Clinton County’s involvement with the award started in 1973, when former Wilmington News Journal sports editor Clarence Graham and local businessman Harold Losey served as the co-chairpersons. At that time, the event was held at the Bengal Room at Duff’s Restaurant and was later held at the Wilmington Elks Lodge 797 and Roberts Arena, until moving to the Expo Center in recent years.
Those attending will receive a buffet meal from McCoy’s Catering. Each of the four booster clubs from the Clinton County schools, plus Beacon Orthopedics and Drayer Physical Therapy, assist in underwriting the cost of the event for the players, coaches and their families.
The public is welcome to attend and can purchase a dinner ticket for $15 at the door the night of the event.
