CLASSy and Golden

Tickets

CLASSy and Golden

Painter named finalist for national honors.

Quarterback Curtis Painter has been named as a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.

Football Home

HEADLINES

Football Hires Kevin Wolthausen To Coach Defensive Line

Shavers Earns Marines Running Back Performance Of The Year

Football Adds QB Gregory To Recruiting Class

RELATED LINKS

• Ticket Information

• Ross-Ade Stadium

• Purdue Football on Facebook

•Follow Purdue Football on Twitter

NATIONAL COVERAGE

• CBSSports.com Football

• Top 25 Rankings

• Blog

Oct. 14, 2008

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue senior Curtis Painter, one of only four quarterbacks in Big Ten history to throw for more than 10,000 yards, has been named as a finalist for two national awards honoring senior signal-callers.

Painter was named as one of 10 finalists for the 2008 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc., and Transamerica. The award, named is honor of a man many refer to as the greatest quarterback ever to play the game of football, Johnny Unitas, is presented annually to the nation's top senior quarterback.

The Vincennes, Ind., native also was among the inaugural class of 30 candidates for the Lowe's Senior Class Award. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and is designed for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards that a senior season can bring. To be eligible for the award, the senior must have notable achievement in four areas of excellence: classroom, character, community and competition.

Painter has thrown for 1,453 yards and five touchdowns this season as has ascended the ranks of both the Purdue and Big Ten record books. With 228 yards against No. 12 Ohio State on Saturday, he moved his career tally to 10,216 passing yards, trailing only fellow Boilermaker Drew Brees (11,792), Northwestern's Brett Basanez (10,580) and Iowa's Chuck Long (10,461) on the conference list. Painter also ranks among the Big Ten's top five in passing attempts, completions, total offensive plays and total offense. He is second behind Brees, the Big Ten record holder, on the Purdue listings for completion percentage, passing yards, total offense and 300-yard passing performances.

The 2008 winner of the Golden Arm Award will be named Dec. 5 at the Tremont Grand Meeting and Banquet Facility in downtown Baltimore.

The list of finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award will be narrowed to 10 later in the season. The overall winner will be announced during a postseason event.

The Boilermakers (2-4) will take on the Northwestern Wildcats in Evanston, Ill., at noon ET Saturday. The game will be televised on ESPN2.