OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
College football’s top defensive backs will learn Thursday night who
among them will take home the coveted Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
Presenting the award on behalf of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
(OSHOF) and sponsor Paycom Software, Inc. (NYSE:PAYC) will be Bob
Stoops, former University of Oklahoma head football coach. Once a
defensive back standout at the University of Iowa, Stoops will appear as
part of ESPN’s The Home Depot College Football Awards show, scheduled to
air live at 7 p.m. ET Thursday, Dec. 6, from the College Football Hall
of Fame in Atlanta.
“As the former head football coach at the University of Oklahoma, I am
honored to present the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award again, and I look forward
to recognizing the best defensive back in America at Thursday’s awards
show,” said Stoops. “This award is named after an Oklahoman who is one
of history’s greatest athletes, Jim Thorpe, and is sponsored by one of
the state’s and nation’s most innovative and fastest-growing companies,
Paycom.”
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 conference 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).
"It’s an honor for us to sponsor the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, and the
fact Bob Stoops has agreed to present the award for a second consecutive
year makes it even more special," said Paycom’s founder and CEO Chad
Richison. "Stoops is known for his play as a defensive back and his
ability to develop high-character players. This year’s finalists will
remember Thursday’s event and their experience in Atlanta for the rest
of their lives and I am excited Coach Stoops will be the one presenting
this accolade."
Now in its 32nd year, the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is presented annually
to the outstanding defensive back in college football and is the OSHOF’s
most distinguished national accolade.
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Finalists
Julian Love, University of
Notre Dame (junior)
Greedy Williams, Louisiana State University
(sophomore)
Deandre Baker, University of Georgia (senior)
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 honor. 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 the sport’s most
prestigious honors. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 23 awards now
boast more than 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit 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.
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Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
Olivia James, 405-402-1836
Director
of Marketing, Communications and Event Coordination
ojames@oksportshof.org
or
Mike
James, 405-402-1833
President
mjames@oksportshof.org
Source: Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame