August 25, 2005- Watch List Announcement

October 20, 2005 - Semifinalist Announcement

November 10, 2005 - Thursday -Finalists List Announcement "Tailgate Party"
Announcement of the three Finalists, will be at a national teleconference on November 10th. Mark your calendars now and save the date. This years announement will be at the Orange County Regional History Center, 65 East Central Boulevard in downtown Orlando. After a luncheon buffet and networking, you'll be on hand as the Butkus Award ® Committee publicly announces the names of the three Finalists for this year's Butkus Award ® for the first time. Then, we'll join our players and their head coaches for a live interview via teleconference and hear questions from national sports media from around the country. Come see your DACO friends and be the first in the country to find out which Finalists will be coming to Orlando for the 21th annual Butkus Award ® Gala and all the events surrounding the announcement of the 2005 winner this December!

Registration and networking will begin at 11:30 am. The program will begin around 12:30 pm following a buffet lunch. There will be limited parking on the surrounding streets, but there is a city parking garage on the next block, opposite the Orange County Main Library.

Plan to bring your friends and associates with you to this exciting announcement. Reserve your seats by sending your completed form (click here for form) to the DACO office by email to Dacoreservations@hotmail.com, fax 407-788-7408 or calling 407-774-7813 by Tuesday, Nov. 8th.

December 9, 2005 - Friday - Butkus Award® Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament (To Learn more Click Here)
We will be celebrating our 21th Anniversary at this year's Butkus Award Gala on Friday, December 9th. This annual event helps to support the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando's College Scholarship Foundation, through which the DACO has awarded more than 25 four-year full-tuition scholarships to worthy Central Florida scholar-athletes over the past 21 years. This year's tournament at the Grand Cypress Golf Club will begin with a buffet lunch and photos with the 2005 Butkus Award (R) Finalists and some of our past winners before a 1:00 pm shotgun start. Prizes and awards will be presented at the 19th Hole reception following play.

We are offering a "lunch-only" ticket before the Golf Tournament on Friday beginning at 12:30 pm for non-golfers and fans who can't attend the Gala but want a chance to meet the Finalists and enjoy a delicious "Carolina Barbecue" buffet lunch at the renowned Black Swan restaurant at the Grand Cypress Golf Club. Reservations must be made in advance and prepaid ($60 per person); seating is limited on a first-come, first-served basis. Please visit www.ButkusAward.golfreg.com and click on "Register" to reserve seats.

December 10, 2005 - Saturday - Butkus Award^® Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation
The evening's festivities will begin at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort with a cocktail reception and Silent Auction which will benefit our DACO Scholarship Foundation, followed by the black-tie Gala dinner and the Awards Presentation Ceremony. 1993 Butkus Award (R) winner and television sportscaster Trev Albert's will serve as master of ceremonies. Each of the three finalists will be honored along with their head coaches and families. The highlight of the evening will be the announcement of the 2005 Butkus Award (R) winner and the presentation of the Butkus Award (R) trophy. For Gala ticket information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact the DACO office at 407-774-7813 or email Dacoreservations@hotmail.com. Winner announced