Nov. 10, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. -
Mizzou senior quarterback Chase Daniel has been named a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The annual competition to select the top senior college quarterback in the nation has been narrowed from an original field of 26 to five finalists.
Daniel, who has also been named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award and the Davey O'Brien Award, ranks fifth nationally in passing efficiency (172.4) and sixth in total offense (340.10 yards per game). He has completed 274 of his 360 passes this year (76.1%) and is third in the Big 12 Conference with 326.4 yards passing per game.
Last Saturday, in his last appearance at Faurot Field, Daniel threw two touchdowns in Missouri's 41-24 win over Kansas State. The three touchdowns give him 90 for his career.
Here are the five finalists for the 2008 Golden Arm Award:
• Chase Daniel (Missouri)
• Graham Harrell (Texas Tech)
• Brian Johnson (Utah)
• John Parker Wilson (Alabama)
• Pat White (West Virginia)
Named after the man many refer to as the greatest quarterback ever to play the game of football, the prestigious Golden Arm Award is presented annually to the nation's top senior college quarterback by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and Transamerica, a leading provider of innovative business and personal financial services.
The 2008 winner will be presented with the Golden Arm Award on Friday, December 5 at the Tremont Grand Meeting & Banquet Facility in downtown Baltimore. Last year's winner of the Golden Arm Award was Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, who is now with the Atlanta Falcons.
Other past winners include current NFL players Brady Quinn (Notre Dame, 2006), Matt Leinart (USC, 2005), Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2003), Carson Palmer (USC, 2002), David Carr (Fresno State, 2001), and Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997).
"When you consider how many great college QBs have won the Golden Arm Award and have gone on to play in the NFL, it is clear that this award has become a significant barometer for future success in the professional ranks," says John C. Unitas, Jr., President of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation.
The namesake of the Golden Arm Award has a storied history which has earned him the recognition of being the greatest quarterback to ever play in the National Football League. An 18-year veteran of the NFL, Unitas played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville (1951-1954), passing for 3007 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Unitas began his pro career with the Baltimore Colts in 1958 and played there 17 years until joining the San Diego Chargers for his final season. His career passing figures include completing 2,830 of 5,186 passes for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns. 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 honored as the GREATEST QUARTERBACK OF ALL TIME. Unitas was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
As part of a partnership with CN8, The Comcast Network, John Unitas, Jr. will announce the winner of the 2008 Golden Arm Award live on CN8's "Out of Bounds" sports show on Monday, December 2. "Out of Bounds" will broadcast the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award presentation as a live, one-hour special on Friday, December 5. For more information, visit www.goldenarmaward.com or www.goldenarmfoundation.com.
