Winning play helps aid U.S. Veterans scholarships

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Thanks to an overwhelming on-line response by Razorback fans, Arkansas won the Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Week for senior Casey Dick’s 24-yard touchdown pass to junior London Crawford in the closing seconds of Arkansas’ 31-30 win over LSU.

With the clock running and facing a fourth down and one play, Dick lofted a pass towards the end zone. Crawford hauled in the pass to tie the score with only 21 seconds remaining in the game. Sophomore Alex Tejada added the extra point to give the Razorbacks the improbable 31-30 victory over the Tigers.

The official announcement of the weekly award was made at halftime of the Louisville-Rutgers game on ESPN on Thursday night. The game winning play by the Razorbacks earned 32 percent of an online vote to outdistance key plays from Oklahoma, Georgia Tech and Kansas from week 14 of the college football season.

For winning the weekly competition, Arkansas will receive a $5,000 contribution from Pontiac that will be designated for the newly established U.S. Veterans scholarships at the University of Arkansas. The University of Arkansas is in the process of creating 20 non-renewable scholarship awards, valued at $3,000 each, to be awarded to U.S. veterans who attend the university full time, beginning in the 2009-2010 academic year. Details for the application process and eligibility are still being worked out.

Additionally, the Razorbacks’ winning play is nominated for the Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year award and the chance to win an additional $100,000 scholarship contribution from Pontiac.

"We are grateful to the Razorback fans for helping turn an exciting game winning play on the football field into a victory for veterans scholarships at the University of Arkansas," Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Long said. "Our fans have already helped us raise $5,000 to support students on our campus. We all owe a debt of gratitude to those who have chosen to serve and defend this great nation I am confident that Razorback fans will once again get out the vote to help us win the game changing performance of the year and secure another $100,000 of scholarships funds for our students and future students."

Razorback fans can now help the University of Arkansas compete for the game changing performance of the year. UA fans can go to pontiac.com/ncaa, where they can view video clips of the 14 finalists and vote for the Razorbacks! Voting has already begun for the game changing performance of the year.