Chaloupka Named
Payton Award Finalist

Chaloupka, who transferred to SHSU from Oklahoma State, leads the Southland Football League in passing and total offense. He currently ranks 6th in NCAA I-AA national individual passing and 15th in total offense yardage.

The Walter Payton Award is presented annually to the most outstanding player in NCAA Division I-AA college football. The winner will be selected by a panel of 85 media and sports information directors and announced on Monday, December 6, 1999, at Mickey Mantle's Restaurant in New York City.

This year marks the 13th season that The Sports Network has awarded the Payton Award. In 1987, the Sports Network chose to establish an award to recognize the most outstanding player in Division I-AA college football. It was decided that the award should be named after the most decorated Division I-AA football player of all time, Walter Payton, who played at Jackson State University.

Past winners of the Payton Award include Jerry Azumah (New Hampshire, 1998), Steve McNair (Alcorn State, 1994), John Friesz (Idaho, 1989), and Dave Meggett (Towson, 1988).

The other finalists for the award in 1999 are Jimmy Blanchard, junior quarterback from Portland State, Giovanni Carmazzi, senior quarterback from Hofstra, Cornell Craig, senior wide receiver from Southern Illinois; Justin Fuente, senior quarterback from Murray State, Ryan Helming, senior quarterback from Northern Iowa, Curtis Keaton junior running back from James Madison, and Joe Lee, senior quarterback from Towson State.

Also, Drew Miller, junior quarterback from Montana, James Perry, senior quarterback from Brown, Adrian Petterson, sophomore running back from Georgia Southern, Charles Roberts, junior running back from Cal State-Sacramento, JaJuan Seider, senior quarterback from Florida A&M, Marcel Shipp, junior running back from Massachusetts, Phil Stambaugh, senior quarterback from Lehigh and Destry Wright, senior running back from Jackson State.

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Media Contact: Paul Ridings
Nov. 12, 1999
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