Quinn beats out Smith for Maxwell Award honor
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn won the Maxwell Award as the player of the year Thursday night, beating out Heisman Trophy favorite Troy Smith at the College Football Awards show.
Quinn and Smith, the Ohio State quarterback, and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden are finalists for the Heisman, which will be handed out Saturday night in New York.
Smith won the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best quarterback and earlier in the day was honored as player of the year by the Walter Camp Foundation.
"I am extremely overwhelmed and at a loss for words right now," said Smith, who led the top-ranked Buckeyes to a berth in the BCS national championship game against Florida on Jan. 8. "I can remember last year Vince Young clutching the Davey OBrien Award and it meant so much to him. When you add the Walter Camp Award to that, its amazing.
"Vince's team went on to win the national championship after he won the Davey OBrien, and thats exactly what I'm looking to do. Theres nothing wrong with leaving legacies like that."
The Big Ten offensive player of the year, Smith led Ohio State to a 12-0 record with 2,740 total yards. He threw a school-record 30 touchdown passes and led the Big Ten in passing efficiency.
Quinn passed for 3,278 and 35 touchdowns this season, leading the Fighting Irish (10-2) to a Sugar Bowl bid. Notre Dame will face LSU on Jan. 3 in New Orleans.
He is the fifth Notre Dame player to win the Maxwell and first since defensive lineman Ross Browner in 1977.
