Pitt RB Lewis named semifinalist for the Maxwell Award

The Maxwell Football Club today announced that Pitt freshman running back Dion Lewis and coach Dave Wannstedt are semifinalists for two of its most prestigious college football honors.

Lewis is one of 16 players named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award, given to the College Player of the Year, while Wannstedt is one of 15 semifinalists for the George Munger Award, which is presented to the College Coach of the Year.

Finalists for the respective awards will be announced on Nov. 23. Voting for finalists will be done by Maxwell Football Club members, college head coaches, sports information directors and select national media members.

The 2009 Maxwell Award winner will be announced as part of the “Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show” on Dec. 10.

Pitt/Penn State Buzz

Courtesy of Mike Vukovcan at KDKA Sports, Tom Dienhart of Rivals.com recently asked Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt, "Do you want to play Penn State every year"?

Wannstedt's answer: "We need to be playing Penn State. I was on the job about a month and I talked to Coach Paterno about it. It probably won't happen until he retires and I understand that. It's his prerogative. But it'll happen. Maybe I won't even be here, either [when it happens]. We should play each other. It's a great, great national in-state rivalry. We should be playing each other. There is no question about that. There probably isn't anyone who would disagree with that."