blacksaint

Glenn Guilbeau
gguilbeau@gannett.com

BATON ROUGE - Four cities in seven days, four national awards and four suits.
LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey did, won and wore it all.

"It was a total of four different suits," said Sandra Dorsey, the mother of the most decorated and perhaps well-dressed defensive player in LSU history who made all four legs of her son's tour. "I thought he looked great each time."

Only tailback Billy Cannon, who won LSU's only Heisman Trophy and a host of other awards in 1959, has won more hardware than Dorsey, a senior from East Ascension High Gonzales.

"I am truly humbled to accept this award tonight," Dorsey said when he won award No. 1 - the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for the nation's best defensive player - on Monday, Dec. 3 in Charlotte, N.C.

"To be considered by someone else to be the best defensive player in the country means a lot," he said. "There are a lot of great athletes out there that work hard, and I am grateful for the opportunity to represent them."

But Dorsey was just getting started.

*It was off to Houston on Wednesday, Dec. 5, to pick up the Rotary Lombardi Award for the nation's best interior lineman on offense or defense.

*A trip to Orlando, Fla., was next on Thursday, Dec. 6, as he won the Outland Trophy for the nation's best interior lineman on offense or defense.

*Then the final stop was on Dec. 9 in Los Angeles, where Dorsey won the Ronnie Lott Trophy, which honors the defensive impact player of the year both on and off the field.

"I have to give all the credit to my teammates and coaches because without them and what we've done on the field as a unit, these awards would not be possible," Dorsey said.

At each stop, Dorsey also thanked his mother.

"Without her, I would not be here," said Dorsey, who struggled to walk as an infant and had to wear leg braces until he was 3 years old. His father, also named Glenn Dorsey, played at East Ascension High, too.

"He wanted to play and really loved it," Mrs. Dorsey said. "By the time he started playing junior varsity, I thought he was going to be pretty good. And his father was good."

But she never thought her son's talent would have her jetting around the country.

"It was very exciting for Glenn and for me," Mrs. Dorsey said. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I know for me, I got to take my first flight. I had never been in an airplane. I was pretty nervous, but I wouldn't let my son see it. And then for Glenn to win everywhere we went. He was really excited and happy to have me with him."

Both of the traveling Dorseys were put aback that he won so much.

"I was really surprised," Mrs. Dorsey said. "Every mother thinks their child is special, but I was really shocked at how many people across the country thought he was so good. We knew we had the support of Louisiana, but all the other places! It was amazing."

And Dorsey put together his season of 64 tackles with 11.5 for losses, six sacks, four quarterback hurries and four pass breakups on one of the nation's best defenses while injured for the second half of the season.

"Oh my goodness, he's been hurt," Mrs. Dorsey said. "Can you imagine if he would've been full speed the whole time?"

Dorsey, plagued by knee and back injuries, is expected to be back at 100 percent by Jan. 7 when No. 2 LSU (11-2) plays No. 1 Ohio State (11-1) for the BCS national championship in New Orleans.

"He's feeling better, but he's been so busy," his mother said. "He hasn't been able to come home. As soon as we got back from the trips, he had exams."

Most exams ended Friday with some remaining today. The Tigers then begin practice on Monday.

"I'm hoping he can come home this weekend," she said. "I'm very proud of him for the way he handles himself. He's a big football player, but he talks to everybody. He always has time for everyone. He's not rude. I like that about him."

The Daily Advertiser - www.theadvertiser.com - Lafayette, LA

"Can you say #1 overall pick, nice job Big Glenn. CONGRAGULATIONS and GOOD LUCK.

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