The Big Ten Conference announced the creation of the Rimington/Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year Award. The award is named after former Nebraska center Dave Rimington and former Ohio State offensive tackle Orlando Pace. A total of 18 trophies were introduced by the conference and are intended to honor just a small sampling of the countless student-athletes and coaches who have contributed to the conference’s rich and storied history. Starting with the 2011 season, the Big Ten will honor its top football student-athletes with these newly named trophies.

“These trophies will honor our legends and leaders for generations to come,” said Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany.  “The names on these trophies are fitting tributes to the hundreds of thousands of student-athletes and coaches whose hard work and dedication have contributed to the legacy of the Big Ten Conference over the past 115 years.”

As the only two-time Outland Trophy winner, the 1982 Lombardi Award winner, a two-time All-American, and three-time All Conference selection, Dave Rimington is considered by many to be the best center in the history of college football. During his final year at the University of Nebraska, Rimington was instrumental in leading the Cornhuskers to a 21-20 victory against Louisiana State University in the 1983 Orange Bowl. He would finish fifth in the 1982 Heisman Trophy race.

Pace broke into the starting lineup at Ohio State on the first day of preseason camp his freshman year and started every game the next three years before passing up his senior season to enter the NFL draft. Pace did not allow a sack in either of his last two years. In 1995, he made college football history by becoming the first sophomore to win the Lombardi Award. As a junior, he again made history by becoming the first two-time winner of that trophy. He also won the Outland Trophy and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting as a junior.