Sometimes we don't truly value that which is right under our nose. We become so accustomed to having those stable and dependable forces in our lives that we become desensitized to their enormous worth. We come to continually rely on them but rarely do we pay them the proper homage.  We just assume that they'll be there whenever we need them and that they'll never let us down.

Engaging in such oversight is myopic, inexcusable and bordering on ingratitude.

Count many among the Notre Dame football family as suffering from this form of blindness and failure to recognize the importance of someone right among their midst.

How else can you explain the startling and ghastly omission that took place at the 88th Notre Dame Football Banquet held on Friday December 1st at the Joyce Center Fieldhouse?

When it came to selecting the Lineman of the Year Award, an honor usually given to someone on the defensive side of the ball, the choice was Victor Abiamiri.

Simply put, that decision was wrong! It was misguided and unfortunate. It was stupefying.

To term Abiamiri's selection as an appalling miscarriage of justice might be a bit over the top but at the very least, it rates as a serious misdemeanor. Flat out, he wasn't the most worthy of such recognition.

Given the fact that Abiamiri won the same Award last year, his anointing once again smacks of a popularity contest rather than a sincere effort to honor the most deserving player on either the offensive or defensive line.

At this point, it's important to note that the intent of this column is not meant to slight or diminish the skills and contributions of Abiamiri.

On balance, Abiamiri is a solid player who periodically borders on the spectacular. The 6-4, 265-pound end possesses obvious athleticism and might very well enjoy a splendid career in the NFL. During his four-year stint in South Bend, he generally did the Irish proud.

But all that skirts the real issue here. The pertinent question is was he ND's top lineman in '06? Was he the bona fide driving force up front?

To anyone willing to objectively analyze and study the situation, the answer is a resounding no.

The young man who truly merited winning the aforementioned Award was the indefatigable Derek Landri. Hands down. It should have been a slam dunk. To this reporter, it was no contest.

By virtually any measure you care to chose, be it statistically or otherwise, Landri's impact trumps that of Abiamiri. And that's no knock of Victor but rather a testament to Landri's undeniable excellence.

For starters, let's just take a look at the raw numbers. Landri's tackle total (34 solo, 31 assists) is vastly superior to Abiamiri's (25 solo, 17 assists). He also eclipses his line mate in the critical category of tackles for loss (15.5 to 14.5).

The only meaningful stat in which Abiamiri bests Landri is in sacks (10 to 7) and that differential is hardly massive. And in that regard, be sure to bear this crucial fact in mind. It's a hell of a lot easier to get to the quarterback and ring up sacks as a rush end than it is as a defensive tackle where trying to extricate yourself from the heavy traffic inside is no easy feat.

There's simply no arguing that Landri was the rock of the defensive line. He was its' strength. Derek clearly exerted the greatest influence on the field and his caliber of play was certainly the most dynamic.

No one came close to matching his consistency, tenacity and steadiness. In almost every circumstance, game in and game out, series after series, Landri was a presence. His admirable work ethic wouldn't allow him to take downs off. Nor did he disappear for stretches of time like some of his fellow linemen. His sustained effort was laudable and inspiring.

Though Landri was number 66 in the program, he should have been number 1 in the hearts of the Irish faithful because in so many ways, Derek epitomized what being an ND player is all about.

As a defensive tackle, hardly a glamour position, he was asked to do lots of heavy lifting. He willingly did the grunt work in the trenches, hand fought the opposition with ferocity and dealt with constant double teams.

He sacrificed to the max and often gave himself up which permitted playmakers like Maurice Crum and Abiamiri free shots at enemy quarterbacks and  ball carriers.

And yet, in spite of all the inherent obstacles that usually prevent a D-tackle from standing out, Landri managed to shine.

Ignited by a quickness that's astounding for a man of his size (6-3, 283-pounds) and gifted with a sense of anticipation that makes him seem a mind-reader, Landri has definite nose for the football. Whenever plays developed anywhere around him, Derek will usually sniff them out. Get near him and he'll  put the clamps on you like a vice.

Moreover, Landri was a multi-task maven. He clogged the middle, he plugged the lanes, he disrupted, he tackled, he sacked and in general, he made it a miserable experience for anyone who got in his way.

Oh and just as an aside, Landri also managed to block four kicks in his spare time. Imagine, a blocking defensive lineman. Now, there's a switch but Landri has the habit of doing the remarkable.

Landri never had recognition handed to him. He had to earn his props. He had to forge his reputation.. Any notice he received, he merited through hard work, diligence and a relentlessness that seemed to intensify as the game wore on.

As the minutes mounted, his impact increased. As the seconds ticked down, Landri's level of play picked up.

In so many respects, even allowing for such stalwarts as Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija and Tom Zbikowski, the resourceful Landri was ND's truest warrior.

Derek was a player who battled unceasingly, a gritty competitor who put team ahead of individual glory, a class act who poured his soul into every game he played.

His like won't be seen again for many a year in South Bend. It's too bad that those that should have prized him the most, seemingly credited him the least.

It's a stain on the Irish that Landri walked away from the Football Banquet without an award in hand. Too many within the program fell into the same trap that most ingrates do. They didn't recognize the treasure that toiled among them.