Brian Gegner thought his position coach was going to razz him about injuring

his toe in practice when Trevor Miller called him to the front of the bus after practice on Tuesday night. Instead, Miller and USF Head Coach Kevin Donley delivered a special message.

Gegner had been named NAIA Rimington Award winner becoming just the second USF center to win the prestigious honor as the best center in NAIA.

"This a tremendous honor for Brian, who has worked hard to be the best center for our team," USF Head Coach Kevin Donley said.

Gegner, 6-foot-2, 265-pounds, was recently named Mid-States Football Association all-conference first-team center. He is an Indianapolis, Ind., native and a Warren Central High School graduate.

"He's a very smart player," USF Offensive Line Coach Trevor Miller said. "For centers, not only do they have to worry about playing, he has to point out other linemen's assignments, knowing front, and is more responsible and needs to know our opponent better than anybody else. Without a doubt, he knows what we're facing week in and week out and does a great job at it. I am so happy for him. He's played a lot of different positions here."

Early in his career at USF, he played guard and tackle, but entering his junior year Miller said he settled in at center and has started in 25 consecutive at center.

"Very happy he's recognized as best in the country," Miller said. "You have to be a certain mindset and he just kind of grew into it. It's a great reward for an outstanding man who is the backbone of the offensive line. He's very good at picking things up quickly. He has to be more mentally prepared than everyone else."

Gegner was nearly coached by Sherman, who won the honor in 2004, but Sherman, now head coach at Greenfield Central, moved into the collegiate ranks before Gegner got to WCHS.

"He coached my older brother (Michael) at Warren and my brother said he was the best coach he ever had," Gegner said.

"I know (this award) is one that all centers strive for and in the back of my mind coach Donley told me about it," Gegner said. "Obviously team comes first and winning trumps everything, but as an individual award it is very humbling to receive the award and I'm very proud to represent Saint Francis. I couldn't have done it without coach Donley and especially coach Miller, who is the best O line coach I've ever had and taught me so much and I'll be able to carry that into coaching next year."

The Rimington Award is presented to the premier centers in the FCS, Division II, Division III, and NAIA divisions. It is named in honor of former Nebraska center Dave Rimington, the only two-time winner of the Outland Trophy.

Russell and Rimington presented the idea to Boomer Esiason, Rimington's former Bengal teammate and longtime friend. They suggested that the Boomer Esiason Foundation sponsor the Trophy, which would be awarded to Division I-A college football's most outstanding center.

The relationship between the Boomer Esiason Foundation and the Trophy was a perfect fit. Esiason and Rimington had remained close friends since they played together with the Bengals with Rimington eventually becoming the President of BEF, the Foundation founded after Esiason's son, Gunnar, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis in 1993. Under Rimington's leadership, the Foundation has raised over $115 million.