Aug. 24, 2000

NEW ORLEANS -- Tulane senior linebacker Jerry Phillips, a New Orleans native and three-year stalwart as the Green Wave's middle linebacker, was one of 70 players nationwide named to the Butkus AwardŽ Watch List Thursday by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. (DACO), the organization which annually presents the prestigious award to the nation's best collegiate linebacker.

Phillips ranked second on the Green Wave squad with 97 tackles in 10 games in 1999. He made 53 solo stops, four tackles for loss and tallied one quarterback sack. He totalled 10 or more tackles in a game six times, including four straight games. Over the last two seasons, he has made more tackles than any other Tulane defender.

Phillips was one of 70 players named to the Butkus Award Watch List, which serves as a preliminary list of candidates for the 28 voters for the award. The Watch List will be trimmed to 10 semi-finalists on October 19 and three finalists will be announced November 9.

Phillips led the Tulane defense through the final day of two-a-day practices this fall on Thursday. The Green Wave will practice once each on Friday and Saturday before beginning regular game-week preparation on Monday. Tulane takes on Ole Miss in its 2000 season-opener on Sept. 2 in Oxford, Miss. Kickoff time for the game, which will be televised by JP Sports, is 11:30 a.m.