O’Brien candidates go head-to-head in this week’s games

FORT WORTH, Texas (Sept. 16, 2009) – The 2009 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^® (The O’Brien) Marquee Match-up for week three features two O’Brien Watch List candidates. Throughout the season, The O’Brien will highlight weekly match-ups which spotlight O’Brien candidates as they vie for the prestigious award honoring the nation’s best quarterback in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Marquee Match-up: Texas Tech at Texas
Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. (CST) on ABC
The primetime match-up kicks off Big 12 play as the Texas Tech Red Raiders, led by Taylor Potts, hit the road to take on Colt McCoy and the No. 2 Texas Longhorns in front of 100,000 fans at Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin this Saturday. 

In the 59^th annual meeting of the Big 12 rivals, Texas leads the series, 43-15, but the Red Raiders have momentum coming off last year’s upset over Texas, at home, in the Longhorns’ only loss of the season. The grudge match was the most watched game of the season on ABC.    

Junior quarterback Potts was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after the Red Raider victory over Rice last week where he threw for 456 yards and seven touchdowns. At the helm of the Longhorns’ offense, McCoy, 2008 O’Brien Finalist, has thrown for 654 yards and five touchdowns this season. Both quarterbacks will clash on the gridiron to defend their undefeated 2-0 record as they compete for the coveted O’Brien.

 Other Notable Games (based on start times)

• California (Kevin Riley) at Minnesota (Adam Weber)
  Saturday, Sept. 19 at 11 a.m. (CST) on ESPN
• Tennessee (Jonathan Crompton) at Florida (Tim Tebow)
  Saturday Sept. 19 at 2:30 p.m. (CST) on CBS
• USC (Matt Barkley) at Washington (Jake Locker)
  Saturday, Sept. 19 at 2:30 p.m. (CST) on ABC

About The O’Brien Fan Vote
Fans can now register and vote for any of the 120 FBS quarterbacks online at www.VoteOBrien.org. The Fan Vote counts as 5% during each round of the voting process. The Fan Vote will be combined with the results from the Selection Committee, an elite group of journalists, commentators, broadcasters and former Winners. The 2009 O’Brien Winner will be announced on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show airing Dec. 10 on ESPN and will be honored at the 33^rd Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner held at The Fort Worth Club on Feb. 15, 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas.

About The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^®
The O’Brien honors the nation’s best college quarterback of the year and inspires student-athletes to triumph both on and off the field. By recognizing and honoring athletes who excel in both sports and academics while exhibiting strong character and leadership, The O’Brien aims to help instill a lifelong moral fiber in each candidate. The O’Brien is overseen by the Davey O’Brien Foundation, which was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The Foundation has given away more than $770,000 in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information, visit www.DaveyOBrien.org.

American Airlines is the official travel partner of The O’Brien. 

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