Five Finalists Remain For The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

The annual competition to select the top college quarterback in the nation has been narrowed from an original field of 27 to five finalists for The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

Named after the man many refer to as the greatest quarterback ever to play the game of football, the prestigious Golden Arm Award is presented annually by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and Transamerica.

The five finalists for 2014 Golden Arm Award are:

• Brett Hundley (UCLA) – After 10 weeks of play, Hundley has completed 191 of 269 passes for 2,245 yards (71% completion rate) throwing for 15 touchdowns with just 4 interceptions and a QB rating of 151.5.
• Cody Kessler (USC) – After 10 weeks of play, Kessler has completed 207 of 297 passes for 2,548 yards (69.7% completion rate) throwing for 25 touchdowns with just 2 interceptions and a QB rating of 157.5.
• Marcus Mariota (Oregon) – After 10 weeks of play, Mariota has completed 169 of 248 passes for 2,541 yards (68.1% completion rate) throwing for 26 touchdowns with just 2 interceptions and a QB rating of 171.1.
• Bryce Petty (Baylor) – After 10 weeks of play, Petty has completed 132 of 241 passes for 2,034 yards (54.8% completion rate) throwing for 20 touchdowns with just 3 interceptions and a QB rating of 165.7.
• Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) – After 10 weeks of play, Prescott has completed 131 of 215 passes for 2,016 yards (60.9% completion rate) throwing for 16 touchdowns with 7 interceptions and a QB rating of 141.8.

 

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.

 

This season, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. has again teamed with 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. We are very excited about this partnership.

 

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 Golden Arm Award ceremony.

 

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.

 

This year’s winner will be announced on December 8, 2014 and The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award will be presented at a ceremony 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 & Grand Historic Venue.

 

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 & Grand Historic Venue, Haddock Investments, HMS Insurance Associates, Inc., Metropolis Funding, PSAV, Panini, SILKS, TRAY, 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:

http://www.transamerica.com/about_us/johnny_unitas_golden_arm_award.asp 

http://www.goldenarmfoundation.com/

 

Additionally, please follow the conversation on Twitter: @GoldenArmAward or use the hashtag, #GoldenArmAward.

The 2014 List Of Candidates For The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Cut To 15

The initial Top 27 Watch List for The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardÒ in 2014 has been reduced to 15 of the country’s top college quarterbacks.

  

Remaining candidates for the prestigious annual award – named after the man many refer to as the greatest quarterback ever to play the game of football – are:

  

• Anthony Boone, Duke
• Shane Carden, East Carolina
• Rakeem Cato, Marshall
• Connor Cook, Michigan State
• Cody Fajardo, Nevada
• Connor Halliday, Washington State
• Kevin Hogan, Stanford
• Brett Hundley, UCLA
• Cody Kessler, USC
• Sean Mannion, Oregon State
• Marcus Mariota, Oregon
• Bryce Petty, Baylor
• Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
• Jake Rudock, Iowa
• Bo Wallace, Ole Miss

 

  

The Golden Arm Award is presented by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and Transamerica. The award has been presented at the end of each season since 1987 to the nations top college quarterback, based on his accomplishments both on and off the field.

 

 

“The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardÒ considers character, citizenship, integrity, leadership, and honor – characteristics that were displayed by my father and are highly valued by Transamerica– to be every bit as important as the quarterback’s completion rate or number of touchdowns scored,” says John C. Unitas, Jr., President of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc.

 

 

This season, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. has again teamed with 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. We are very excited about this partnership.

 

 

In 2014, The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardÒ will be presented at a ceremony 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 & Grand Historic Venue.

 

 

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.

 

 

The namesake of the Golden Arm Award has a storied history. Johnny Unitas was an 18-year veteran of the NFL, who played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1958. His career passing figures include 2,830 pass completions for 40,239 yards, 290 touchdowns and throwing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games.

 

 

Unitas was inducted into Pro Football’s Hall of Fame in 1979. The Hall of Fame, in commemorations of the NFL’s 25th, 50th, and 75th anniversaries selected Unitas as the top quarterback of all-time. In turn-of-the-century listings, he was named to Sports Illustrated’s list of top 10 athletes, Time Magazine’s list of 10 most influential athletes, and ESPN’s series on the 50 greatest athletes of the century

 

 

“Despite my Dad’s outstanding accomplishments, he never forgot his humble beginnings and that won him a permanent place in the hearts of everyone who ever knew him,” says Unitas, Jr. “Giving life to his commitment to ‘give back,’ the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. was established to promote football on all levels by providing financial aid to deserving young athletes.”

 

 

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 Digital Armor, The Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor & Grand Historic Venue, Haddock Investments, HMS Insurance Associates, Inc., Metropolis Funding, PSAV, Panini, 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 Award, visit:

http://www.transamerica.com/about_us/johnny_unitas_golden_arm_award.asp 

http://www.goldenarmfoundation.com/


Join the conversation on Twitter at #GoldenArmAward

Tray Inc. Joins Monumental Sports as Print Partner

Tray Inc. is pleased to announce partnership with Monumental Sports:

"We are proud and delighted to be associated with Monumental Sports and its tradition of excellence in the DC area," said Brian Burlace President and Chief Executive Officer, Tray Inc. "We look forward to using our extensive array of printing resources as we work to support their exceptional brands. We are an ideal match for their many events that demand high quality and quick turn times."

Thank you to Bob Rossi for the warm welcome!

I am pleased to have Tray Inc. join the Monumental Sports team as a valued print partner for the Washington Capitals, Wizards and Mystics. Tray has been a terrific company for over 44 years in the D.C metro area. I am looking forward to working very closely with Tray to enhance and deliver our branded messages. Tray will produce all of our Capitals and Wizards game day programs as well as assist us with our everyday needs such as concourse signage, commercial printing and promotional products. We look forward to a long partnership with the Tray team.

 - Bob Rossi Director, Corporate Partnerships at Monumental Sports & Entertainment

 

L to R: Barry Trotz, Mile Thibault, Michael Mollot, John Long, Randy Wittman

 

 

Color Your Mailer Successful

Your direct mail piece says a lot about your business. Literally – name, contact information, a call-to-action, but it’s also saying something more. Something you may not have even realized yourself. It’s subliminally stirring up an emotion within your prospects. How? Color.

The colors you use on your mailer could be sending a stronger message, or a conflicting one. Don’t believe us? Studiesshow that full-color ads are 26% more likely to be given further attention than their black and white counterparts. So, it’s no wonder that smart marketers use color strategically to enhance their message.

Here’s the breakdown:

Red - Stimulates the appetite and encourages action. Red is often used for restaurants and to target impulse shoppers.

Blue – Although the most popular color, blue is preferred by men. It promotes a sense of productivity and security and is seen as being non-invasive.  

Orange – Want your product or business to seem like a better value? Orange is the way to go.  

Green – Green is primarily associated with health, nature, and, of course, wealth.

Grey – When used in moderation, grey offers a sense of intelligence, conservatism and solidity.

Black – Represents sophistication and power, but can quickly become overwhelming to the senses. Use wisely!

Pink – Pink may just be the most complicated color in the spectrum. It evokes different reactions from men and women and induces various effects. Women feel empowered around the color pink, men become calm and less aggressive. It is used to both calm and energize. Additionally, pasties and sweets “taste better” when served on a pink plate due to the color’s ability to induce sugar cravings.

And two words from the wise:

• If you’re targeting a younger crowd aim for bright, vivid colors. If you’re focused on the elderly, go for subdued hues.
• Choose only a few contrasting colors. The greater the contrast the more impact it will have.

Now that you know the insider secrets, are you sure your colors are saying what you want? If you want your next mailer to have maximum punch using color marketing, talk to us about creating the perfect piece to suit your needs!

Fact or Fiction: Busting Direct Mail Myths

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

All too often we hear the proclamation that direct mail is dead. In fact, this statement is a complete and utter fallacy. The reality is that direct mail marketing is alive, thriving, and expectedto grow by 1.1% this year. You may have known that, but if you didn’t, you’re just one of the many who may have heard the myths of direct mail. Well, we’re here to educate and clear the air. This is your guide to direct mail fact and fiction.

Myth #1: Self-Mailers Are Guaranteed to Fail

This is indeed a myth. Self-mailers can bring great success in reaching customers. The key is crafting an effective piece, which not all marketers know how to do. This is where a professional print company is worth their weight in gold. They understand that there is a right way and a wrong way to go about crafting a self-mailer. The right piece incorporate the goldenrules of direct mail and brings results, the wrong piece, well, that’s how this myth was perpetuated.

Myth #2: Direct Mail Could Never Trump Digital

Incorrect. Sure, digital marketing pieces have their place, but let’s take a moment to think about how you react to horde of emails in your inbox each day. Chances are you receive a mass amount of emails promoting this store or that promotion every single day. And what do we do with the bulk of them? Send them straight to the trash bin without ever opening them up. In the onslaught of digital pieces, a well-planned, personal, and eye-catching mailer comes as a nice reprieve and is far more likely to get a second look. Myth debunked.

Myth #3: Direct Mail is Old-Fashioned

Just because direct mail a tried and true marketing tool does not mean that it is an out dated thing of the past. It’s a long standing tactic because it works. Why would you want to do away with something that brings results? The trick to updating this faithful tool is very simple – integrate QR codes, web, or mobile apps. Boom. Modernized.

See, don’t you feel better now being able to decipher the fact from the fiction? With your new found knowledge and the help of an experienced print company, soon your direct mailers will be bringing in results for your business!

Have you heard any other direct mail myths? Tell us about them in the comments!  

Give Direct Mail Due Credit

Poor, direct mail. Another year, another Google search proclaiming the death of print marketing. The fact of the matter is those claims are less trustworthy than the latest supermarket gossip rag, and here’s why:

1.)    According to the 2013 Direct Mail Association Factbook, 65% of consumers, of all ages, made a purchase as a result of direct mail. Those are promising statistics. Now do you want to know what the average response rate for electronic mail was? Ready for this? 0.12%. Direct mail came in at 4.4% for both B2B and B2C mailings.

2.)    Direct mail yields the lowestcost per lead. That’s right. Lower than pay-per-click advertising, lower than print advertising, and yes, even lower than email.

3.)    Socialmedia and web marketing are popular and certainly have their perks, but we tend to overestimate their capabilities. Because social is a commonplace medium today, we think everybody must use it, but that’s just not true. An estimated 55% of senior citizens do not rely on internet messaging, so if that’s an audience you’re after, you need to reconsider your marketing priorities. We’re not saying to abandon your web efforts, but combining them with print efforts could reach a lot of potentialcustomers that you could be missing.

4.)    It’s creative. For example, one gimmicky marketer reports that he has, in the past, attached a cheap watch and asked consumers for a bit of their “time” or a mirrored mailer asking how consumers “see” themselves. Cheesy? Maybe to some, but it is creative and creative is what gets people interested.

5.)    39% of customers say that they decided to try a business for the first time becauseof a direct mailer. It accounts for an average of 78% of non-profit donations, and 44% of people will visit a company’s website after receiving direct mail.

So next time you see a headline reading  something like, “Is This the End for Direct Mail?”, you can rest assured knowing what the answer will be. Talk to us about how we can work together to ensure your marketing efforts are turning out the best results for your business. We’ll get you setup the Tray way!

Alabama’s AJ McCarron Wins The 2013 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

Alabama Quarterback AJ McCarron is the winner of the 2013 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and Transamerica.

McCarron had an outstanding year in leading the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide to an 11-1 record, completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,676 yards and 26 touchdowns against only 5 interceptions.

A top leader known for his ability to orchestrate an offense, McCarron compiled a 34-2 record (.943) as a starter at Alabama. He holds the Alabama record for throwing 30 touchdown passes in 2012, and once went 291 pass attempts without throwing an interception (the second-longest streak in SEC history).

McCarron, who was a finalist for last year’s Golden Arm Award, was selected from an original field of 30 in the annual competition to name the top college quarterback in the nation. Other finalists for the 2013 award included Tajh Boyd (Clemson), Derek Carr (Fresno State), Jordan Lynch (Northern Illinois), and Aaron Murray (Georgia).

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is named after the man many refer to as the greatest quarterback ever to play the game of football. Johnny Unitas was an 18-year veteran of the NFL, who played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1958. His career passing figures include 2,830 pass completions for 40,239 yards, 290 touchdowns, and throwing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games.

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.

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).

McCarron will receive the 2013 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award at a ceremony to be held this coming Friday, December 13, 6-9 p.m., at the Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor & Grand Historic Venue, 225 N. Charles Street in downtown Baltimore.

The ceremony will feature remarks by one of Johnny Unitas’ favorite targets during his years with the Baltimore Colts, NFL Hall of Famer Raymond Berry.

Proceeds from the Golden Arm Award help to support the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation. The Foundation provides financial assistance to underprivileged and deserving young scholar-athletes throughout Maryland and Kentucky.

The namesake of the Golden Arm Award has a storied football history. Inducted into Pro Football’s Hall of Fame in 1979, Johnny Unitas was named the top quarterback of all-time in commemorations of the NFL’s 25th, 50th, and 75th anniversaries. In turn-of-the-century listings, he was named to Sports Illustrated’s list of top 10 athletes, Time Magazine’s list of 10 most influential athletes, and ESPN’s series on the 50 greatest athletes of the century

In addition to Transamerica, sponsors of the Golden Arm Award include: Andretti Sports Marketing, Athlon Sports, The Babe Ruth and Sports Legends Museum, Baltimore Sun Media Group, Bloomberg Television, Century Engineering, Coach for America, Comcast, Dunbar Armored and Dunbar Digital Armor, The Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor & Grand Historic Venue, GEICO, Haddock Investments, HMS Insurance Associates, Inc., Metropolis Funding, Panini, TRAY Inc., The Scott Garceau Show, MedStar Union Memorial Sports Medicine, VAE Visual Aid Electronics Corp, VPC Inc., Weiss PR, Woodberry Kitchen, Wilson Sporting Goods, and ZBest Executive & Global Transportation Services.

To learn more about the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, visit: http://www.transamerica.com/about_us/johnny_unitas_golden_arm_award.asp    
http://www.goldenarmfoundation.com/

Five Finalists Remain for 2013 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

The annual competition to select the top college quarterback in the nation has been narrowed from an original field of 30 to five finalists for the 2013 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

Named after the man many refer to as the greatest quarterback ever to play the game of football, the prestigious Golden Arm Award is presented annually by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and Transamerica.

The five finalists for 2013 Golden Arm Award are:

• Tajh Boyd (Clemson) – Coming off a 55-31 win against Georgia Tech, Boyd has completed 212 of 318 passes for 2,960 yards (66.7% completion rate) and 32 touchdowns this season.
• Derek Carr (Fresno State) – With two games remaining this season, Carr has thrown for 3,421 yards and 34 TDs, completing 69.5% of his passes for the 9-0 Bulldogs.
• Jordan Lynch (Northern Illinois) – Lynch has led the Huskies to a 10-0 record this season, completing 65.5% of his passes while throwing for 35 TDs and 2,216 yards.
• AJ McCarron (Alabama) – After a 20-7 win over Mississippi State last week, McCarron has completed 177 of 261 passes for 2,228 yards (67.8%) and 21 TDs this season.
• Aaron Murray (Georgia) – While the Bulldogs are only 6-4 this season, Murray has thrown for 2,892 yards and 29 TDs, completing 207 of 324 pass attempts (63.9%).  

 

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.

 

The 2013 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award will be presented at a ceremony on Friday, December 13 (Note New Date), in Baltimore, MD. For the 2013 Golden Arm Award ceremony, The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and Transamerica will be returning to The Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor & Grand Historic Venue (formerly The Tremont Grand), where the ceremony was held from 2006 until 2010.

 

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 Golden Arm Award ceremony.

 

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 Golden Arm Award help to support the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation. The Foundation provides financial assistance to underprivileged and deserving young scholar-athletes throughout Maryland and Kentucky.

 

The namesake of the Golden Arm Award has a storied history. Johnny Unitas was an 18-year veteran of the NFL, who played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1958. His career passing figures include 2,830 pass completions for 40,239 yards, 290 touchdowns and throwing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games.

 

Unitas was inducted into Pro Football’s Hall of Fame in 1979. The Hall of Fame, in commemorations of the NFL’s 25th, 50th, and 75th anniversaries selected Unitas as the top quarterback of all-time. In turn-of-the-century listings, he was named to Sports Illustrated’s list of top 10 athletes, Time Magazine’s list of 10 most influential athletes, and ESPN’s series on the 50 greatest athletes of the century

 

In addition to Transamerica, sponsors of the Golden Arm Award include: Andretti Sports Marketing, Athlon Sports, The Babe Ruth and Sports Legends Museum, Baltimore Sun Media Group, Bloomberg Television, Century Engineering, Coach for America, Comcast, Dunbar Armored and Dunbar Digital Armor, The Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor & Grand Historic Venue, GEICO, Haddock Investments, HMS Insurance Associates, Inc., Metropolis Funding, Panini, TRAY Inc., The Scott Garceau Show, MedStar Union Memorial Sports Medicine, VAE Visual Aid Electronics Corp, VPC Inc., Weiss PR, Woodberry Kitchen, Wilson Sporting Goods, and ZBest Executive & Global Transportation Services.

 

 

To learn more about the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, visit:

http://www.transamerica.com/about_us/johnny_unitas_golden_arm_award.asp 

http://www.goldenarmfoundation.com/

Top 10 Finalists Named for 2013 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

Narrowed from an original field of 30 of the country’s top college quarterbacks, there are now 10 candidates remaining for the 2013 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardÒ.

The 10 finalists for this year’s Golden Arm Award are:

• Tajh Boyd, Clemson
• Derek Carr, Fresno State
• Taylor Kelly, Arizona State
• Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois
• Sean Mannion, Oregon State
• AJ McCarron, Alabama
• Aaron Murray, Georgia
• Keith Price, Washington
• Connor Shaw, South Carolina
• Keith Wenning, Ball State

Named after the man many refer to as the greatest quarterback ever to play the game of football, the prestigious Golden Arm Award is presented annually by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and TransamericaÒ.

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.

The 2013 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardÒ will be presented at a ceremony on Friday, December 13, in Baltimore, MD. For the 2013 Golden Arm Award ceremony, The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and TransamericaÒ will be returning to The Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor & Grand Historic Venue (formerly The Tremont Grand), where the ceremony was held from 2006 until 2010.

Previous winners of the Golden Arm Award 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). Last year’s winner, Collin Klein of Kanas State, was a Second Team All-American (AP) and the 2012 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (AP).

Proceeds from the Golden Arm Award help to support the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation. The Foundation provides financial assistance to underprivileged and deserving young scholar-athletes throughout Maryland and Kentucky.

 

The namesake of the Golden Arm Award has a storied history. Johnny Unitas was an 18-year veteran of the NFL, who played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1958. His career passing figures include 2,830 pass completions for 40,239 yards, 290 touchdowns and throwing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games.

 

Unitas was inducted into Pro Football’s Hall of Fame in 1979. The Hall of Fame, in commemorations of the NFL’s 25th, 50th, and 75th anniversaries selected Unitas as the top quarterback of all-time. In turn-of-the-century listings, he was named to Sports Illustrated’s list of top 10 athletes, Time Magazine’s list of 10 most influential athletes, and ESPN’s series on the 50 greatest athletes of the century

 

“Despite my Dad’s outstanding on-field accomplishments, he never forgot his humble beginnings and that won him a permanent place in the hearts of everyone who ever knew him,” says John C. Unitas, Jr., President of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. “Giving life to his commitment to ‘give back,’ the Golden Arm Foundation was established to promote football on all levels by providing financial aid to deserving young athletes.”

 

In addition to TransamericaÒ, sponsors of the Golden Arm Award include: Andretti Sports Marketing, Athlon Sports, The Babe Ruth and Sports Legends Museum, Baltimore Sun Media Group, Bloomberg Television, Century Engineering, Coach for America, Comcast, Dunbar Armored and Dunbar Digital Armor, The Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor & Grand Historic Venue, GEICO, Haddock Investments, HMS Insurance Associates, Inc., Metropolis Funding, Panini, Tray Inc., The Scott Garceau Show, MedStar Union Memorial Sports Medicine, VAE Visual Aid Electronics Corp, 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:

http://www.transamerica.com/about_us/johnny_unitas_golden_arm_award.asp 

http://www.goldenarmfoundation.com/