Banquet Awards and Quinn Wins the Unitas

Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation’s top senior quarterback on Friday.

Quinn also picked up team Most Valuable Player honors for the second straight season at the Irish’s annual football banquet.

Quinn, who holds 35 school records and every major Notre Dame passing record, completed 274 of 432 passes for 3,278 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2006. His touchdowns, completions and yards are single-season records, surpassing his 2005 totals.

Senior left tackle Ryan Harris won Notre Dame’s offensive lineman of the year award and senior defensive end Victor Abiamiri took the lineman of the year award.

Senior linebacker Travis Thomas won the Nick Pietrosante Award for courage, loyalty, teamwork and pride, named after the late Notre Dame fullback who died of cancer in 1988.

Senior tight end John Carlson and senior left guard Dan Santucci each won different student-athlete of the year awards for their performance in the classroom.

No. 10 Notre Dame, which finished its regular season 10-2, will find out its bowl destination Sunday.

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette