When Dominic Raiola was awarded the first Rimington Trophy as the nation's best center in 2000, Dave Rimington remembers feeling a bit of anxiety. He was concerned fans might think the process was fixed.
After all, Rimington is a former Husker great and passionate alum, and Raiola starred for the Big Red.
Eighteen years later, it's obvious there was no fix. Raiola played 14 seasons in the NFL, and no Nebraska center since him has won the award, a drought that surprises Rimington.
"Before I started playing at Nebraska (in 1979), they had great centers like Rik Bonness, Tom Davis, Doug Dumler and Kelly Saalfeld," Rimington said Friday.