Manning Selected As 2003 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Winner

Dec. 4, 2003

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Mississippi senior quarterback Eli Manning has been selected as the recipient of the 2003 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.

Manning has completed 253 of 410 passes for 3,341 yards, 27 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. He holds 45 Ole Miss single-game, season, and career records, of which 27 were once held by his father, Archie Manning. He leads the Southeastern Conference in passing yards per game (278.4), completions (253), TD passes (27), and total offense per game (276.0) and is in the top 20 nationally in passing efficiency and total offense.

After being picked fifth in the SEC Western Division preseason, Manning led Ole Miss (No. 17 AP, 18 ESPN/USA Today) to a 7-1 league record and a share of the Western Division championship with LSU, the first football conference championship of any kind for the Rebels in 40 years. The 9-3 Rebels will play a Big 12 opponent to be named in the SBC Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2. Manning's brother Peyton won the award at Tennessee in 1997.

Manning was chosen for the award by a select committee of football experts from across the United States from a list of finalists that also included J.P. Losman (Tulane), Jon Navarre (Michigan), Philip Rivers (North Carolina State), Matt Schaub (Virginia) B.J. Symons (Texas Tech) and Jason White (Oklahoma). The 2003 award presentation will be made in Louisville on December 12 at the Galt House East Hotel Grand Ballroom by former Green Bay Packer quarterback and four-time Pro Bowl selection Bart Starr.

"I couldn't be happier or more proud of Eli than I am at this time," said Ole Miss Head Football Coach David Cutcliffe. "Eli has demonstrated time and time again that he is not only a great player, but he is the epitome of what college football is all about."

Tickets for the award dinner are $35 each or tables of eight for $280 and may be purchased by calling (502) 485-3331.

The prestigious award bears the name of who most 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 14 outstanding young men.

USC quarterback Carson Palmer 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), Cade McNown (UCLA, 1998), Chris Redman (Louisville, 1999), Chris Weinke (Florida State, 2000), and David Carr (Fresno State, 2001).

In addition to honoring a player with the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Frank Camp Chapter of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation has presented more than $500,000 in scholarships to deserving scholar athletes from area high schools. The organization was formerly associated with the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Major corporate sponsors for the award include the Transamerica Insurance and Investment Group, a leading provider of innovative business and personal financial services; Jillian's, a dining and entertainment megaplex established in 1988; and Southwest Airlines, the official airline for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation. Insight Communications, the eighth-largest cable operator in the United States serving Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio, is an active sponsor and will televise the event.

The namesake of the award has a storied history which has earned him the recognition of being the greatest quarterback to ever play in the NFL.

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. Statues in Unitas' honor have been erected in Louisville, Ky. and Baltimore, Md.

Additional information on the award or organization may be obtained from Frank Gitschier (phone: 502-897-1599).

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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