University of Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota has
won The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm
AwardÒ, presented annually by the Johnny Unitas Golden
Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and Transamerica to the nation’s top quarterback who best exemplifies
character, scholastic and athletic achievement.
After 14 weeks
of play, Mariota has completed 229 of 334 passes for 3,470 yards (69%
completion rate) throwing for 48 touchdowns with just 2 interceptions and a QB
rating of 190.2. The Honolulu native led the Pac-12 quarterbacks in rushing
yards with 636. Mariota ranks fifth in the nation in total offense, averaging
342.2 yards per game and he has been selected as the Pac-12 offensive player of
the year.
“Marcus is as humble and gracious off the field as he is
poised and electrifying on it,” said Andy McNamara, Assistant Athletic
Director for the University of Oregon. “He
is an exceptional ambassador for not just the football program, but the
University of Oregon as a whole.”
Candidates for the Golden Arm Award – which has been presented at
the end of each college football season since 1987 – must be college seniors or
fourth-year juniors on schedule to graduate with their class. In addition to
the accomplishments on the field, candidates are judged on their character, citizenship,
scholastic achievement, and leadership qualities.
With the season coming to an end, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm
Educational Foundation, Inc. would like to thank longtime partner Transamerica, as well as 120 Sports, a first-of-its-kind
live-streaming digital sports video programming network, in promoting this
prestigious honor. As the media partner, the goal at 120 Sports will be to tell the stories that surround the selection
of candidates, profiling their football career and community involvement as a
member of their football program.
Mariota’s
achievements will be honored on Friday, December 12, in Baltimore, MD. For the
2014 Golden Arm Award ceremony, The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational
Foundation, Inc. and Transamerica are happy to be returning to The Embassy
Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel and Grand Historic Venue. NFL Hall of
Famer, former Baltimore Colt, and the great Johnny Unitas’ favorite target –
Raymond Berry – will deliver the keynote remarks at this year’s event.
Past Golden
Arm Award winners include: Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997); Carson Palmer
(USC, 2002); Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2003); Matt Ryan (Boston College, 2007);
Colt McCoy (Texas, 2009); and Andrew Luck (Stanford, 2011).
Proceeds from the event help
support the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. The
Foundation provides financial assistance to underprivileged and deserving young
scholar-athletes throughout Maryland and Kentucky.
In addition to Transamerica,
sponsors of the Golden Arm Award include: Andretti Sports Marketing, Athlon
Sports, 120 Sports, The Babe Ruth and Sports Legends Museum, Baltimore Sun
Media Group, Bloomberg Television, Century Engineering, Coach for America,
Comcast, Dunbar Armored and Dunbar Cybersecurity, The
Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel and Grand Historic Venue, Haddock
Investments, HMS Insurance Associates, Inc., Metropolis Funding, PSAV, Panini, SILKS,
Tray Inc., The Scott Garceau Show, MedStar Union Memorial Sports Medicine, VPC Inc.,
Weiss PR, Woodberry Kitchen, Wilson Sporting Goods, and ZBest Executive &
Global Transportation Services.
To learn more
about The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardÒ visit:
Additionally, please follow
the conversation on Twitter: @GoldenArmAward or use the hashtag, #GoldenArmAward.
