ALCORN STATE,
Ms. – Former Alcorn State University quarterback Steve
McNair has been nominated for an ESPN Espy Award for the
category of Best NFL Player and fans can vote. The 2004 Espy
Awards, hosted by Jaime Foxx, will be held at the Kodak Theater
in Los Angeles on July 14. The show will air on ESPN on July
18 at 9 p.m. ET. Online voting polls will remain open at www.espn.go.com/espy2004/ until
July 8.
McNair
is up against some stiff competition as fellow Co-MVP quarterback
Payton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts, running back Priest
Holmes of the Kansas City Chiefs, linebacker Ray Lewis and
running back Jamal Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens, and quarterback
Tom Brady of the New England Patriots are also up for the
award.
Head
coach Jeff Fisher allowed the “Air” back in McNair
in 2003 as the Titan quarterback showcased his arm during
the campaign, passing for 3,215 yards, 24 touchdowns and
just seven interceptions. He led the NFL with an astonishing
100.4 quarterback rating and the Titans to a 12-4 regular
season record.
A
Mount Olive, Mississippi resident, McNair has been one of
the most successful African-American quarterbacks in history.
In 2000 he became the first black quarterback to win the
AFC Championship and just the second to led his team to the
Super Bowl. In his nine seasons, McNair has thrown for 22,637
passing yards and 132 touchdowns.
At
Alcorn State, McNair led the Braves to two SWAC titles in
1992 and 1994 and put ASU football in the national spotlight
as he finished third in the 1994 Heisman trophy race. McNair’s
passing records at Alcorn will enter the decade mark as of
next season. Ranked first in every quarterback statistical
category, McNair is first in yards (14,496), touchdowns (119),
completions (958) and attempts (1,673). He is first in yards
per carry (6.2) and second among all-time rushing leaders
with 2,327 yards on 375 carries.
McNair
virtually owns the NCAA Division I-AA record book as he is
tops in nearly every total offense and passing category,
with the two most impressive being Most passing yards in
a career (14,496) and most consecutive games throwing a touchdown
pass (36).
