Heupel A Candidate For Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

Aug. 30, 2000

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Twenty-three outstanding senior quarterbacks have been selected as candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the nation's top senior collegiate quarterback by the Frank Camp Chapter of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation.

Included among the elite list of candidates for the award are: Drew Brees (Purdue), Rashard Casey (Penn State), Walter Church (Eastern Michigan), Justin Coleman (Nebraska-Kearney), Dan Ellis (Virginia), A.J. Feeley (Oregon), Tim Hasselback (Boston College), Jack Hawley (San Diego St.), Bart Hendricks (Boise State), Josh Heupel (Oklahoma), Ortege Jenkins (Arizona), Deontey Kenner (Cincinnati), Ben Leard (Auburn), Jason McKinley (Houston), Mike McMahon (Rutgers), Romaro Miller (Mississippi), Scott Mullen (Iowa), Jesse Palmer (Florida), Sage Rosenfels (Iowa State), Dylen Smith (Kansas), Jay Stoner (Wyoming), Marques Tuiasosopo (Washington), and Chris Weinke (Florida State).

The nation's top senior quarterback is selected for the award from a list compiled by a select committee of football experts from across the United States. The committee will choose five finalists plus any ties and announce the list on Oct. 25.

The 2000 recipient will be announced Nov. 21, with the award presentation to be made in Louisville on December 8. NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas will attend the ceremony to make the official presentation at the Grand Ballroom of the Galt House East Hotel in Louisville.

The prestigious award bears the name of who many refer to as the finest quarterback to ever play the game of football. Established in 1987, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award has previously honored 13 outstanding young men.

Louisville quarterback Chris Redman won the award last year. Other past recipients include Don McPherson (Syracuse, 1987), Rodney Peete (USC, 1988), Tony Rice (Notre Dame, 1989), Craig Erickson (Miami, Fla., 1990), Casey Weldon (Florida St., 1991), Gino Torretta (Miami, Fla., 1992), Charlie Ward (Florida St., 1993), Jay Barker (Alabama, 1994), Tommie Frazier (Nebraska, 1995), Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1996), Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997) and Cade McNown (UCLA, 1998).

The namesake of the award has a storied history which has earned him recognition by many as the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. An 18-year veteran of the NFL, Unitas played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville (1951-54), passing for 3,007 yards and 27 touchdowns. Unitas, who wore number 19 as a professional, had his No. 16 collegiate uniform retired at Louisville, the lone number retired by the Cardinals.

He began his 18-year pro career with the Baltimore Colts in 1956 and played there until joining the San Diego Chargers for his final season. His career passing figures are mind boggling. He completed 2,830 of 5,186 passes for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns during his 18-year NFL career. Among his many records is one that may stand forever, throwing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games.

Unitas was recently selected as the top quarterback of all-time by the Pro Football Hall of Fame 36-member selection committee. In commemorating the NFL's 25th, 50th and 75th anniversaries, he was also honored as the greatest quarterback of all time. A Pro Bowl participant 10 times and a three-time Most Valuable Player honoree, Unitas was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1979. In turn of the century listings, Unitas was featured among Sports Illustrated's top ten athletes, Time's ten most influential athletes and in ESPN's series on the 50 greatest athletes of the century.

2000 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Candidates

Player	School	1999 Statistics
Drew Brees	Purdue	337-554 passes, 3,909 yds., 25 TDs
Rashard Casey	Penn State	59-94 passes, 856 yds., 6 TDs
Walter Church	Eastern Michigan	178-332 passes, 2,015 yds., 8 TDs
Justin Coleman	Nebraska-Kearney	179-311 passes, 3,167 yds.,28 TDs
Dan Ellis	Virginia	156-258 passes, 2,050 yds., 20 TDs
A.J. Feeley	Oregon	136-259 passes, 1,951 yds., 14 TDs
Tim Hasselback	Boston College	158-293 passes, 2,093 yds., 12 TDs
Jack Hawley	San Diego St.	145-266 passes, 1,942 yds., 15 TDs
Bart Hendricks	Boise State	203-351 passes, 2,746 yds., 22 TDs
Josh Heupel	Oklahoma	310-500 passes, 3,460 yds., 30 TDs
Ortege Jenkins	Arizona	79-131 passes, 1,082 yds., 9 TDs
Deontey Kenner	Cincinnati	208-379 passes, 2,430 yds., 14 TDs
Ben Leard	Auburn	111-157 passes, 1,423 yds., 12 TDs
Jason McKinley	Houston	148-257 passes, 1,651 yds., 5 TDs
Mike McMahon	Rutgers	66-146 passes, 989 yds., 5 TDs
Romaro Miller	Mississippi	147-270 passes, 1,999 yds., 14 TDs
Scott Mullen	Iowa	126-226 passes, 1,415 yds., 5 TDs
Jesse Palmer	Florida	44-95 passes, 565 yds., 2 TDs
Sage Rosenfels	Iowa State	105-199 passes, 1,449 yds., 7 TDs
Dylen Smith	Kansas	135-263 passes, 1,599 yds., 12 TDs
Jay Stoner	Wyoming	135-222 passes, 1,859 yds., 8 TDs
Marques Tuiasosopo	Washington	171-295 passes, 2,221 yds., 12 TDs
Chris Weinke	Florida State	232-377 passes, 3,103 yds., 25 TDs

Note: All candidates must be completing their college eligibility this season to be eligible for The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Candidates are judged upon citizenship, scholastic achievement, leadership qualities and athletic accomplishments.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Heupel A Candidate For Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

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