Vote Armbrust for Rudy Award

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas nominated Razorback junior Seth Armbrust for the third annual college football Rudy Awards, it was announced by The Rudy Foundation.

Forty-nine of the 120 Division I football programs and all Division I FBS Conferences were represented in the nominations for the Award, which honors student-athletes who demonstrate exemplary character, courage, contribution and commitment as members of their collegiate football teams. These same traits were immortalized in the blockbuster film "Rudy" in 27 seconds and against all odds on a gridiron in South Bend, Indiana, enabling Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger to carve his name into college football lore.

Three Rudy Award finalists will be chosen by the Selection Committee, as well as through fan voting, and honored at a breakfast to be held in conjunction with the American Football Coaches Convention on January 11, 2010, at the Orlando World Center Marriott, in Orlando, FL. Rudy Ruettiger will personally present the awards.

Each finalist will be presented with a classic finalist award and have an academic scholarship made in his name to the general scholarship fund of his college or university, as well as have travel expenses paid to the event. An overall winner will be chosen and presented with the top scholarship and bronze Rudy Award trophy.

Fans can review nominations and place their votes from until Dec. 15 for the most deserving player at Rudy Award on-line.

Armbrust, it was stated in the school’s nomination materials, has been a standout in the classroom and on special teams during his time as a Razorback. The walk-on from Little Rock began his career at the Air Force Academy before transferring back to the University of Arkansas in the Fall of 2007. He has been named to the Lon Farrell Academic Honor roll every semester since Spring 2008, as well as being named to the Razorback Honor Roll for the Fall 2008 semester. He is a Kinesiology major with a concentration in P-12 Teaching Physical Education/Wellness & Leisure and carries a cumulative GPA of 3.38. He plans to pursue a career in coaching at the collegiate level after football.

"We established this award as a special way to honor and recognize college football players for the size of their hearts instead of the enormity of their stats," said Rudy Ruettiger. "Our first two years in Anaheim and Nashville were tremendous successes and we are excited to continue to build the Rudy Award into one of the top collegiate honors. The fact that we again had more than 40% of the Division I football programs submitting nominations, with every conference represented, speaks volumes about the importance of character, courage, contribution and commitment in sports and in our society."

Finalists will be announced December 16 and listed on www.CollegeRudyAwards.com.