Toledo's Eric Page Added to Paul Hornung's Weekly Top Performers;Eight to Face Off this Weekend in Three Conference Championship Games

By Robert Sampson, Paul Hornung Award

LOUISVILLE, KY (Dec. 1, 2010) - In one of the most memorable and versatile performances of the 2010 college football season, Toledo sophomore WR Eric Page accounted for five touchdowns in the Rockets' 42-31 victory over Central Michigan on Nov. 26 - two by pass reception, two on kickoff returns and one passing. Page scored on kickoff returns of 99 yards and 95 yards, becoming the first player in UT history to score twice in one game on kickoff returns. His 99-yard return in the first quarter was the second-longest in school history. Page also caught TD passes for nine and 25 yards, both in the second quarter. He capped off his day by tossing a 28-yard TD pass to QB Terrance Owens, his third TD pass of the season on just four attempts. 

Eight players who have been honored by the Paul Hornung Award during the 2010 season are among those that will face off this weekend with a conference championship on the line. The Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12 Conference Championship games all feature players that were either named to the Hornung Award watch list or were a weekly honoree this season by the award. 

· Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010: Stephon Gilmore (South Carolina) vs. Demond Washington and Cam Newton* (Auburn) in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia at 4:00 pm ET on CBS

· Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010: Dyrell Roberts (Virginia Tech) vs. Greg Reid (Florida State) in the Dr. Pepper ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, North Carolina at Bank of America Stadium at 7:45 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN3.com

· Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010: Ryan Broyles and DeMarco Murray* (Oklahoma) vs. Niles Paul (Nebraska) in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship Game at 7:00 p.m. CT at Cowboys Stadium on ABC

*denotes weekly honoree not on Watch List

Additional matchups this week:

· Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010: Kenjon Barner (Oregon) vs. James Rodgers (Oregon State) at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN3.com

· Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010: Dwight Dasher (Middle Tennessee) vs. T.Y. Hilton (Florida International)

· Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010: Jock Sanders (West Virginia) vs. Mohamed Sanu (Rutgers) at noon ET

Hornung Award Finalists to Be Announced on Dec. 10: The finalists for the 2010 Paul Hornung Award will be announced on Dec. 10, 2010 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Bowl Eligibility Numbers Continue to Increase: 45 of the 52 individuals selected to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List are eligible for a bowl game after reaching the six win mark for the 2010 season. One additional candidate has a chance to reach bowl eligibility this week.

Follow Weekly Schedule on Twitter @hornungaward: Fans and media are encouraged to follow the official Twitter page of the Paul Hornung Award (@hornungaward) to get a weekly schedule of the games being played. Tweets are made between 30 and 60 minutes before kickoff, allowing fans a reminder of when games involving Paul Hornung Award candidates are being played.

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Paul Hornung Award

Created by the Louisville Sports Commission, the Paul Hornung Award is designed to recognize versatile, high-level performers in major college football and help preserve the legacy of one of Kentucky's best known athletes. A panel of experts will select the inaugural winner in early January 2011; the votes will be tabulated by Dean Dorton Allen Ford. The winner will be honored at the Paul Hornung Award Banquet presented by Jewish Hospital Sports Medicine January 25 at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville. Hornung is considered by many the best all-around player in the history of college and pro football. He won the 1956 Heisman Trophy at quarterback for Notre Dame and was the No. 1 pick in the 1957 NFL draft. He played every position in the backfield during his career with the Irish, where he also punted, kicked, returned kicks and played defensive back and was a multi-threat offensive back and prolific kicker in the pros. He was a member of four NFL championship teams as an all-pro halfback for the Green Bay Packers and led the NFL in scoring 1959-60-61, set the single season scoring record in 1960 with 176 points and was named League MVP following the 1961 season. Legendary Packers Coach Vince Lombardi called Hornung, "The most versatile man ever to play the game." Paul is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and resides in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. More information go to www.paulhornungaward.com.

Louisville Sports Commission

In the spirit of partnership with Paul Hornung, the Louisville Sports commission (LSC) will oversee and administer all aspects of the Paul Hornung Award including budget, selection process, marketing and PR, banquet, trophy, sponsorships, etc. An Advisory Committee co-chaired by LSC Chairman Steve Higdon and Executive Director Karl Schmitt and comprised of LSC Board leadership and local business leaders will provide guidance and insure integrity of the Award. The Louisville Sports Commission is a Louisville, Kentucky-based 501-c (3) organization committed to creating a legacy of economic and social vitality through sports. LSC attracts and hosts sporting events and activities that have a positive economic impact on the City, enhance the image of the Louisville area as a premier sports destination, promote healthy lifestyles and improve the quality of life for community members of all ages. More information on the LSC is available at www.louisvillesports.org and on our Facebook