Aug. 15, 2003
Georgia Tech center Hugh Reilly, the leader of the Tech offensive line, was named today to the preseason watch list for the Dave Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to the nation’s top center.
A senior from Roswell, Ga., Reilly is also a preseason all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection by several publications. He enters his third season as a starter on the Tech front line, moving last year to center after starting at guard in 2001. Reilly is the centerpiece of an offensive line that returns four starters.
“You never underestimate the importance of your center,” said Tech head coach Chan Gailey of the 6-4, 285-pound Reilly. “He makes a ton a calls, so he’s in charge. He handles the ball every play. That’s almost immeasurable. He’s very important, and he’s a good leader for us.”
The Rimington Trophy recipient is determined by a consensus of the four All-America teams: The Walter Camp Football Foundation, America Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, and “The Sporting News.”
The four-year old trophy (Nebraska’s Dominic Raiola, Ohio State’s LeCharles Bentley, and Miami’s Brett Romberg are past recipients) is presented by Canon, USA and Black & Decker. The award is hosted by the Boomer Esiason Foundation. Esiason, who created his foundation in 1993 to support research and treatment of cystic fibrosis, and Dave Rimington were teammates on the Cincinnati Bengals from 1984-87. Rimington, the award’s namesake, was a consensus first-team All-America center at Nebraska in 1981 and ’82, years in which he became the John Outland Trophy’s only double winner as the nation’s premiere college interior lineman.
With fall semester classes beginning Monday and the season opener less than two weeks away, the Yellow Jackets’ final day of two-a-day practices is Friday.
“You shouldn’t even call this two-a-days,” Gailey joked after Friday’s morning session, referring to new NCAA legislation that prevents two-a-days on consecutive days. “It’s every-other-days.”
The Jackets continue preseason drills with workouts scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday at Rose Bowl Field.
PLEASE NOTE: Beginning Monday, Aug. 18, Georgia Tech’s practices will be closed to the public.
