July 24, 2003

Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri sophomore quarterback Brad Smith has been named to the pre-season watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award, as announced today by the Davey O'Brien Foundation. The award goes annually to the nation's top college quarterback.

Smith, who last year became just the second player in Division I history to throw for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards, is one of 42 candidates, and just one of two sophomores to be named.

The O'Brien Award is the oldest and most prestigious award in the country for college quarterbacks and is named in honor of the late Davey O'Brien, the All-American and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback for Texas Christian University who led the Horned Frogs to the 1938 national championship.

Semifinalists will be announced in early November and narrowed to three finalists later in that month by the O'Brien National Advisory Committee. The committee is comprised of nationally known sportswriters, commentators and other members of the media. The winner of the 2003 O'Brien Award will be announced Dec. 11 on the ESPN College Football Awards Show from Orlando, Fla. The winner will be honored at the 27th annual O'Brien Awards Dinner in February 2004, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

The pre-season mention brings the total to four national awards that Tiger players have been tied to. Joining Smith on pre-season watch lists are teammates Rob Droege (Outland, Lombardi) and A.J. Ricker (Rimington).