Brian Smith, a University of Missouri defensive end, has been named a 2006 Rotary Lombardi Award semi-finalist. Smith, who holds the MU career sack record with 31.5, is one of 12 semi-finalists for the award that goes to college football’s best lineman on either offense or defense. Linebackers apply too.

There could be other sack records to fall before Smith is done in Columbia. He already tied the school’s single-game record earlier this year with four against New Mexico. Smith only needs three more sacks to rewrite the Big 12 Conference career mark of 34, set by Texas Tech’s Aaron Hunt (1999-2002).

The list will be narrowed down to four finalists and announced Nov. 7th. The award will be presented Dec. 6th in Houston, Texas.

The other 11 semi-finalists include DE Gaines Adams of Clemson, OT Justin Blalock of Texas, DE Mkristo Bruce of Washington State, LB Buster Davis of Florida State, DE Quentin Moses of Georgia, OT Dan Mozes of West Virginia, DT Quinn Pitock of Ohio State, LB Paul Posluzny of Penn State, OT Joe Thomas of Wisconsin, LB Patrick Willis of Mississippi, and DE LaMarr Woodley of Michigan.

Related web sites:
Rotary Lombardi Award Official Site

The champagne stayed on ice, and so did the NLCS as rookie John Maine pitched the Mets to a 4-2 win over the Cardinals Wednesday. The series now comes down to a win-or-go-home Game 7 Thursday.

Maine escaped trouble early, putting runners on second and third in the first inning with only one out. He made quick work of Jim Edmonds – striking him out on three pitches – before hitting Juan Encarnacion and loading the bases. Scott Rolen fouled off a few pitches working a 2-2 count then flied out to end the inning. Maine was removed from the game after shutting the Redbirds out on two hits and striking out five over 5 1/3 innings.

Jose Reyes helped the Mets release any nervous energy hitting a leadoff home run in the first.

New York added another run in the fourth when Shawn Green singled in Carlos Beltran. The lead stretched to 4-0 on a Paul Lo Duca two-run single in the seventh.

The Cardinals had some success against Mets closer Billy Wagner in the ninth. Encarnacion led off the inning with a single followed by a Rolen double that put runners in scoring position again. Wagner retired the next two hitters, but surrendered a two-run double to So Taguchi that cut the lead to 4-2. David Eckstein came to the plate representing the tying run but grounded out to end the game.

Maine’s brilliant effort was a necessity especially going against Chris Carpenter, last year’s NL Cy Young award winner. Carpenter allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings.

Jeff Suppan is scheduled to start for the Cardinals in tonight’s series finale. He won Game 3 tossing eight scoreless innings.

Oliver Perez, who won Game 4, should get the nod for the Mets.