OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
As three of college football’s top defensive backs prepare to learn
Thursday evening who among them will take home the coveted Paycom Jim
Thorpe Award, it was announced today by the sponsor of the award, Paycom
Software, Inc., (NYSE:PAYC), that former University of Oklahoma head
football coach Bob Stoops will present the honor. Once a defensive back
standout himself at the University of Iowa, Stoops will appear as part
of The Home Depot College Football Awards show, scheduled to air live on
ESPN at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 7, from the College Football Hall of
Fame in Atlanta.
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A four-year starter as a defensive back at the University of Iowa, Bob Stoops (#41) holds the record for most wins as a head coach at the University of Oklahoma and will present the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. (Photo: Business Wire)
"We are proud to be the headline sponsor of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award,
and are grateful Bob Stoops agreed to present this year’s award," said
Paycom's founder and CEO, Chad Richison. "Stoops developed a reputation
as a defensive genius, and the way he's managed himself and his teams
aligns with the core values shared by Paycom and the Jim Thorpe
Association. Bob knows the talent and skills required to play defensive
back at an elite level from his days playing college football as a
Hawkeye. The three finalists will remember this day for the rest of
their lives and the winner will remember receiving this award from a
fellow defensive back who developed a reputation as a fearless
competitor."
A four-year starter and 1982 All-Big Ten selection as a defensive back
at Iowa, Stoops holds the record for most wins as a head coach at the
University of Oklahoma, where he led the program to more than three
times as many championships (10) as the next closest school in the Big
12 before retiring at the end of the 2016-17 season. During his 18-year
career at OU, Stoops’ program produced two Thorpe Award winners in
Derrick Strait (2003) and Roy Williams (2001).
“This is a great honor for me to present the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award to
the best defensive back in America,” said Stoops. “I am also pleased
this award is named after one of Oklahoma’s greatest athletes, Jim
Thorpe, and is sponsored by one of the state’s and nation’s
fastest-growing and innovative companies in Paycom. Being a former
defensive back myself, it is a privilege to present this year’s Thorpe
winner.”
Now in its 31st year, the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is presented annually
to the outstanding defensive back in college football and is the
Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame’s (OSHOF) most distinguished national
tribute.
Paycom
Jim Thorpe Award Finalists
DeShon Elliott, University of Texas
(junior)
Minkah Fitzpatrick, University of Alabama (junior)
Josh
Jackson, University of Iowa (junior)
About the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is presented to the outstanding defensive
back in college football each year on ESPN and is the OSHOF’s most
distinguished national tribute. Established in 1986, this accolade is
based on performance, athletic ability and character.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football
Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most
prestigious awards. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 23 awards now
boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit www.NCFAA.org
to learn more.
About Paycom
As a leader in payroll and HR technology, Oklahoma City-based Paycom
redefines the human capital management industry by allowing companies to
effectively navigate a rapidly changing business environment. Its
cloud-based software solution is based on a core system of record
maintained in a single database for all human capital management
functions, providing the functionality that businesses need to manage
the complete employment life cycle, from recruitment to retirement.
Paycom has the ability to serve businesses of all sizes and in every
industry. As one of the leading human capital management providers,
Paycom serves clients in all 50 states from offices across the country.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171206006054/en/
Source: Paycom Software, Inc.