Keenum Named Bowden Award Finalist
12/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 20, 2011
Houston, Texas - Houston quarterback Case Keenum headlined a list of three finalists for the ninth annual Bobby Bowden Award, presented by The Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The Bobby Bowden award recognizes the Division FBS player who epitomizes a student-athlete. He must conduct himself as a faith model in the community, on campus, in the classroom and on the field. Nominees must have a 3.0 GPA or better. He must also have the backing of his school's Athletic Director and Head Football coach. The award is named after former Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden. The award was conceived by two men. The first was one of coach Bowden's assistant coaches Vince Gibson, who is in the latter stages of Lou Gehrig's disease. The other person is Vernon Brinson who is a former player of coach Bowden.
Keenum, who has broken numerous NCAA records over his UH career, has handled his business off the playing field as well. The Abilene, Texas, native carried a 3.14 grade-point average during his undergraduate coursework and owns a 3.8 GPA in graduate school.
He is also active in the UH Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter and is college football's (F.B.S.) all-time leader for passing yardage, total offense, touchdown passes, total touchdowns, 300-yard games and completions (among many others).
Keenum joins Ben Jones (Georgia) and Mike VanDerMeulen (Toledo) as finalists. Jones is a three year letterman at Georgia with a 3.12 GPA. He was named to UGA's Team of the Decade. He is on the SEC Academic Honor Roll. Vandermeulen carries a 3.385 GPA. He has started 45 straight games at left tackle for Toledo. He is a nominee for Academic All-American.
The 2011 Bobby Bowden Award winner will be announced at the FCA Allstate Bowl Championship Series breakfast in New Orleans on January 6, 2012. Past winners are:
2003 Jason Wright Northwestern University2004 Billy Bajema Oklahoma State University2005 D. J. Shockley University of Georgia2006 Carl Pendleton University of Oklahoma2007 Jacob Tamme University of Kentucky2008 Stephen McGee Texas A&M2009 Colt McCoy University of Texas2010 Christian Ponder Florida State University
A complete alphabetical list of the 2011 national nominees for the award follows:
Name UniversityEmmanuel Acho University of TexasJeff Allen University of IllinoisTim Biere University of KansasTom Castilan Arkansas State UniversityKirk Cousins Michigan StateAustin David University of Southern MississippiJoey Dunphy Western Kentucky UniversityMatt Faulkner San Jose StateTerrance Ganaway Baylor UniversityAlan Gendreau Middle TennesseeJamie Hampton Troy UniversityChandler Garnish University of Northern IllinoisBen Jones University of GeorgiaCase Keenum University of HoustonCollin Klein Kansas StateTyler Legate University of NebraskaSterling Lucas North Caroline StateAlfred Morris Florida AtlanticMickey Okafor Texas TechJeff Olson TCUAaron Phlugard Arizona StateTaurn Poole University of TennesseeDerrick Shelby University of UtahAndrew Sweat Ohio State UniversityRyan Tannehill Texas A&MMike VanDerMeulen University of ToledoBrandon Weeden Oklahoma StateCraig Wilson University of IllinoisRussell Wilson University of WisconsinMitch Zajac Western MichiganThe Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a faith-based non-profit organization, which conducts Bible studies with junior high, high school, college and professional athletes. Since 1954 FCA has used successful men/women in athletics as role models as a means of influencing America's youth.
