Nick Reveiz nominated for Allstate AFCA Good Works Team

Tennessee's athletic department, which has seen so much negative publicity in the last year, gets some positive news today:  senior linebacker Nick Reveiz is one of 57 FBS nominees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.  At the end of the year, 11 of those nominees will be selected for the 2010 Good Works Team, an honor given to college athletes who excel in community service.  Since the award began in 1992, the SEC leads the nation with 52 players selected to the 18 Good Works teams, and this year Reveiz is joined by John Michael Boswell of Alabama, Jeff Demps of Florida, Alcoa native Randall Cobb of Kentucky, Jerrell Powe of Ole Miss, and Cliff Matthews of South Carolina as the SEC's nominees.

Reveiz is a former walk-on who earned the starting MLB job last year on Monte Kiffin's defense, until a knee injury ended his season in late September.  He returns for his senior year where he is again projected to start in the middle, despite his smaller frame (generously listed at 5"10" 224). 

Reveiz is also one of the leaders on this team, playing a key role on and off the field as Derek Dooley and Tennessee try to produce not only wins, but an impact on the culture of the program.  Reveiz has done his part by, among others:

• Participating in the Kids Carnival Dance Marathon, where he danced with cancer survivors and took a pie in the face to raise money for the cause 
• Purchased, wrapped and delivered Christmas gifts to needy children and families through the Teams for Toys program
• Regularly supports the importance of the development of local youth through speaking engagements

Despite all the negative stories we've heard in the last year, there are still good things happening in Tennessee's athletic department, on and off the field, and Reveiz is a big part of both.  For more on the award and to see the full list of nominees, check out the press release here.  For more on Reveiz, check out the feature story by Josh Ward in our Rocky Top Tennessee 2010 annual.