Around The Game

LoVecchio named to O'Brien watch list\nIU senior quarterback Matt LoVecchio has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2004 Davey O'Brien National Quarterbacks Award. The award, named for former All-American and Heisman Trophy winner O'Brien, is awarded annually to the nation's top quarterback.\nLoVecchio, who transferred from Notre Dame after his sophomore season, started 11 games for the Hoosiers last season missing only the Minnesota game because of a concussion. He passed for 1,778 yards and three touchdowns and led IU's last-minute winning drive against Illinois last season, diving into the end zone as the final seconds ticked off the clock.\nLoVecchio burst onto the college and national scene as a freshman at Notre Dame, becoming the first Irish freshman to start at quarterback in nine years for the storied program. Under his guidance, the Irish won seven straight games and earned a berth in the 2000 Fiesta Bowl. \nLoVecchio is one of only four quarterbacks from the Big Ten to make the list. He joins Illinois' Jon Beutjer, Penn State's Zack Mills and Purdue's Kyle Orton.\nThere are currently 42 college signal callers on the list, The number will be trimmed down as semifinalists will be announced in early November and further narrowed down to three later in the month. Nationally known sportswriters, commentators and other members of the media vote, and the winner will be announced Dec. 9 during the ESPN College Football Awards Show.