Eli Manning
Elisha Nelson Manning (born January 3, 1981, in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants NFL franchise. He is the son of former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning and Olivia Williams Manning, the younger brother of current Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and oldest brother Cooper Manning. Eli earned numerous academic honors while at Ole Miss. He made the Chancellor's Honor Roll in the Fall of 1999 and the Fall of 2002, the Dean's Honor Roll in the Spring and Fall of 2000, and the U.M.A.A. Honor Roll in the Spring of 2001, 2002, and 2003. He also made the 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 SEC Academic Honor Roll. He was named to the 2001 and 2002 Verizon District VI All-Academic first team and the 2001 Verizon national All-Academic second team. He received the 2003 The Sporting News Radio Socrates Award, which recognizes a collegiate student-athlete who demonstrates excellence in academics, athletics, and citizenship. He received the NCAA's Today Top VIII Award, the highest honor given to student-athletes by the NCAA, which includes an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. He was also a finalist for the Draddy Award, given to the top student-athlete in the nation. Eli was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He was the Sigma Nu national Athlete of the Year for 2001 and 2003.
Football career
Eli Manning played high school football at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was a three year starter. In his senior year, he quarterbacked the team to the playoffs, posting an 11-1 record. Eli ended his high school career with 7,389 yards, 81 touchdowns, and only 24 interceptions. He was voted All-District, All-State, and All-America. Other accolades that he received include the USA Today Player of the Year in Louisiana and All-Metro MVP.
As the clock ticked away on his college decision, Eli received an interesting call from David Cutcliffe. Formerly Tennessee’s offensive coordinator, he had been hired as the head coach at Ole Miss. Eli knew how much Cutcliffe had done to help Peyton improve his game. The news that he was now in charge of the Rebel program was all he needed to hear. The 18-year-old followed his father’s footsteps, and made his way to Oxford, Mississippi.[1]
Eli Manning played college football at the University of Mississippi and studied for a marketing major. During his career at Ole Miss, Eli set or tied 47 single-game, season, and career records. His career numbers include 10,119 passing yards (fifth on the SEC career list), 81 touchdown passes (third on the SEC career list), and a passer rating of 137.7 (tied for sixth on the SEC career list).
In 2001, Manning earned honorable mention All-America honors from Football News and collegefootballnews.com. He also won the 2001 Charlie Conerly Trophy, given to the top collegiate football player in the state of Mississippi. He was one of 12 semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien Award, given to the nation's top quarterback. Before the season, Manning was named to the Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook's 2001 preseason All-SEC first team.
In 2002, Manning was named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team. The Associated Press voted him second team All-SEC after the season. He was also named the Best Leader in the SEC by The Birmingham News. Before the season, Manning was selected to the 2002 Playboy All-America team. He also was named to the preseason All-SEC second team by The Birmingham News, The Sporting News, and the Southeastern Post.
In 2003, Manning led the Rebels to a 10-3 record and a 31-28 SBC Cotton Bowl victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys. He earned numerous accolades for his play. He won the Maxwell Award, given to the nation's top player. He also won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given to the nation's top senior quarterback. He was a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award, given to the nation's top quarterback.
Manning was considered to be the top prospect prior to the 2004 NFL Draft and became a target of criticism for stating that he would not play for the San Diego Chargers, who owned the first pick in the draft. In the past, players such as John Elway and Gary Zimmerman had also refused to play for teams looking to draft them. The Chargers were in discussions with several teams prior to the draft, including the New York Giants, about a possible trade, but nothing was agreed upon before the draft began. Despite his stated intention not to play for them, the Chargers drafted Manning with the first overall pick in the draft. The Giants then selected N.C. State quarterback Philip Rivers with the fourth overall pick in the draft, another player the Chargers had shown interest in. The two franchises were then able to work out a deal that would send Eli to the Giants for Rivers along with their first and third-round picks in 2005. The controversy put a damper on the celebration that normally goes with being the #1 pick, as the crowd booed and chanted "Eli Sucks!" when he was announced. Shortly thereafter the pro-Giants crowd changed its tune and loudly voiced their approval of the trade that made Eli a Giant, even if some were displeased about the amount given up by New York in the trade. Chargers fans did not forget the snub, and on September 25, 2005 when Eli and the Giants made their first trip to San Diego since that draft day, the crowd booed Manning loudly every time he touched the ball. San Diego defeated the Giants, 45-23, but Eli had perhaps his most impressive performance of his young career, going 24-41 for 352 yards and two touchdowns.