Aug. 23, 2006
Baylor senior quarterback Shawn Bell was one of 22 players named to the 2006 Manning Award Watch List released today by the Sugar Bowl Committee. The Manning Award was created in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning and will be presented to the recipient following the holiday bowl season. It is the only quarterback award which takes into consideration the candidates' bowl performances.
A fifth-year senior and 2006 Academic All-America candidate, Bell is Baylor's all-time leader in completion percentage (.599), touchdown-to-interception ratio (2.71) and interception percentage (.013). He also ranks No. 7 in passing efficiency (117.86), No. 8 in career 200-yard passing games (seven), No. 9 in career completions (318), No. 10 in career pass attempts (531) and No. 11 in career passing yards (3,084). Bell needs 13 touchdown passes, 106 completions, 271 attempts and seven 200-yard performances to break the school's career marks in those categories, as well as 916 yards to become the Bears' seventh career 4,000-yard passer.
A 3.47 student in education, Bell was named to the Big 12's Commissioner's Honor Roll every semester as an undergraduate and posted a 4.00 classroom mark over his last three semesters. He graduated from Baylor with an education degree in May 2006 and will pursue a master's degree in sports management in his final collegiate season.
An outstanding ambassador for the Baylor football program, Bell was selected to the 11-member 2005 American Football Coaches Association I-A Good Works for his community service activities, the first Bear ever recognized by the organization.
Others named to the 2006 Manning Award Watch List are Erik Ainge (Tennessee), Reggie Ball (Georgia Tech), Colt Brennan (Hawaii), Alex Brink (Washington State), Brian Brohm (Louisville), Brandon Cox (Auburn), Chad Henne (Michigan), Chris Leak (Florida), Bret Meyer (Iowa State), Blake Mitchell (South Carolina), Curtis Painter (Purdue), Jordan Palmer (UTEP), Brady Quinn (Notre Dame), JaMarcus Russell (LSU), Troy Smith (Ohio State), Drew Stanton (Michigan State), Drew Tate (Iowa), Zac Taylor (Nebraska), Drew Weatherford (Florida State), Patrick White (West Virginia), and Kyle Wright (Miami).
The winner will be determined by a select panel of national media covering college football, as well as each of the Mannings. Last year's winner of the Manning Award was Vince Young. Now in his rookie season with the Tennessee Titans, Young led his undefeated Texas team to a national championship. He completed 30 of 40 passes for 267 yards and gained 200 yards rushing against defending national champion USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl. He finished the season completing 212 of 325 passes for 3,036 yards and 26 touchdowns. He rushed for 1,050 yards.
Notes: Baylor drilled for 2 hours and 15 minutes Wednesday afternoon on the grass practice fields at Floyd Casey Stadium and reported no new injuries ... "It (practice) was good on both sides of the ball today," said Baylor head coach Guy Morriss. "We got some good quality work in. The kids are pushing through the heat. I have not heard one comment about the heat or how tired they are, and I'm proud of them for that." ... Baylor returns to practice Thursday afternoon at 3:15 p.m. ... Both season and single-game tickets for the 2006 Baylor football season remain on sale through the Athletic Ticket Office ... Tickets may be purchased in-person at Floyd Casey Stadium, over the phone at 254.710.1000 or on-line, 24-hours-a-day, at baylorbears.com ...On Saturday, Sept. 2, the day prior to the Bears' season-opener against TCU, the Athletic Ticket Office will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. for fans wishing to purchase tickets for any of Baylor's seven home games ... Fox Sports Southwest will preview the 2006 Baylor football season on Aug. 24 at 10 p.m. ... Following Wednesday's practice, 16 Baylor students hoping to join the program as walk-ons, were put through a tryout on the grass practice fields.
