There hasn't been much to celebrate with the UConn football team in the last year or so, but after a three-win season they have a new coach in Bob Diaco, a fresh outlook on the future, and about three months to tie it all together before the first game of the 2014 season. But there was also this good news, delivered Monday: UConn senior center Alex Mateas has been named to the 2014 Spring Watch List by the Rimington Trophy Committee. The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the best center in the FBS.
More details via the press release:
Since its inception, the Rimington Trophy has raised over $2.5 million for the cystic fibrosis community. The 14-year-old award is overseen by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.
Mateas started all 12 games for the Huskies at center in 2013 - one of three Huskies to do that on the offensive line and the only returning player for '14. He started the first four games and the last one for the Huskies in 2012 for a total of 17 career starts.
Mateas is a two-time member of the Big East/American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.
The award is named after Dave Rimington, was a consensus first-team All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and `82, during which time he became the Outland Trophy's only double winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman.
The winner will be recognized at the Rimington Trophy Presentation in Lincoln, Neb. on Saturday, January 17, 2014.
The Huskies' regular season begins Aug. 29 vs. BYU.
