Jewish Badger Named Best Lineman

Congratulations to Gabe Carimi, this year’s winner of the Outland Trophy, which is given to college football’s best interior lineman (on either side of the ball). A Jewish kid from the Badger State, Carimi played at the all-important left tackle position, a crucial role in the bruising offense that rushed for 239.9 yards and gave up fewer than one sack per game; three times scored 70 or more points; and carried the Badgers to an 11-1 record, a Big Ten title, and a Rose Bowl berth.

If drafted (or, rather, when drafted—the best left tackle tends to get drafted), Carimi will join the elite fraternity of professional Jewish offensive linemen, which currently includes Lennie Friedman of the Cleveland Browns, Kyle Kosier of the Dallas Cowboys, Adam Goldberg of the St. Louis Rams, and Geoff Schwartz of the Carolina Panthers.

But first, the favored team of such Jewish luminaries as Sen. Herb Kohl, Rabbi Andy Bachman, and your humble blogger, meets Texas Christian University on New Year’s Day in Pasadena. On, Wisconsin!

Gabe Carimi Wins Outland Trophy [Orlando Sentinel]