Dec. 8, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Record-setting quarterback Daryll Clark (Youngstown, Ohio) has been named co-winner of the prestigious Chicago Tribune Silver Football, presented to the Big Ten Conference's Most Valuable Player.
A two-time first team All-Big Ten honoree, Clark joins former Nittany Lion standout quarterbacks Kerry Collins (1994) and Michael Robinson (2005) as Silver Football recipients. Clark shares the 2009 honor with Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham, the first time there have been co-winners since the award was first presented in 1924.
Clark and Graham were announced as co-recipients on the Big Ten Network Tuesday night.
A co-captain, Clark has a 21-4 record as the starting quarterback and owns multiple Penn State season and career passing and total offense records. He leads the Big Ten in pass efficiency (145.7) and touchdown passes (23). This season, he is 214 of 346 (61.8) for a school record 2,787 yards, with a Penn State record 23 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The former Ursuline High School standout also has rushed for 191 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns this season.
Among the other school records Clark owns are:
- Career touchdown passes - 42
- Season touchdown passes - 23
- Season passing yardage - 2,787 yards
- Season touchdowns responsible for - 30 (23 passing, 7 rushing)
- Career touchdowns responsible for - 64 (42 passing, 22 rushing).
Clark is one of only 12 Big Ten players since 1950 to be named first team all-conference quarterback multiple times. He was the only player selected Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week three times this season and has five career conference weekly accolades. Clark was selected a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award for the second consecutive season and named one of the final 10 candidates for the 2009 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented to the nation's top senior quarterback.
The legendary Red Grange of Illinois won the first Silver Football in 1924 and the award has been presented annually since. Among some of the other winners are: Otto Graham (1943), Dick Butkus (1963), Bob Griese (1966), Archie Griffin (1973-74), Chuck Long (1985), Desmond Howard (1991), Ron Dayne (1999) and Drew Brees (2000).
The No. 11/9 Nittany Lions (10-2) will play No. 13 LSU (9-3) in the 64th Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1, 2010. The second all-time meeting between the teams will kick at 1:00 p.m. in Orlando, Fla. and air on ABC, Sports USA Radio and the Penn State Sports Network. Penn State will be playing in its fourth different New Year's bowl game in the last five years.
For ticket information on the Capital One Bowl, go to Bowl Central at www.GoPSUsports.com/gameday.
Penn State is 50-13 (79.3) since the start of the 2005 season, the nation's No. 8 winning percentage over that span. Penn State will be playing in its 36th bowl game under Paterno, who is the all-time leader in post-season appearances and victories (23-11-1 record). The Nittany Lions are No. 9 in the USA Today Coaches and Harris Interactive polls, No. 11 in the Associated Press poll and No. 13 in the final Bowl Championship Series rankings.
Penn State has earned its 24th New Year's bowl bid under the Hall of Fame coach, who owns a 16-7 mark in such contests. The Nittany Lions have posted Paterno's Football Bowl Subdivision record 21st season with at least 10 victories.