Houston's Keenum Named Walter Camp Finalist
11/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 30, 2011
Houston - Houston quarterback Case Keenum was named a finalist for the 2011 Walter Camp Football Foundation National Player of the Year Award on Wednesday.
Keenum is one of five finalists for the prestigious honor, which is voted on by the Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors. The award will be presented live on Thursday, December 8 during the 5 p.m. edition of ESPNSportsCenter. Keenum is joined by fellow quarterbacks Andrew Luck (Stanford) and Robert Griffin III (Baylor), as well as running back Trent Richardson (Alabama) and LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu.
"Wow, this is quite an honor," Keenum said. "It's certainly something I am very appreciative of and I think it's a reflection on our entire program, our coaching staff, our players, everyone. You look at the guys on this list, and their teams are winning football games. I am very humbled to be a part of this list, especially for an award with so much history."
Keenum has been dominating all season and capped a record-breaking regular season with 457 yards and five touchdown throws in the Conference USA West Division-clinching win at Tulsa. UH and Tulsa each entered the game unbeaten in C-USA play, but Keenum completed 33-of-46 passes without an interception and those five scores to lead the Cougars to the 48-16 victory.
It's been a history-making senior season for the Abilene, Texas, native. He broke NCAA records for career passing yardage (18,312), total offense (19,217), touchdown passes (150), total touchdowns (173), completions (1,460) and 300-yard games (37). He owns virtually every NCAA career passing mark and is just 274 yards shy of becoming the first player in NCAA history with three career 5,000-yard seasons.
Keenum is no stranger to finalist lists. He is also a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award, which is given annually the nation's top collegiate quarterback and is a candidate for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm and Manning awards.
Keenum and No. 6 Houston (12-0, 8-0) return to action on Saturday morning vs. No. 23 Southern Miss (10-2, 6-2) in the 2011 Conference USA Championship Game, hosted at Robertson Stadium in Houston. The game is SOLD OUT and will be televisednationally on ABC at 11 a.m. CT.
Last Year's Award Winner:
Former Auburn University quarterback Cam Newton, now playing in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers, won the award last year.
About the Award Ceremony:
The winner will receive his trophy at the Foundation's annual national awards banquet on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven. The Foundation is offering a "Holiday Ticket Promotion" for the National Awards Dinner. Buy two tickets for $400 (you save $150) before December 25. Please call (203) 288-CAMP (288-2267) for more information.
About Walter Camp:
Walter Camp, "The Father of American football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp - a former Yale University athlete and football coach - is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation - a New Haven-based all-volunteer group - was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and continue the tradition of selecting an annual All-America team.
About the Walter Camp Football Foundation:
The Walter Camp Football Foundation 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. Visit www.ncfaa.org.
