College football fans will have a voice this year in the selection of a player to receive the Paul Hornug Award.The national award, created last year by the Louisville Sports Commission to recognize the most versatile player in college football, is named for the Louisville native who excelled at several positions for Notre Dame and the Green Bay Packers. As in the past, a panel of 16 sports journalists and former NFL stars will vote for an honoree, but this year fan voting on Facebook will comprise the 17th ballot.During a press conference today at his Louisville office, Hornug said he’s been asked for years to lend his name to a football award. "I thought this was a great idea and I wanted to do it here in Louisville. I could have done one in Chicago, I could have done one in Milwaukee or Green Bay, but I wanted to do it in my hometown," he said.The recipient of the second Paul Hornug Award will be honored at a January banquet in downtown Louisville. The inaugural award went to Stanford fullback and linebacker Owen Marecic.Hornug played on offense, defense and special teams for the Fighting Irish in the 1950’s.He says there aren’t many such all-around players in the modern game. "It’s so singular a purpose today. But when a kid comes along who plays maybe offense and defense and punts and returns kicks, that’s the kind of kid we’re looking for."The commission has also lined up Louisville-based Texas Roadhouse as an award sponsor.(Top photo courtesy of www.paulhornugaward.com)
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.