Bryan Cupito is Player of the Week nominee

Gopher senior quarterback Bryan Cupito is one of four nominees for the week 10 Cingular All-America Player of the Week Award for his performance against Indiana.

Bryan Cupito, who has already been named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week, equaled a career high with four touchdown strikes while completing 22-of-33 passes (66.7 percent) for a season-best 378 yards in a 63-26 victory over Indiana. The senior quarterback’s four passing scores equaled his performance earlier this season against Temple (Sept. 16) and in last year’s Music City Bowl (Dec. 30, 2005). He produced his second 300-yard passing game on the year, including a 347-yard performance against Penn State on Oct. 7, and the second-highest total of his career behind only a 396-yard effort versus Ohio State on Oct. 29, 2005. Cupito helped the Golden Gophers score their most points in a Big Ten game in 90 years.

Joining Cupito as nominees are Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan, Texas Tech wide receiver Joel Filani and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. The four nominees have been selected by a panel of ESPN college football analysts as this week’s top candidates based on their outstanding performances this weekend.

Fans can determine the winner by text messaging “VOTE” to “87654” on their wireless phone and casting their votes for the nominees.

Fans have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday to submit their votes. The winner will be announced November 9 during ESPN’s Thursday night college football game between Rutgers and Louisville. Fans can vote as many times as they like, with each vote counting as one entry into a sweepstakes to win a trip to the 2007 BCS National Championship game. The Cingular All-America Player of the Week program will continue throughout the season, with the nominees being revealed each Sunday on the 9 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter and on the Web at www.espnallamerica.com.

Rutgers running back Ray Rice, Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, Michigan wide receiver Mario Manningham, Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and BYU quarterback John Beck have won the Cingular All-America Player of the Week during the 2006 college football season.

In December, four finalists for the Cingular All-America Player of the Year award will be announced during a one-hour special on ABC Sports. Fans will then get a chance to say who the best player in the nation is by voting for the Cingular All-America Player of the Year up until the Bowl Championship Series. The selection process will culminate during the BCS National Championship game on FOX when the Cingular All-America Player of the Year will be presented.

Last year, University of Texas quarterback Vince Young was crowned as the Cingular All-America Player of the Year, beating out USC teammates Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart and University of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. He was the second Longhorn to claim the award, after running back Cedric Benson won the inaugural honor in 2004.