July 1, 2008

North Carolina standouts Rachel Dawson and Tyler Hansbrough are two of the six finalists for 2008 ESPY awards, presented by ESPN to the best collegiate athletes. Dawson led the Tar Heel field hockey team to an undefeated record and 2007 national championship and was named National Player of the Year. Hansbrough also won National Player of the Year honors after leading UNC to a school-record 36 wins, ACC championship and Final Four.

The 16th annual ESPYs will be hosted by Justin Timberlake, who will be joined by an all-star lineup of top athletes and entertainers to celebrate the best sports stories of the year. The two-hour event will move to the new NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE, a world-class 7,100-seat venue located across the street from STAPLES Center in downtown Los Angeles. The 2008 ESPYs will be televised July 20 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Fan voting for the ESPYs runs through 11:59 p.m. ET on July 12, and The 2008 ESPYs will be televised Sunday, July 20, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN HD. In addition,for the fifth consecutive year, fans will determine the winners in 37 categories (excluding special awards) by voting online at www.espys.tv and, for the first time, via mobile phone at www.espn.mobi. Last year, more than 12.5 million votes were tabulated.

BEST MALE COLLEGE ATHLETE

Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina Basketball Named 2007-08 Collegiate Player of the Year by The Associated Press, the NABC, the USBWA ... Won Wooden Award and Naismith Award ... Averaged 22.6 ppg., 10.2 rpg. and 54 field goal percentage.

Tim Tebow, Florida Football Heisman Trophy winner... Became the first college football player to throw for 20+ touchdowns and run for 20+ touchdowns in the same season ... Threw 32 touchdown passes and only six interceptions in 2007 ... completed 67 percent of his pass attempts.

Michael Beasley, Kansas State Basketball Finished third in Division I in scoring (26.2 ppg.) and first in rebounding (12.4 rpg.) during 2007-08 season ... Had 30+ points and 10+ rebounds on 13 occasions during season ... Drafted #2 overall by the Miami Heat.

BEST FEMALE COLLEGE ATHLETE was also named ACC Tournament MVP.

Rachel Dawson

Rachel Dawson, North Carolina Field Hockey National Player of the Year ... She led the Tar Heels in goals this year with 19, captaining her team to the NCAA title and a 24-0 season ... Named ACC Defensive Player of the Year for the second time, the two-time All-America

Candace Parker, Tennessee Basketball Led Tennessee Lady Vols to back-to-back NCAA championships ... Averaged 21.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.4 blocks and 2.3 steals in 38 games during 2007-08 season while leading her team to a 36-2 record.

Angela Tincher, Virginia Tech Softball The pitcher finished career third on all-time NCAA strikeout list ... Led her team to its first-ever NCAA College World Series this year after a 38-10 season in which she maintained the nation's lowest ERA (0.63), with a nation-leading 13.8 strikeouts per seven innings.