Staley Named Doak Walker Award Semifinalist

DALLAS -- The SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors today announced eight semifinalists for the 2001 Doak Walker Award. The annual award has recognized the top running back in college football since 1990.

The semifinalists (in alphabetical order) are:

Anthony Davis; Wisconsin (Sophomore)

DeShaun Foster; UCLA (Senior)

Ennis Haywood; Iowa State (Senior)

Leonard Henry; East Carolina (Senior)

Larry Ned; San Diego State (Senior)

Bruce Perry; Maryland (Sophomore)

Lucas Staley; BYU (Junior)

Travis Stephens; Tennessee (Senior)

"We're very excited about the group of young men who are Doak Walker Award semifinalists," says Randall Goss, Chairman of the SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors, "and also we congratulate all of the candidates who were nominated by their schools."

The 153 members of the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast their votes later in the month to determine the 2001 winner. College football fans also have an opportunity to play a role. By logging on to ESPN.com anytime between November 9 and noon (CST) on Thursday, November 15, fans may cast their votes for this year's winner. The results of the ESPN.com poll will count as one official vote.

On Tuesday, November 27, three finalists will be named, and, on Thursday, December 6, the winner of the 2001 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

The award will be presented at the 2001 Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet in Dallas on Tuesday, January 29, 2002. Former Dallas Cowboy and 1976 Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett, who was selected last month to receive the 2001 PricewaterhouseCoopers Doak Walker Legends Award, will also be honored at the banquet.

STALEY NOTES

Junior running back Luke Staley recorded five more touchdowns on Thursday (vs. Colorado State) to become BYU's all-time, career touchdown leader. Staley, who has tallied 22 touchdowns on the season, broke Waymon Hamilton's 20-year-old single-seaso record (16) on one of his more spectacular touchdown carries to date. Staley captured the record on an eight-yard run, dragging two SDSU defenders into the endzone, giving the Cougars a commanding 52-21 lead midway through the fourth quarter.A week later, Staley became the career touchdown leader after tying the record (40) on a 44-yard run to give BYU a 28-21 lead in the second quarter against Colorado State. One quarter later, Staley broke loose for a 20-yard score to set the record. With 22 touchdowns on the season, Staley has totaled 42 throughout his career. The 6-foot-2, 225 pound running back currently leads the nation in both scoring, averaging 16.2 points per game. Staley has tallied at least one touchdown in every game he has played this season and with his first TD against Colorado State, has produced at least one touchdown in 20 of the 27 games he has played at BYU, including multiple-scoring games in 12 different outings. Staley has twice turned in career-high five-touchdowns this season, equaling the BYU record for most TDs scored in a game. Staley turned in 207 yards rushing against Utah State to become the first BYU back to total 200+ yards rushing in a game since Ronney Jenkins posted 250 yards against San Jose State in 1998.

STALEY QUICK FACTS

* Leads the nation in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game

* Leads the nation in rushing yards per carry, averaging 9.1 yards per touch

* Ranks 8th nationally in yards per game, averaging 136.5 yards per contest

* Has tallied 12 multiple-scoring games over his career

* Has produced at least one touchdown in 20-of-27 career games.

* Named MWC Player of the Week after posting 207 yards and five TDs against USU.

* Named MWC Player of the Week after posting 196 yards and five TDs against CSU.

* Has 2,003 career rushing yards

* Has 1,092 yards rushing this season - a career high.

* Has produced 252 career points

STALEY RECORD WATCH

* Tied BYU single-game record with 30 points (vs. Utah State; vs. Colorado State)

* Tied a school record with five touchdowns (vs. Utah State; vs. Colorado State)

* Set BYU single-season touchdown record with 22 TDs (2001)

* Set BYU single-game record with 14.2 yards per carry (vs. Tulane; 10-for-142)

* Set BYU single-season (non-kicker) scoring record with 132 points scored

* On pace to set single-season yards per carry record, averaging 9.1 y/c

* Needs just 294 yards to become BYU's single-season rushing leader

* Needs just 967 to become all-time leading rusher

* Became BYU's first 1,000-yd rusher since 1998 (Jenkins; 1,411)

* Needs 81 points to become BYU's all-time leading scorer

* Became BYU's all-time (non-kicker) leading scorer (252)