Texas Roadhouse Signs on as Presenting Sponsor of the Paul Hornung Award

Texas Roadhouse has signed on as presenting sponsor of the Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the most versatile player in major college football.

Also new this year, Texas Roadhouse will team with the Louisville Sports Commission, creators of the Paul Hornung Award, to power fan voting on Facebook. College football fans nationwide will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite player during the regular season and again during the bowl season. Fan voting will open in late September and factor into selection of the finalists and winner. For more information go to www.paulhornungaward.com.

The Louisville Sports Commission successfully launched the Paul Hornung Award in 2010 to honor its namesake and native son and to promote outstanding performances by multi-talented college football players that often go unnoticed.

“Partnering with a company like Texas Roadhouse in just the second year of our national award is terrific,” Hornung said. “Louisville has always been my home, and I’m thrilled to work with a locally-based company like Texas Roadhouse that is successful nationwide. I know that Texas Roadhouse fans are loyal and enthusiastic because I’ve seen them lining up waiting for the doors to open, just like college football fans. The Paul Hornung Award and Texas Roadhouse can be very good for each other."

Texas Roadhouse will reach out to its loyal customer base at more than 350 locations in 46 states, its 500,000 Facebook followers and to college football fans through numerous, grassroots marketing channels to promote the Paul Hornung Award.

“We are excited to partner with the Louisville Sports Commission and the Paul Hornung Award,” said G.J. Hart, President and CEO of Texas Roadhouse. “The award is a perfect fit for us because it brings together two great brands, Texas Roadhouse and Paul Hornung. We are also thrilled with all of the promotional opportunities, such as online voting, that we hope will provide fans and our guests more involvement with the award.”

Owen Marecic of Stanford, a two-way starter and All Pac-10 performer at fullback and linebacker, won the inaugural Paul Hornung Award in 2010. The 2011 Paul Hornung Award Watch List, comprised of top contenders based on last year’s performances, will be released August 8. The Watch List will be online at www.paulhornungaward.com.

Texas Roadhouse
Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Texas Roadhouse opened its doors in 1993. In just 18 years, Texas Roadhouse has grown to more than 350 locations in 46 states. The company is famous for hand-cut steaks, made-from-scratch sides, fresh-baked bread, and its lively atmosphere. In 2007 and 2008 Forbes magazine ranked the company as one of the 200 Best Small Companies and in 2009 the company was ranked “Best Value” by readers of Consumer Reports magazine. For more information, visit www.texasroadhouse.com.

Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse
Created by the Louisville Sports Commission in 2010, the Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football. The Award is designed to promote college football and help preserve the legacy of one of Kentucky's best-known and accomplished athletes who has always called Louisville home. Hornung, the 1956 Heisman Trophy winner at Notre Dame and NFL MVP for the Green Bay Packers, set a single season NFL scoring record that stood 46 years. Paul is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, and Vince Lombardi once called Hornung, “The most versatile man ever to play the game.” A national selection committee comprised of 16 sports journalists and former NFL stars votes for the Hornung Award, and this year fan voting on Facebook will comprise the 17th vote. All votes are tabulated independently by regional accounting firm Dean Dorton Allen Ford. The winner is honored at a banquet presented by Jewish Hospital Sports Medicine in late January each year in downtown Louisville. For more information, visit www.paulhornungaward.com Fans can also follow online on Twitter (@hornungaward) and Become a Fan on Facebook.

Louisville Sports Commission
The Louisville Sports Commission is a Kentucky-based 501 c-3 organization whose mission is to attract, host and create quality sporting events and activities in the Louisville area that increase economic vitality; enhance the quality of life; promote healthy lifestyles; and brand Louisville as a great place to live, work and play. For more information, visit www.louisvillesports.org and follow the Louisville Sports Commission on Twitter (@SportsinLou).