Palmer Is Unitas Winner

The postseason awards cavalcade continued Wednesday for USC quarterback Carson Palmer.

Palmer was selected as the winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award, presented annually to the nation’s top senior quarterback. Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr called Palmer to deliver the news.

Palmer is the second USC player to win the Unitas award, joining 1988 winner Rodney Peete. Miami’s Ken Dorsey, Marshall’s Byron Leftwich, Louisville’s Dave Ragone and Iowa State’s Seneca Wallace were other finalists.

“I obviously never saw Unitas play, but everybody knows the name. He’s the greatest that ever played,” said Palmer, who passed for 3,639 yards and 32 touchdowns this season. “To win an award named after him is such an honor.”

Palmer was named to an All-American team and selected Pacific 10 Conference offensive co-player of the year Monday. He also is a finalist for the Davey O’Brien (top quarterback) and Walter Camp (top player) awards and is regarded as a leading contender for the Heisman Trophy.

The O’Brien, Camp, Unitas and Heisman awards will be presented next week during ceremonies at Orlando, Fla., Louisville, Ky., and New York. Palmer and safety Troy Polamalu, a finalist for the Thorpe Award, will be on the road with family and USC representatives.

“It’s been so crazy the past couple days and it’s going to get crazier,” Palmer said. “We’ll be flying from here to there. I have no idea what to expect. I’m sure it’s going to be fun, but hope it’s not too overwhelming.”

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Coach Pete Carroll and his staff continued recruiting efforts and will reconvene Friday for the first of three Trojan practices.... Offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who met with Utah Athletic Director Chris Hill on Monday, was scheduled to be in Hawaii on Wednesday.

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The Golden Touch

Comparing USC quarterback Carson Palmer’s 2002 statistics to the other Johnny Unitas Golden Arm nominees:

*--* Att Comp Yds Tds Int Carson Palmer, USC 458 288 3,639 32 10 Ken Dorsey, Miami 330 182 2,773 24 9 Byron Leftwich, Marshall 405 277 3,615 22 8 Dave Ragone, Louisville 397 217 2,687 23 10 Seneca Wallace, Iowa State 405 231 3,138 14 18

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