United Athletic Conference

Eric Arnold-Rice

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Howser Release.pdf

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, working in Association with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, has released the list of 40 semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, given to the top player in collegiate baseball. Rice senior second baseman Eric Arnold was named to the list. Arnold is hitting .351 and leads the WAC with 60 RBI. The second-ranked Owls are 39-9 on the year.

The membership of the NCBWA will choose the Dick Howser Trophy based on three rounds of voting. The 2002 winner will announced at the College World Series in Omaha on Friday, June 14 at 9:30 a.m. CDT.

The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major league player and manager who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded by many as college baseball's most prestigious award.

Criteria for consideration for the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser's life.

A Florida native, Howser was twice an All-America shortstop at Florida State University (1957-58), then coached the Seminoles in 1979 after a career as a major league player and coach. After one year in the college ranks, Howser returned to the majors to manage the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals and won the World Series with the Royals in 1985. The baseball stadium on the Florida State campus is named for Howser.

The winner's name is inscribed on the permanent trophy, a bronze bust of Howser permanently displayed at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, home of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the 1999 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four. Both the winner and his school receive a special trophy to keep.

The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce is in its 103rd year of existence in 2002. The organization has long been a vital force in the baseball affairs of the city, both in spring training and during the pursuit of a major league baseball franchise for the Tampa Bay area, and continues its solid role in the 21st Century.

NCBWA membership includes writers, broadcasters and publicists. Designed to promote and publicize college baseball, it is the sport's only college media-related organization, founded in 1962.

The Howser Trophy was created in 1987, shortly after Howser's death. Previous winners of the Howser Trophy are Mike Fiore, Miami, 1987; Robin Ventura, Oklahoma State, 1988; Scott Bryant, Texas, 1989; Alex Fernandez, Miami-Dade Community College South, 1990; Frank Rodriguez, Howard College (Texas), 1991; Brooks Kieschnick, Texas, 1992 and 1993; Jason Varitek, Georgia Tech, 1994; Todd Helton, Tennessee, 1995; Kris Benson, Clemson, 1996; J. D. Drew, Florida State, 1997; Eddy Furniss, LSU, 1998; Jason Jennings, Baylor, 1999; Mark Teixeira, Georgia Tech, 2000; and Mark Prior, P, USC, 2001.

2002 DICK HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS
Russ Adams, SS, North Carolina
Eric Arnold, 2B, Rice
Jeff Baker, 3B, Clemson
Kyle Bakker, SP, Georgia Tech
Ryan Barthelemy, UT/ATH, Florida State
Adam Berry, OF, UCLA
Ryan Bicandoa, SP, Western Kentucky
Jeremy Brown, C, Alabama
Whit Bryant, UT/ATH, Elon
Matt Buckmiller, OF, Columbia
Bryan Bullington, SP, Ball State
Dave Bush, RP, Wake Forest
David Castillo, C, Oral Roberts
Vito Chiaravallotti, OF, Richmond
Jason Cooper, OF, Stanford
Chad Cordero, RP, Cal State Fullerton
Lance Cormier, SP, Alabama
Jesse Crain, UT/ATH, Houston
Nat Gold, 1B, Gonzaga
Khalil Greene, SS, Clemson
Conor Jackson, 1B, California
Mark Jurich, OF, Louisville
James Jurries, 2B, Tulane
Ryan Kenning, OF, New Mexico State
Mark Kiger, SS, Florida
Chris Maples, UT/ATH, North Carolina
John McCurdy, UT/ATH, Maryland
Drew Meyer, SS, South Carolina
Scooter Michael, SP, UNC Greensboro
Pat OBrien, C, Kent State
Chris ORiordan, 2B, Stanford
Yaron Peters, SS, South Carolina
Royce Ring, RP, San Diego State
Justin Simmons, SP, Texas
Kyle Sleeth, SP, Wake Forest
Steve Stanley, OF, Notre Dame
Tim Stauffer, SP, Richmond
Brad Sullivan, SP, Houston
Blake Taylor, RP, South Carolina
Rickie Weeks, 2B, Southern