1997 Outland Trophy Award presented to Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Aaron Taylor. The design of the award features a bronze statue of a generic football lineman mounted upon a wood base. Engraved plaques are displayed on three of the four sides of the base. The front plaque reads "Aaron Taylor University of Nebraska 1997," while the two side plaques read, respectively, "Outland Award" and "Sponsored by the Football Writers Association of America." The name of the artist, "Ridion," is engraved on the base of the bronze. The Outland Award, which is presented annually to the best interior lineman in college football, is one of college football's most prestigious awards. The award was first presented in 1949 and past winners have included both NFL Hall of Famers and future Hall of Famers, including Alex Karras, Merlin Olsen, Randy White, Lee Roy Selmon Bruce Smith, Aaron Donald, and Joe Thomas. Aaron Taylor is one of nine Nebraska linemen to win the Outland Award and is the only Nebraska player to receive All-American honors at two different positions (center and guard). This is the first Outland Trophy we have ever offered and we can recall having seen only one other at auction in the past twenty-five years. The offered award entered private hands in 2009 when Taylor was forced to sell it as part of bankruptcy procedures relating to a failed restaurant venture. It has been consigned to this auction directly from the purchaser at the 2009 bankruptcy auction. The trophy (15x8x10") displays only light wear and is in Excellent to Mint condition. Weight: 16 pounds.