Shipley named to Rimington Trophy Watch List

Penn State Sports Information A. Q. Shipley

University Park, Pa. — Penn State’s A.Q. Shipley (Coraopolis) has been named to the Watch List  for the Rimington Trophy, presented to the nation’s top center.

A rising senior, Shipley is one of just three Big Ten players under consideration among the initial list of 42 candidates.

Recently voted a team co-captain for the upcoming season, the pre-season recognition is Shipley’s third thus far for the 2008 campaign. He previously was named to the Watch Lists for the Rotary Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy.

A starter in all 26 games the past two seasons, Shipley anchors the offensive line. A hard-working leader, he has used his skills, tenacity and competitive nature to become one the top offensive linemen in the Big Ten. Shipley was recognized by the conference coaches with his selection as the 2007 first-team All-Big Ten center. The former Moon Area High School standout was selected to the 2007 ESPN.com All-Bowl Team after the Nittany Lions ran for a season-high 270 yards in the 24-17 win over Texas A&M in the Valero Alamo Bowl. He also made his first career reception against the Aggies, rumbling for four yards after snaring a deflected pass. He saw action on 997 snaps last season, fourth-highest on the team.

Shipley is a labor and industrial relations major and is on schedule to graduate in December.

The nine-year old Rimington Trophy is named after former Nebraska center Dave Rimington and is presented by the Boomer Esiason Foundation. Since its inception, the Rimington Trophy has raised more than $1.3 million for the award's benefactor, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which is hosted by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, that to date has raised over $65 million for CF research.

The winner will be honored at the Rimington Trophy Presentation banquet at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Neb. on January 17, 2009.

In his 43rd season as head coach, Joe Paterno's squad returns 16 starters (8 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists) from last year's 9-4 squad. The Nittany Lions were ranked No. 25 in the final USA Today Coaches poll, earning their 33rd Top 25 finish under Paterno. Penn State has won 31 of its last 40 games, tied for eighth-best record in the nation over that span.