In other LSU football news , JaMarcus Russell was named the recipient of the Manning Award, the Sugar Bowl Committee along with the Manning Family announced on Tuesday. Russell learned of the news on Tuesday morning when Archie Manning called him with the news.
The Manning Award, given to the nation’s best quarterback, is the only quarterback award that takes into consideration the candidate’s bowl performance. This year’s finalists were: Russell, Erik Ainge (Tennessee), John David Booty (USC), Colt Brennan (Hawaii), Brian Brohm (Louisville), Chad Henne (Michigan), Chris Leak (Florida), Nate Longshore (California), Brady Quinn (Notre Dame), Troy Smith (Ohio State) and Patrick White (West Virginia).
January was an unbelievable year for the rifle-arm quarterback from Mobile. Russell led LSU to a 41-14 win over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl and was named MVP of the game. Russell also saw his NFL draft status rise from the middle of the pack in the first round to a possible first pick.
No official word yet on whether Archie shared any of his stellar draft day advice with possible #1 overall pick when he and Russell spoke on the phone, but our sources are telling us that the legendary quarterback told the young man to shy away from a franchise so uncommitted to winning as the Oakland Raiders, and to push for a more committed team, in a larger market to draft him. Say, the Detroit Lions, for example. Seems like sound advice, no?
