Leak, Noah Named Finalists for AAU Sullivan Award
Friday, March 2, 2007 | General
University of Florida quarterback Chris Leak (Charlotte, N.C.) and junior men's basketball player Joakim Noah (New York, N.Y.) have been named among 15 finalists for the Amateur Athletic Union James E. Sullivan Award, as announced by the organization. First awarded in 1930, the Sullivan Award is awarded annually to the nation's top amateur athlete and is named for the AAU's founder and past president.
Voting for the 77th Sullivan Award is underway as ballots have been sent out to AAU officials, U.S. Olympic Committee members and college sports information directors among others. Fans also have the opportunity to vote for 2006's top amateur athlete online. The total fan votes count one-third towards the selection of athlete who best exemplified athletic excellence in 2006. Voting ends March 31, and the winner will be announced on April 11. Fans can vote via the following link: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2007-03-01-sullivan-finalists_x.htm
Leak earned the honor of being named a finalist after leading Florida to a 13-1 record and the Gators second national title. He is one of three college football players up for the award joining fellow quarterbacks Troy Smith of Ohio State and Brady Quinn of Notre Dame as finalists.
Leak finished his collegiate career as the school record holder in seven categories including career passing attempts (1,458), career passing completion (895), career passing yards (11,213), total offensive yards (11,350), most 200 yard passing games (33), lowest career interception percentage (2.88) and consecutive completions (17). He also ranks second in career touchdown responsibility at UF and third in the Southeastern Conference with 101 touchdowns (88 passing, 13 rushing).
Leak's 28 touchdown passes against teams ranked in the AP top-25 since 2003 are the highest amount by any active quarterback during that time span and his 395 completions and 4,545 passing yards are the most by any player in the nation vs. ranked foes.
For the 2006 season, Leak threw 23 touchdown passes, which ranked as the 20th-highest total nationally. With the win at Florida State, Chris Leak became the only starting quarterback in school history to win in Knoxville, against Georgia (three times), in Tallahassee (twice), in Baton Rouge and win a bowl game. He capped his collegiate career in the BCS National Championship completing 25-of-36 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown in UF's 41-14 win over then-No. 1 Ohio State.
Noah was named both the Final Four and the Minneapolis Region during last year's NCAA title run. In 2005-06, he was a First Team All-SEC selection, an Honorable Mention All-American (Associated Press) and the Gators' leading scorer. He set an NCAA Tournament record with 29 blocked shots and a national finals record with six vs. UCLA
Entering the 2006-07 season, Noah was selected preseason SEC Player of the Year, Preseason First Team All-SEC (Coaches and AP) and on the Wooden Award Preseason Watch List.
For his career, Noah has shot 61.6 percent from the field (368-for-597) and tallied 1,015 points. He became the 40th player in UF's history to reach the 1,000 point mark. He's also pulled in 592 rebounds and blocked 166 shots.
