FORT WORTH, Texas – The Davey O’Brien Foundation announced the 2010 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^® (The O’Brien) Watch List today.

This year’s list, which was compiled by a subset of The O’Brien National Selection Committee, features 30 of the nation’s top collegiate quarterbacks who were selected based on player performance during the previous year and expectations heading into the 2010 college football season.  

In addition to 2009 O’Brien Finalist Case Keenum (Sr., Houston), five 2009 semifinalists are included on the list: Matt Barkley (Jr., USC), Jacory Harris (Jr., Miami), Jake Locker (Sr., Washington), Kellen Moore (Jr., Boise State) and Ricky Stanzi (Sr., Iowa).

The 2010 O’Brien Watch List features 14 seniors, 11 juniors and five sophomores. The ACC and Big 12 lead all conferences with five candidates each on the list. The Pac-10 is represented by four players.   

Appearing on the Watch List is not a requirement for a player to be awarded The O’Brien. Quarterbacks from all 120 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools are eligible for the award until the field is narrowed to 16 semifinalists on Monday, Oct. 25. The Foundation and the Selection Committee will announce three finalists on Monday, Nov. 22. The 2010 winner will be announced on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 9.

The 34th Annual O’Brien Awards Dinner will be held Feb. 21, 2011 at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

2010 O’Brien Watch List
Matt Barkley                        USC                                 SO       Pac-10
Zach Collaros                       Cincinnati                         JR        Big East
Andy Dalton                         TCU                                 SR       MWC
Dwight Dasher                      Middle Tennessee             SR       Sun Belt
Ricky Dobbs                        Navy                                 SR       Independent
Nathan Enderle                     Idaho                                SR       WAC
Nick Foles                           Arizona                             JR        Pac-10
Blaine Gabbert                     Missouri                            JR        Big 12
Robert Griffin III                   Baylor                               JR        Big 12
Jacory Harris                        Miami                               JR        ACC
Jerrod Johnson                     Texas A&M                      SR        Big 12
Landry Jones                        Oklahoma                        SO       Big 12
Colin Kaepernick                  Nevada                             SR       WAC
Case Keenum                       Houston                           SR       C-USA
G.J. Kinne                            Tulsa                                JR        C-USA
Jake Locker                         Washington                       SR       Pac-10
Andrew Luck                       Stanford                             SO       Pac-10
Ryan Mallett                         Arkansas                          JR        SEC
Greg McElroy                       Alabama                           JR        SEC
Kellen Moore                        Boise State                       JR        WAC
Joshua Nesbitt                       Georgia Tech                    SR       ACC
Kyle Padron                         SMU                                SO       C-USA
Christian Ponder                   Florida State                     SR       ACC
Taylor Potts                          Texas Tech                       SR       Big 12
Terrelle Pryor                       Ohio State                         JR        Big Ten
Tom Savage                         Rutgers                             SO        Big East
Ricky Stanzi                         Iowa                                 SR       Big Ten
Tyrod Taylor                         Virginia Tech                     SR       ACC
Scott Tolzien                        Wisconsin                         SR       Big Ten
Russell Wilson                      NC State                          JR        ACC

About the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^®
The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^® (The O’Brien) is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The O’Brien honors candidates who exemplify Davey O’Brien’s enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics. The O’Brien is overseen by the Davey O’Brien Foundation, which is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, and has given away more than $800,000 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.

National College Football Awards Association
The O’Brien is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s official Web site, www.NCFAA.org. 

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

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FORT WORTH, Texas (February 2, 2010) – Craig Johnson of Austin was selected as the winner of the 2009 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^® (The O’Brien) “Defend Your Pride. Vote O’Brien.org Sweepstakes.” Johnson and a guest will attend the 33^rd Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner on February 15 at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas. The Awards Dinner will honor this year’s O’Brien Quarterback Award Winner, Colt McCoy; O’Brien Legends Award Recipient, Dan Fouts; Charles Ringler Founder’s Award Recipient, Keith Jackson; and O’Brien High School Scholarship Recipient, Aaron Chang of Lamar High School.

“I am a huge fan of UT football and any fan of the Longhorns would be thrilled to share in this night for McCoy,” said Johnson in response to winning the sweepstakes. “This is an opportunity of a lifetime.”

Johnson and guest will get to take part in all of the festivities surrounding the 2010 Awards Dinner. His prize package includes round-trip airfare for two, as well as a two-night stay in downtown Fort Worth. They will attend the Welcome Reception and Dinner honoring McCoy, the Foundation’s press conference and cocktail reception prior to the Awards Dinner.

Contestants 18 years and older were able to enter the “Defend Your Pride. Vote O’Brien.org Sweepstakes” online at www.VoteOBrien.org throughout the 2009 college football season. Eligible contestants were also registered for the sweepstakes at all of The O’Brien’s Semifinalists On-the-Road campus visits during the 2009 football season.

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 had given away over $800,000 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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Jackson, who provided the keynote address at the Foundation’s 1981 award banquet in honor of Baylor’s then linebacker Mike Singletary, got wind of another quarterback award in the making and suggested Ringler consider changing the award to honor Davey’s primary position as quarterback and expand it to be national in scope. Ringler jumped at the suggestion and the Foundation has been honoring the nation’s best quarterback with the prestigious Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^® ever since.

“This year’s recipient has provided guidance and friendship to the Foundation as its awards and the overall organization have evolved over the past 33 years,” said Scott Murray, chair of the Founder’s Award Committee. “He has been a friend to Charles through this process and we are grateful for his contributions and assistance.”

A longstanding member of the O’Brien National Selection Committee until his retirement, Jackson said of being named this year’s O’Brien Founder’s Award recipient, “It’s always an honor to be part of something like this from the very beginning. I’ve really enjoyed watching the O’Brien Trophy grow into what it is today.”

Born and raised in rural Georgia, Jackson served four years in the U.S. Marine Corp before enrolling at Washington State University. There Jackson began what would be a lifetime career in broadcasting. In 1952, Jackson broadcast his first football game, Washington State versus Stanford, on the campus radio station KWSC. After graduating from Washington State’s Edward R. Murrow School of Communication in 1954, he continued his radio broadcasting career at KOMO-TV and Radio in Seattle, Wash. for 10 years. 

In 1962, Jackson joined ABC Sports and eventually became the first play-by-play announcer on Monday Night Football covering the National Football League. ABC Sports acquired the broadcast rights for NCAA football in 1966 and Jackson became the “voice of college football.” While at ABC, Jackson could also be seen on ABC’s Wide World of Sports covering a wide range of sports including the Olympic Games, NCAA basketball, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association and auto racing. 

Throughout his prolific career as a sportscaster, Jackson received numerous awards and accolades including being the first sportscaster ever to receive the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award by the American Football Coaches Association in 1993. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame (1999) and the National Sportscasters and Sportswriter Association Hall of Fame (1995), after having won the National Sportscaster of the Year award five consecutive times (1972 – 1976). Jackson also received the National Football Foundation’s Gold Medal Award, its highest honor, in 1999. After a more than 50-year career in broadcasting, Jackson retired from ABC in April 2006. 

Aside from his accomplished career as a radio and TV broadcaster, Jackson’s other career highlights include appearances in television shows, movies, commercials and as the voice of sports documentaries. Jackson is also credited for coining Michigan Stadium as “The Big House” and is best known by fans for using the phrase “Whoa Nellie” during game broadcasts.

Keith and his wife of 57 years, Turi, have three grown children and currently reside in Sherman Oaks, Calif.

The Charles Ringer Founder’s Award will be presented Feb. 15 at the 33rd Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner. Other award recipients honored that evening will include Jackson’s broadcast booth partner Dan Fouts, O’Brien Legends Award recipient; Colt McCoy, 2009 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^® recipient; and Aaron Chang, 2009 O’Brien High School Scholarship Award recipient.  

Previous recipients of the Charles Ringler Founder’s Award include: Robert Lansford, JPMorgan Chase, The William E. Scott Foundation, American Airlines, The Fort Worth Club, Lamar Hunt, Don Looney and Dan Poland.

About The Davey O’Brien Foundation
The Davey O’Brien Foundation was founded in 1977 to honor and remember the strong character and leadership of football great, Davey O’Brien. Widely known for its Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^®, the Foundation recognizes champions on and off the field through national awards programs encouraging academic and career success. 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 to leadership in life. More information about the Foundation can be found at www.DaveyOBrien.org.

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Established in 1986, the Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship has provided more than $480,000 in scholarships to outstanding high school seniors in the North Texas area. Recipients are chosen on the basis of scholastic achievements, community service, character, leadership and varsity sports participation. The winner receives a $20,000 scholarship to the college or university of his/her choice. The Foundation will also award a $1,000 scholarship to each of the four finalists. Scholarships are underwritten by Cantey Hanger and Frost Bank.  

Photos:

  
Left to right: Thomas Chatto (finalist), Aaron Chang (scholarship recipient), Hannah Brown (finalist), Scott Murray (emcee/O’Brien Board Memmber), James Ekstrom (finalist), Caitlin Radford (finalist), David O’Brien Jr. (chairman of the Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship Selection Committee)

 
From left to right: Aaron Chang (scholarship recipient) and David O’Brien, Jr. (chairman of the Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship Selection Committee)

For high resolution or additional photos, please submit your request to Media@DaveyOBrien.org. 

WINNER
As the top-ranked student in his class of 536, Aaron Chang has been recognized as a National Merit Semifinalist and an AP Scholar with Distinction, is president of Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society and a member of the National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society. He has competed on the varsity cross country team for four years, helping lead his team to back-to-back district championships, and also ran track. In addition to being a skilled violinist, Aaron participates in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and volunteers at a variety of organizations in his community.

About The Davey O’Brien Foundation
The Davey O’Brien Foundation (the Foundation) was founded in 1977 to honor and remember the strong character and leadership of football great, Davey O’Brien. Widely known for its Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^®, the Foundation recognizes champions on and off the field through national awards programs encouraging academic and career success. 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 to leadership in life. More information about the Foundation can be found at www.DaveyOBrien.org.

About Cantey Hanger
Cantey Hanger, established in 1882, is a full-service law firm headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and represents clients in the following practice areas: Commercial Litigation; Corporate, Banking & Real Estate; Bankruptcy; Construction Law; Oil & Gas; Health & Insurance Law; Labor Relations; Tax & Estates; Public & Regulatory. It also has offices in Dallas and Southlake. For more information, go to www.CanteyHanger.com.

About Frost Bank
Frost is the banking, investments and insurance subsidiary of Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE: CFR), a financial holding company headquartered in San Antonio, with assets of $16.2 billion at Sept. 30, 2009. The corporation provides a full range of business and consumer banking products, investment and brokerage services, insurance products and investment banking services. Frost operates more than 100 financial centers across Texas in the Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio regions. Founded in 1868, Frost is the largest Texas-based banking organization that operates only in Texas, with a legacy of helping Texans with their financial needs during three centuries. For more information, visit www.FrostBank.com.

Corporate Partners
The Foundation would like to extend a special thank you to The Fort Worth Club, Marvin Electronics and Murray Media for their support of the luncheon, as well as to Cantey Hanger and Frost Bank for underwriting the scholarship. Their generous support helps to ensure that deserving area high school students have the opportunity to create their own legacy of greatness through continued education.

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Established in 1986, the Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship has provided more than $480,000 in scholarships to high school seniors. Recipients are chosen on the basis of scholastic achievements, community service, character, leadership and varsity sports participation.

Hannah Brown, Carroll Senior High School
Hannah Brown is a dedicated student and athlete at Carroll Senior High School in Southlake. A four-year varsity athlete on both the cross country and track teams, Hannah has also played club soccer at the national level for seven years. Ranking first in her class of 651, she has been named a National Merit Commended Scholar, National AP Scholar, Wendy’s High School Heisman School Winner and is the recipient of the Mark Jameson All-State Insurance Scholar Athlete Award. Recognized as “motivated, inquisitive and well-rounded,” Hannah is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, French National Honor Society and serves as a liaison between her school and community as a Green Jacket. Outside the walls of Carroll Senior High, she is very involved with the prestigious Carroll Medical Academy, National Charity League and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Aaron Chang, Lamar High School
Aaron Chang is a talented and compassionate individual who has cultivated his academic and athletic talents during his time at Arlington’s Lamar High School. His ability to excel in multiple areas while “always displaying honor and integrity at the highest level” is admired by those who know him. As the top-ranked student in his class of 536, Aaron has been recognized as a National Merit Semifinalist and an AP Scholar with Distinction, is president of Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society and a member of the National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society. He has competed on the varsity cross country team for four years, helping lead his team to back-to-back district championships, and also ran track. In addition to being a skilled violinist, Aaron participates in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and volunteers at a variety of organizations in his community.

Thomas Chatto, Richardson High School
Thomas Chatto is an outstanding role model and motivator at Richardson High School. A four-year varsity swimmer and team captain, Thomas has been praised by his coach and teachers as a “positive leader and excellent athlete” who is “committed to excellence in every facet of life.” Dedicated to improving his skills, he began swimming with the Dallas Aquatic Masters in the off-seasons and joined a club team at the beginning of his junior year. Out of the water, he is an AP Scholar and is a member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society. Thomas is very involved in extracurricular activities at Richardson; he is a member of the Student Council, Symphonic Orchestra, Spanish and French clubs, Mock Trial team and Law Review. The trilingual scholar-athlete (English, French and Spanish) also spends time volunteering in his community and with St. Luke’s Lutheran Church Youth Group.

James Ekstrom, Fort Worth Country Day
James Ekstrom, a devoted student and athlete at Fort Worth Country Day, is recognized for his ability to “change the lives of those around him.” In the classroom, he is a member of the Cum Laude Society and the French Honor Society and has been named a National Merit Semifinalist. James has competed on the varsity wrestling team for four years and the varsity track and field (shot put and discus) team for the past two years. During his senior year, James served as captain of both teams. James’ leadership skills are not just limited to the athletic forum; he currently serves as president of the Student Council and as a Link Crew leader. The Homecoming King also plays an integral part of Country Day’s performing arts program. James has displayed “incredible talent and range” starring in everything from West Side Story to Oedipus Tyrrannus and Shakespeare’s As You Like It.

Caitlin Radford, The Hockaday School
Caitlin Radford, a senior at The Hockaday School in Dallas, is an extraordinary individual with the propensity for helping others in any way she can. Recognized as a National Merit Semifinalist, Caitlin also received honors as an AP Scholar with Distinction and was inducted into the Cum Laude Society and “Dux Femina Facti” Hockaday Latin Honor Society. An accomplished athlete, she has competed on the varsity swim team for four years and at the club level for 11 years with the Dallas Mustangs. As a senior, Caitlin was selected captain by her coaches and peers due to her “leadership, sportsmanship and dedication to the sport and team.” Caitlin is very involved in her community; founding the annual Hockaday Community Service Book Drive for the USO “Room to Read” program, tutoring middle school students and serving as a Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Ambassador.

“Each of these candidates is extraordinary, and the Foundation is honored to be able to contribute to their college educations,” said David O’Brien, Jr., chairman of the Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship Selection Committee. “They all have the potential to achieve greatness and make an impact on whatever endeavor they choose next.”

Each finalist will be interviewed by the Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship Selection Committee before the recipient is announced on Jan. 19. The Selection Committee is comprised of committee chairman David O’Brien, Jr., Karen Anisman, Todd Blouin, Raymond B. Kelly III, William Landreth, Jr., Walter Littlejohn and Pollard Rogers.

Cantey Hanger and Frost Bank underwrite the Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship. Their generous support helps to ensure that deserving area high school students have the opportunity to create their own legacy of greatness through continued education.

About The Davey O’Brien Foundation
The Davey O’Brien Foundation (the Foundation) was founded in 1977 to honor and remember the strong character and leadership of football great, Davey O’Brien. Widely known for its Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^®, the Foundation recognizes champions on and off the field through national awards programs encouraging academic and career success. 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 to leadership in life. More information about the Foundation can be found at www.DaveyOBrien.org.

About Cantey Hanger
Cantey Hanger, established in 1882, is a full-service law firm headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and represents clients in the following practice areas: Commercial Litigation; Corporate, Banking & Real Estate; Bankruptcy; Construction Law; Oil & Gas; Health & Insurance Law; Labor Relations; Tax & Estates; Public & Regulatory. It also has offices in Dallas and Southlake. For more information, go to www.CanteyHanger.com.

About Frost Bank
Frost is the banking, investments and insurance subsidiary of Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE: CFR), a financial holding company headquartered in San Antonio, with assets of $16.2 billion at Sept. 30, 2009. The corporation provides a full range of business and consumer banking products, investment and brokerage services, insurance products and investment banking services. Frost operates more than 100 financial centers across Texas in the Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio regions. Founded in 1868, Frost is the largest Texas-based banking organization that operates only in Texas, with a legacy of helping Texans with their financial needs during three centuries. For more information, visit www.FrostBank.com.

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“Colt McCoy has led his team to an undefeated season and a berth in the BCS National Championship game. As a starter, he’s led Texas to more wins than any other college quarterback. Ever. And, he’s a great student. Those are just a couple of reasons why Colt McCoy is a richly deserving winner of the 2009 O’Brien Award,” said Verne Lundquist, chair of the national selection committee.

This season, McCoy led the undefeated No. 2 Texas Longhorns to their first Big 12 Championship since 2005 and secured a berth in the 2010 Citi BCS National Championship game. The Longhorns will square off against No.1 Alabama on Jan. 7, 2010 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

In the final season of his Longhorn career, McCoy completed 70.5 percent of his passes for 3,512 yards and 27 touchdowns. The quarterback from Tuscola, Texas holds 46 school records including total offense (14,815), yards (13,244) and touchdowns (112). Additionally, McCoy’s 45-7 career record is the most victories by a starting quarterback in NCAA history.

McCoy is the third O’Brien Winner from the University of Texas preceded by Earl Campbell, the inaugural winner of the O’Brien Memorial Trophy (1977), and Vince Young (2005).

The Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee, an elite group of journalists, broadcasters, commentators and former winners, selected The O’Brien Winner, with the Fan Vote accounting for 5 % of the total vote. The Selection Committee is asked to evaluate each candidate on the criteria of his quarterback skills and athletic ability, academics, his reputation as a team player, character, leadership and sportsmanship. For a complete listing of the Selection Committee, visit www.DaveyOBrien.org.

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.

National College Football Awards Association
The O’Brien is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s official Web site, www.NCFAA.org. 

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

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FORT WORTH, Texas (Dec. 3, 2009) – Tim Tebow, of the University of Florida, is one of three Finalists for the 2009 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^® (The O’Brien) announced on Nov. 23. Tebow, a senior quarterback from Jacksonville, Fla., is competing against Houston’s Case Keenum and Texas’ Colt McCoy for The O’Brien, honoring the nation’s best college quarterback.

Florida fans are encouraged to continue to show their support for Tebow by visiting www.VoteOBrien.org and voting as often as once daily. Fan voting will continue until noon on Dec. 6 and will contribute 5% of the total vote.

Tebow, the 2007 O’Brien Winner, led the undefeated No. 1 Gators to their 22nd straight win and first 12-0 regular season record last Saturday against Florida State, when he accounted for five touchdowns in UF’s 37-10 victory. The dual-threat quarterback is the Southeastern Conference (SEC) all-time leader in total offense with 11,389 all-purpose yards and holds the SEC records for rushing touchdowns (56) and rushing yards by a quarterback (2,833).

During the 2007 season, Tebow became the first quarterback in NCAA history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns. Over his four-year career as the Gators’ signal caller, he has passed for 8,556 yards and 84 touchdowns and has rushed for 2,833 yards and 56 touchdowns. He is the only Gator quarterback to have rushed for 100 yards in five games.

Following in the footsteps of his sports hero Danny Wuerffel, former Florida quarterback and two-time O’Brien Winner, Tebow leads the Gators to the SEC Championship, where they will square off against Alabama for the second year in a row.

“Tim is one of the best leaders that I’ve ever had the opportunity of being around,” said Florida head coach Urban Meyer. “He not only inspires his teammates on the field, but he encourages them to be better men through his words and actions off the field.”

Tebow has received numerous notable awards and honors over the past four years. Among those include Offensive MVP of the 2009 FedEx BCS National Championship, 2008 Offensive Player of the Year by both the SEC and The Associated Press (AP), Wuerffel Trophy winner (2008), Manning Award winner (2008), Maxwell Award winner (2008), and 2007 first-team AP All-American. In 2007, he became the first sophomore quarterback ever to win The O’Brien, and also took home the Heisman Trophy, Sullivan and Maxwell Awards.

Graduating in December with a degree in Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Tebow, was named the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2008 and is a three-time, first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American. As a member of the 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Tebow hopes to leave behind another legacy, this one off the field. The senior takes annual mission trips to the Philippines with his family and serves as an ambassador for the UF’s Goodwill Gators volunteering and speaking at local schools, prisons, hospitals and community events. His lifelong dedication and commitment to his faith and charity work will continue after his football career.

Tebow, along with Keenum and McCoy, will be present in Orlando, Fla., for the announcement of the 2009 Winner during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10 on ESPN. The O’Brien recipient will be honored Feb. 15, 2010, at the 33rd Annual O’Brien Awards Dinner at The Fort Worth Club 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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FORT WORTH, Texas (Dec. 2, 2009) – Colt McCoy, of the University of Texas, is one of three Finalists for the 2009 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^® (The O’Brien) announced on Nov. 23. McCoy, the senior quarterback from Tuscola, Texas, is competing against Houston’s Case Keenum and Florida’s Tim Tebow for The O’Brien, honoring the nation’s best college quarterback.

Longhorn fans are encouraged to continue to show their support for McCoy by visiting www.VoteOBrien.org and voting as often as once daily. Fan voting will continue until noon on Dec. 6 and will contribute 5% of the total vote.

McCoy directed the No. 3 Texas Longhorns to their first 12-0 regular season record in school history after their Thanksgiving Day victory over rival Texas A&M where he ran for a career high of 175 yards and passed for 304 yards. Keeping his dream of leading the Longhorns to a national championship alive, McCoy will lead the undefeated Longhorns to the Big 12 Championship in their first appearance since 2005.

“Colt is a terrific football player, person and the ultimate student-athlete,” said Texas head coach Mack Brown. “As a football player, he works extremely hard to prepare himself, sets a great example for everyone on the team and is a guy that has made so many big plays and holds pretty much every record a quarterback can have here.”

The 2008 O’Brien Finalist finished his regular season holding 46 school records. McCoy’s 13,060 yards, 112 touchdowns, 70.6 completion percentage and 156.7 passer rating rank first on UT’s all-time list. He is also the first Longhorn to pass for more than 10,000 yards.

Coach Brown added that from day one, Colt’s ultimate focus has been doing whatever he needed to do to win. During his tenure as the Longhorns’ quarterback, McCoy has amassed a career record of 44-7, setting the NCAA record for career wins by a starting quarterback. He is also the only quarterback in NCAA history to lead his team to four 10-win seasons.

Throughout his prolific career at Texas, McCoy has received countless honors and accolades, including The Sporting News National Freshman of the Year (2006), first-team All-American honors (2008), Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year (2008), The Sporting News Co-Player of the Year (2008), Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press (2008) and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year by the league’s coaches (2009).

The five-time member of the UT’s Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and three-time first-team Academic Big 12 member will graduate in December with a degree in Sports Management. When not clashing on the gridiron, McCoy can be found visiting patients at the Dell Children’s Hospital in Austin, mentoring children at the Boys and Girls Club, inspiring students through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes or in Peru doing mission work. After graduation, McCoy hopes to devote more time to mission work.

McCoy, along with Keenum and Tebow, will be present in Orlando, Fla. for the announcement of the 2009 Winner during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10 on ESPN. The O’Brien recipient will be honored Feb. 15, 2010, at the 33rd Annual O’Brien Awards Dinner at The Fort Worth Club 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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FORT WORTH, Texas (Dec. 1, 2009) – Case Keenum, junior quarterback from the University of Houston, is one of three Finalists for the 2009 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^® (The O’Brien) announced on Nov. 23. Keenum is competing against Texas’ Colt McCoy and Florida’s Tim Tebow for The O’Brien, honoring the nation’s best college quarterback.

Cougar fans are encouraged to continue to show their support for Keenum by visiting www.VoteOBrien.org and voting as often as once daily. Fan voting will continue until noon on Dec. 6 and will contribute 5% of the total vote.

Competing as a ranked team for the first time since 1991, Keenum has directed the No. 21 Cougars to a prolific 10-2 season and clinched the Conference USA (C-USA) West division. The signal caller is one of only three Cougar quarterbacks to have thrown for more than 500 yards three times in a single season joining the ranks of former Houston quarterbacks, David Klinger and Andre Ware, 1989 O’Brien Winner. Keenum leads C-USA in passing efficiency and the nation in total offense with 4,922 passing yards, averaging 420.17 yards per game. He has also set new school records for career completions (996) and touchdown passes (96) while logging 12,201 passing yards as well as 116 career touchdowns.

“I think on paper from a statistical standpoint there is no doubt he deserves to be considered for this prestigious award,” said Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin. “Throw in the intangibles of what he accomplishes both on and off the field, and it further shows what a deserving candidate he is.”

Keenum has received several honors including The O’Brien Quarterback of the Week on Sept. 28 for his performance in the Cougars’ 29-28 come from behind victory over Texas Tech. Other honors include being named C-USA Freshman of the Year (2007), C-USA Offensive Player of the Year (2008), Freshman All-American Honorable Mention by both collegefootballnews.com and The Sporting News in 2007 and numerous other accolades.

Originally from Abilene, Texas, Keenum passed for 6,783 yards and 48 touchdowns during his career at Wylie High School. He was a member of the All-Big Country Super Team, Second-Team All-State in the 3A ranks and named Offensive MVP and District MVP while taking the Bulldogs to the state quarterfinals his senior year.

Keenum, a Kinesiology-Sports Administration major with a minor in Business Administration, is expected to graduate in the summer of 2010. He is a three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll, made the Dean’s List in spring 2007 and was named to the C-USA All-Academic Team in 2008.

Off the field Keenum spends his time visiting children at the Texas Children’s Hospital, mentoring high school boys through Fellowship of Christian Athletes and volunteering at the Star of Hope Mission in Houston. After graduation, Keenum, who cites Michael Jordan as his sports hero, hopes to put his leadership skills and quarterback abilities to work as a football coach. 

Keenum, along with McCoy and Tebow, will be present in Orlando, Fla. for the announcement of the 2009 O’Brien Winner during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10 on ESPN. The O’Brien recipient will be honored Feb. 15, 2010, at the 33rd Annual O’Brien Awards Dinner at The Fort Worth Club 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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FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 23, 2009) – The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^® (The O’Brien) announced today its 2009 Finalists. The three quarterbacks: Case Keenum, University of Houston, Colt McCoy, University of Texas and Tim Tebow, University of Florida, were selected from the list of Semifinalists, narrowed down from all 120 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) quarterbacks.

Fans may continue to show their support and help determine which quarterback will win the coveted O’Brien Award by voting as often as once daily at www.VoteOBrien.org. Fan voting will close at noon (CST) on Dec. 6. The 2009 O’Brien Winner will be announced live on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show airing Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. (CST) 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.

Case Keenum, Houston
Keenum, the junior quarterback from Abilene, Texas, led the No. 23 Houston Cougars past Memphis last Saturday in the Cougars’ hunt for the Conference USA West division title. Keenum completed 29 of 39 attempts for 405 yards and five touchdown passes, setting new school records for career completions (971) and touchdown passes (94). Keenum leads the nation in passing with 4,599 yards and has thrown for 36 touchdowns this season. He now shifts his attention to their match-up against Rice this weekend in hopes of leading his team to the Conference USA Championship. Keenum has returned the spotlight to Cougar football and given Houston its second O’Brien hopeful since Andre Ware won The O’Brien in 1989.

Colt McCoy, Texas
McCoy, a four-year starter from Tuscola, Texas, directed the undefeated No. 3 Texas Longhorns to a victory over Kansas last Saturday clinching the Big 12 South division title and breaking the NCAA record for career wins by a starting quarterback. The senior quarterback leads the Big 12 in passing efficiency with a rating of 152.5 and has passed for 3,024 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. Before McCoy can turn his sights to the Big 12 Conference Championship, where he will take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers, he must first focus on Thanksgiving Day’s game against rival Texas A&M.

Tim Tebow, Florida
Under the leadership of Tebow, the No. 1 Florida Gators clinched the Southeastern Conference (SEC) East division title and their first undefeated season of SEC play since 1996. This season the senior quarterback from Jacksonville, Fla. broke SEC records for rushing touchdowns and touchdowns-scored. Tebow has thrown for 1,945 yards, 14 touchdowns and gained 706 yards on the ground with 11 rushing touchdowns to date this season. The Gators will clash with rival Florida State before shifting their focus to the SEC Championship where they will square off against Alabama in their quest for their second consecutive national title.

“The caliber of talent these three young men bring to the sport is undeniable and we are honored to recognize them as the 2009 O’Brien Finalists,” said Danielle Moorman, executive director of the Davey O’Brien Foundation. “This year’s fan support has far surpassed our expectations. To date, fans have cast close to 150,000 votes for their favorite quarterback.”

The Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee, an elite group of journalists, broadcasters, commentators and former winners, selected The O’Brien Finalists, with the Fan Vote accounting for 5 % of the total vote. The Selection Committee is asked to evaluate each candidate on the criteria of his quarterback skills and athletic ability, academics, his reputation as a team player, character, leadership and sportsmanship. For a complete listing of the Selection Committee, visit www.DaveyOBrien.org.

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.

National College Football Awards Association
The O’Brien is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s official Web site, www.NCFAA.org. 

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

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