2008 Candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
Twenty-six of the nation's top senior college quarterbacks have made the first cut to be considered for the 2008 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented by Transamerica Insurance and Investment Group.
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is presented annually to the nation's top senior collegiate quarterback, by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. This 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 20 outstanding young men.
The award takes into consideration these candidates impressive collegiate careers to this point, as well as their off-the-field values of good character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, and strong leadership qualities.
The top twenty-six are: C.J. Bachr of Northwestern, Todd Boeckman of Ohio State, Rhett Bomar of Sam Houston State, Tom Brandstater of Fresno State, Hunter Cantwell of Louisville, Rudy Carpenter of Arizona State, Chase Clement of Rice, Chase Daniel of Missouri, Joe Ganz of Nebraska, Sean Glennon of Virginia Tech, Cullen Harper of Clemson, Graham Harrell of Texas Tech, Chase Holbrook of New Mexico State, Brian Hoyer of Michigan State, Will Hudgens of Memphis, Brian Johnson of Utah, Nate Longshore of California, Tyler Lorenzen of Connecticut, Stephen McGee of Texas A&M, Ben Olson of UCLA, Curtis Painter of Purdue, John Parker Wilson of Alabama, Mike Teel of Rutgers, Willie Tuitama of Arizona, Pat White of West Virginia, and Drew Willy of University of Buffalo. These quarterbacks were selected by a committee of well-recognized football experts from across the United States.
The 2008 winner will be presented with the award on December 5th at the Tremont Grand Meeting & Banquet Facility, in downtown Baltimore, Maryland.
Boston College Quarterback Matt Ryan 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 State, 1991), Gino Torretta (Miami, Fla., 1992), Charlie Ward (Florida State, 1993), Jay Barker (Alabama, 1994), Tommie Frazier (Nebraska, 1995), Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1996), Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997), Cade McNown (UCLA, 1998), Chris Redman (Louisville, 1999), Chris Weinke (Florida State, 2000), David Carr (Fresno State, 2001) Carson Palmer (USC, 2002), Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2003), Jason White (University of Oklahoma, 2004), Matt Leinart (USC, 2005), and Brady Quinn (Notre Dame, 2006).
C.J. Bachr
Todd Boeckman
Rhett Bomar
Tom Brandstater
Hunter Cantwell
Rudy Carpenter
Chase Clement
Chase Daniel
Joe Ganz
Sean Glennon
Cullen Harper
Graham Harrell
Brian Hoyer
Will Hudgens
Brian Johnson
Nate Longshore
Tyler Lorenzen
Stephen McGee
Curtis Painter
John Parker Wilson
Mike Teel
Willie Tuitama
Pat White
Twenty-six of the nation's top senior college quarterbacks have made the first cut to be considered for the 2008 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented by Transamerica Insurance and Investment Group.
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is presented annually to the nation's top senior collegiate quarterback, by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. This 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 20 outstanding young men.
The award takes into consideration these candidates impressive collegiate careers to this point, as well as their off-the-field values of good character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, and strong leadership qualities.
The top twenty-six are: C.J. Bachr of Northwestern, Todd Boeckman of Ohio State, Rhett Bomar of Sam Houston State, Tom Brandstater of Fresno State, Hunter Cantwell of Louisville, Rudy Carpenter of Arizona State, Chase Clement of Rice, Chase Daniel of Missouri, Joe Ganz of Nebraska, Sean Glennon of Virginia Tech, Cullen Harper of Clemson, Graham Harrell of Texas Tech, Chase Holbrook of New Mexico State, Brian Hoyer of Michigan State, Will Hudgens of Memphis, Brian Johnson of Utah, Nate Longshore of California, Tyler Lorenzen of Connecticut, Stephen McGee of Texas A&M, Ben Olson of UCLA, Curtis Painter of Purdue, John Parker Wilson of Alabama, Mike Teel of Rutgers, Willie Tuitama of Arizona, Pat White of West Virginia, and Drew Willy of University of Buffalo. These quarterbacks were selected by a committee of well-recognized football experts from across the United States.
The 2008 winner will be presented with the award on December 5th at the Tremont Grand Meeting & Banquet Facility, in downtown Baltimore, Maryland.
Boston College Quarterback Matt Ryan 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 State, 1991), Gino Torretta (Miami, Fla., 1992), Charlie Ward (Florida State, 1993), Jay Barker (Alabama, 1994), Tommie Frazier (Nebraska, 1995), Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1996), Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997), Cade McNown (UCLA, 1998), Chris Redman (Louisville, 1999), Chris Weinke (Florida State, 2000), David Carr (Fresno State, 2001) Carson Palmer (USC, 2002), Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2003), Jason White (University of Oklahoma, 2004), Matt Leinart (USC, 2005), and Brady Quinn (Notre Dame, 2006).
C.J. Bachr
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Todd Boeckman
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Rhett Bomar
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Tom Brandstater
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Hunter Cantwell
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Rudy Carpenter
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Chase Clement
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Chase Daniel
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Joe Ganz
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Sean Glennon
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Cullen Harper
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Graham Harrell
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Brian Hoyer
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Will Hudgens
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Brian Johnson
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Nate Longshore
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Tyler Lorenzen
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Stephen McGee
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Curtis Painter
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John Parker Wilson
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Mike Teel
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Willie Tuitama
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Pat White
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"We think Pat White is an underrated passer. I think it's really going to help him as a pro prospect." – Villanova coach Andy Talley, on White's unexpected passing performance in the opener.
"I didn't play as well as I wanted to at all. So, I have to get better. Some of my throws were off, we had some drops. But that happens and we have to get better at it. … But for the most part, I think I played well enough to win. Did I play as well as I like? Probably not." – Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel, who led Mizzou to a 10-point win over Illinois at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.
"We came out with a different mindset. Making good decisions was the big focus today. I think we did that, took care of the ball. We didn't put ourselves in any bad situations, and the way our defense is running, that's all we had to do." – Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson, who led the Crimson Tide to an upset win over Clemson at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
"Do I feel I played good 90 percent of the time? Yeah. But a senior quarterback's got to play good 100 percent of the time." – Virginia Tech quarterback Sean Glennon, who threw two costly interceptions during an upset loss to East Carolina.
"I didn't play as well as I wanted to at all. So, I have to get better. Some of my throws were off, we had some drops. But that happens and we have to get better at it. … But for the most part, I think I played well enough to win. Did I play as well as I like? Probably not." – Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel, who led Mizzou to a 10-point win over Illinois at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.
"We came out with a different mindset. Making good decisions was the big focus today. I think we did that, took care of the ball. We didn't put ourselves in any bad situations, and the way our defense is running, that's all we had to do." – Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson, who led the Crimson Tide to an upset win over Clemson at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
"Do I feel I played good 90 percent of the time? Yeah. But a senior quarterback's got to play good 100 percent of the time." – Virginia Tech quarterback Sean Glennon, who threw two costly interceptions during an upset loss to East Carolina.
GOLDEN ARM WATCH LIST
C.J. Bacher - Northwestern
Todd Boeckman - Ohio State
Rhett Bomar - Sam Houston State
Tom Brandstater - Fresno State
Hunter Cantwell - Louisville
Rudy Carpenter - Arizona State
Chase Clement - Rice
Chase Daniel - Missouri
Joe Ganz - Nebraska
Sean Glennon - Virginia Tech
Cullen Harper - Clemson
Graham Harrell - Texas Tech
Chase Holbrook - New Mexico State
Brian Hoyer - Michigan State
Will Hudgens - Memphis
Brian Johnson - Utah
Nate Longshore - California
Tyler Lorenzen - Connecticut
Stephen McGee - Texas A&M
Ben Olson - UCLA
Curtis Painter - Purdue
John Parker Wilson - Alabama
Mike Teel - Rutgers
Willie Tuitama - Arizona
Pat White - West Virginia
Drew Willy - University of Buffalo
Todd Boeckman - Ohio State
Rhett Bomar - Sam Houston State
Tom Brandstater - Fresno State
Hunter Cantwell - Louisville
Rudy Carpenter - Arizona State
Chase Clement - Rice
Chase Daniel - Missouri
Joe Ganz - Nebraska
Sean Glennon - Virginia Tech
Cullen Harper - Clemson
Graham Harrell - Texas Tech
Chase Holbrook - New Mexico State
Brian Hoyer - Michigan State
Will Hudgens - Memphis
Brian Johnson - Utah
Nate Longshore - California
Tyler Lorenzen - Connecticut
Stephen McGee - Texas A&M
Ben Olson - UCLA
Curtis Painter - Purdue
John Parker Wilson - Alabama
Mike Teel - Rutgers
Willie Tuitama - Arizona
Pat White - West Virginia
Drew Willy - University of Buffalo
Often times college football fans and the media become so enthralled with touchdown passes, elusive runs, ferocious tackles and quarterback sacks that we lose sight of other important matters of college athletics. The Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the top senior quarterback by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Foundation encapsulates all that is positive in college sports. The award acknowledges performance on the field for sure. But it goes beyond completion percentage and touchdown strikes. The award values character, citizenship, integrity and those who honor the game.
"The winner of the Golden Arm Award is recognized not only for his athletic accomplishments, but also for his character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, leadership qualities, and athletic abilities," says John Unitas, Jr., President of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award bears the name of the man many refer to as the finest quarterback ever to play the game of football.
In addition to honoring a player with the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc., has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships to deserving scholar-athletes from local area high schools both in Maryland and Kentucky.
"Despite my Dad's outstanding accomplishments, he never forgot his humble beginnings, and this won him a permanent place in the hearts of all who ever knew him," notes Unitas, Jr. "Giving life to his commitment to 'give back,' the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. was established to promote football on all levels by providing financial aid to deserving young athletes."