(September 1, 2004) - A total of 32 players have been chosen by The Sports Network, I-AA college football??s most widely recognized information service, as official "Payton Watch" and "Buchanan Battle" members. The "Payton Watch" and "Buchanan Battle" pages, which can be found at The Sports Network??s website (www.sportsnetwork.com) keep track of the quest for the 18th Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the top player in I-AA football, and the 10th Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in I-AA. The honors will be presented at the 18th annual I-AA College Football Awards on Thursday, December 16th in Chattanooga, TN, on the eve of the 2004 I-AA National Championship. The Eddie Robinson Award, honoring I-AA??s top coach, and the Sports Network Cup, bestowed upon the nation??s best I-AA mid-major program, will also be presented on Dec. 16th. Fordham senior defensive back Tad Kornegay, the 2004 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, was one of the 32 players named to the ??Buchanan Battle?? list. A 2004 team captain, Kornegay is a two-year starter in the defensive backfield at cornerback. A 2003 First Team All-Patriot League pick, he led the defensive backs with four interceptions and was second on the team with 72 total tackles, 49 solo. He also registered a league-best 17 pass break-ups last year, ninth best in the NCAA I-AA. Earlier this summer, Kornegay was also named a First Team Preseason All-American by CollegeSportsReport.com, The Sports Network and I-AA.org as well as being named the Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team Preseason All-America by Lindy??s Sports Annuals. Kornegay helped the Fordham defense finish the season as the number one ranked passing defense in the Patriot League last year. The official ??Buchanan Battle?? lists will undergo three revisions prior to the distribution of ballots on November 22nd. The first revisions will be announced October 6th, the second November 3rd, and the third just prior to the distribution of ballots. Following are the 32 current members of the ??Buchanan Battle?? list, with additional information on each player, as well as history and facts about each of the I-AA awards, available at www.sportsnetwork.com. ??Buchanan Battle?? Candidates (Aug. 30) Lee Basinger, DL, Wofford; Jordan Beck, LB, Cal Poly; Antoine Bethea, DB, Howard; Roger Cooper, LB, Montana State; Nick DiPadova, LB, Southern Utah; Liam Ezekiel, LB, Northeastern; Brady Fosmark, DL, Weber State; Boomer Grigsby, LB, Illinois State; Sidney Haugabrook, DB, Delaware; John Paul Jones, DL, McNeese State; Mike Killian, LB, Furman; Tad Kornegay, DB, Fordham; Alexis Moreland, S, Southern Illinois; Kevin Talley, LB, Norfolk State; Paul Thomas, DL, Tennessee State; Mario Williams, DB, Gardner-Webb.