Oct. 7, 2007
San Antonio, Texas - University of Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel is one of four nominees for the AT&T All-America Player of the Week award, and now it's up to the fans to determine the winner. Daniel joins University of Michigan running back Mike Hart, Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher and Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell on the ballot list, which was selected by ESPN based on the players' outstanding performances during the week. Fans can determine the winner by text messaging VOTE to 87654 on their wireless phone.
Daniel continued the record-breaking pace to his junior season on Saturday night as Mizzou (now No. 11 nationally) upended No. 25 Nebraska 41-6 in front of a 70,049 fans at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Daniel was 33 of 47 for 401 yards and two scores, while adding 72 yards on the ground via just 11 carries and two more TDs. The 401 passing yards for the Southlake, Texas, native were the fourth most in school history, while his 473 yards of total offense finished No. 2 in school annals behind the 480 total yards recorded by Brad Smith (also against Nebraska) in 2005.
For the season, Daniel is 149 of 223 passing for 1,712 yards with 15 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He has also added three more scores on the ground for 18 total TDs on the year.
Although the Tigers have played just five games in 2007 the junior signal caller needs just 266 more yards to move into the Missouri single-season Top 10 for yards passing. For his career, Daniel (in just his second season as a starter) has thrown for 5,586 yards and 44 scores, compared to just 16 interceptions. The 5,586 yards passing is already third in school history and is just 1,373 yards behind Jeff Handy for No. 2 all-time. Brad Smith is Missouri's career passing yardage leader with 8,799 yards. Smith is also Missouri's career passing touchdown record holder with 56, a number Daniel is quickly approaching (just 12 behind).
Fans have until 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday to submit their votes. The winner will be announced Oct. 11 during Thursday's ESPN College Football Primetime Presented by Applebee's college football game between Florida State and Wake Forest. There is no limit on fan voting, and each vote counts as one entry into a sweepstakes to win a trip to the 2008 BCS National Championship game in New Orleans, La. The AT&T All-America Player of the Week program will continue throughout the season, with the nominees being revealed each Sunday on ESPN SportsCenter at 9 a.m. ET and on the Web at www.espnallamerica.com. AT&T customers can visit AT&T's wireless NCAA® Football Portal on their handsets to view video highlights of each week's candidates, retrieve photos, check scorecards, track their favorite teams and download school ringtones.
In December, four finalists for the AT&T All-America Player of the Year award will be announced during a one-hour special on ABC Sports when the Football Writers Association of America All-America team will also be announced. Fans will then get a chance to say who the best player in the nation is by voting for the AT&T All-America Player of the Year up until the Bowl Championship Series. Voting ends on Jan. 4 and the winner will be announced during the BCS National Championship game on FOX on Jan. 8.
Last year, University of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn was crowned as the AT&T All-America Player of the Year, beating out Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, the Heisman Trophy winner, Rutgers running back Ray Rice and Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan. Voting for the AT&T All-America Player of the Year was the highest total in the three year history of the award.