Redman Wins Unitas Golden Arm Award
July 20, 2000 | Football
November 24, 1999
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville senior quarterback Chris Redman has been selected as recipient of the 1999 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.
Redman completes his college career as the NCAA Division I-A all-time leader in passes attempted (1,679) and completed (1,031) while currently standing No. 2 all-time in passing yardage (12,541) behind former Brigham Young standout Ty Detmer.
"It's going to take a long time to completely say everything Chris Redman has meant to Louisville football," said U of L head coach John L. Smith. "He's a very special person and I am honored to have had the chance to coach him the past two seasons. Outside of the statistics, he's a tremendous leader, competitor and role model."
Redman guided the Cardinals to back-to-back 7-4 seasons in his junior and senior campaigns and became the first quarterback in school history to pilot the club to consecutive bowl berths.
In his senior campaign, Redman completed 317 of 489 throws for 3,647 and a school-record 29 touchdowns.
Redman captured the award from a group of five finalists which included Joe Hamilton (Georgia Tech), Tee Martin (Tennessee), Chad Pennington (Marshall) and Tim Rattay (Louisiana Tech).
The award will be presented by Unitas at the December 10 ceremony to be held at the South Wing of the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville.
Former NFL All-Pro center Jeff Van Note will be the featured guest at the event. Van Note played 18 years in the trenches for the Atlanta Falcons and currently serves as radio color analyst for University of Kentucky football broadcasts.
The organization is currently accepting ticket orders for the award dinner (502-589-9911). Tickets are $30 each or tables of eight for $240.
The prestigious award bears the name of who many 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 12 outstanding young men.
UCLA quarterback Cade McNown 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) and Payton Manning (Tennessee, 1997).
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 $300,000 in scholarships to deserving scholar athletes from high schools and colleges. The organization was formerly associated with the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Joint corporate sponsors for the award and organization include: Caritas Health Services, Kiel Brothers Oil, distributors of BP Oil products, and Insight Communications of Louisville.
The namesake of the award has a storied history which has earned him recognition by many as the greatest quarterback to ever play the game.
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: he threw a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games.
In commemorating the NFL's 25th, 50th and 75th anniversaries, Unitas was selected 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. He has been featured lately in several listings of the century's top athletes, including 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.
Additional information on the award or organization may be obtained from Frank Gitschier (phone: 502-897-1599).
