Greetings, readers! It's a bit overdue, but the final tallies have been reached and I'm pleased to introduce you to the 2008 All-Hairmerican team. This is the third annual installment of this prestigious awards ceremony, and I think that the great success of the alumni of this distinctive honor speaks volumes toward the integrity and great achievement of this award. You can familiarize yourself with past winners by perusing the archives (the 2005 class and 2006 classes can be viewed here) and join me in congratulating these fine young men on their achievements.
Without further ado, here's this year's recipients of this wonderful trophy:
Quarterback
- Colt Brennan, Hawaii
Coming from a long tradition of All-Hairmericans (Brennan is the 4th University of Hawaii player to receive the honor), Brennan is the first non-Samoan to take home the honor for the Warriors with his Hawaiian-islands-inspired hairdo.
- Jameel Sewell, Virginia (Mascot Similarity Award)
Sewell earns double All-Hairmerican honors, also pulling down the inagural Rocky Boiman Award, for "great achievement in a hairstyle that most accurately depicts his team's mascot". The wispy stache and slick hair make Sewell the spitting image of a Cavalier.
Running Backs
- Jason Laumoli, Hawaii (Two-Time Winner)
The first ever two-time All-Hairmerican, Laumoli continues to demonstrate the rugged domination that Hawaii has over the category with his free-flowing Samoan mane.
- Yvenson Bernard, Oregon State
Coming from the Hairmerican-rich Pac 10, Bernard ignited the competition both with his rushing ability as well as his crazy dreads and chinstrap beard.
Fullbacks
- Owen Schmitt, West Virginia
A true inspiration for aspiring Hairmericans, the former walk-on exhibited in-your-face power, a total disregard for bodily safety, and true grit and determination that matches the awesomeness of his mohawk.
- Michael Lose, Boise State
Giving up the spotlight to his buzz-cutted teammate Ian Johnson, Lose was the man behind it all, throwing dangerous blocks and basking in a long, untamed head of hair.
Wide Receivers
- Jason Sherman, USF (Hairsman Trophy Winner)
While the Bulls had a great season full of surprises, nothing was more surprising than the awesome caveman hairdo that Jason Sherman rocked. Sherman is also the winner of the newly-founded All-Hairmerican Heisman, or the "Hairmericheisman", as it is colloquially (albeit unpopularly) known as.
- Kevin Challenger, Boston College
Challenger provided the sole highlight of the ACC Championship game in Jacksonville when he took it upon himself to carve the broadcasting station's logo into his melon. His efforts did not go unrewarded by the Hairmerican selection committee, who voted him in by adulation by chanting his name three times.
Tight Ends
- Logan Paulsen, UCLA
In a down year for tight end Hairmericans, Paulsen set the gold standard with his long blonde locks.
- Ben Ladner, Stanford
Ladner has a tireless blonde hairdo, but he was the last player to be narrowly voted in, mostly because the committee has suspicions that he's wearing a wig or on some other hairdo-enhancing supplement.
Offensive Line
- Chet Teofilo, Cal
Hair freaking everywhere and a mile-long shit-eating grin, Chet Teofilo is the reason why the All-Hairmerican selection committee loves their job so much. A no-brainer if there ever was one, we are honored to have Chet on board.
- Paul Fanaika, Arizona State
A bushy shrub of hair exploding from the back of his helmet, Fanaika has the honor of being the very first All-Hairmerican selected this year, nearly unanimously earning the honor on the very first ballot.
- Duke Robinson, Oklahoma
A huge beard and a long head of hair, Robinson made a late-season campaign to surge into the ranks of All-Hairmerican lore.
- Micah Kia, UCLA
A true late-bloomer. Kia's official picture on the UCLA website shows a fairly sedate, pulled-back haircut. It's only when he got onto the field that his full blossom was revealed. An under-the-radar pick that paid big dividends.
Allright, kids, that's all for the offense. The defensive All-Hairmericans
are viewable here.