Scranton Reporter

Lackawanna County issued the following announcement on June 16.

The University of Scranton will present the 2022 Peter A. Carlesimo Award to former Notre Dame and national title winning quarterback Tony Rice at the annual Carlesimo Golf Tournament and Award Dinner on June 27 at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, N.J. The Quandel Construction Group is the title sponsor for the event, which supports and enhances the student-athlete experience at Scranton.

Since 2011, the Carlesimo Award, named for the late University of Scranton head coach and director of athletics, has been presented to someone who has made special contributions to athletics and Catholic education.

Rice helped lead the Fighting Irish to the 1988 national championship with a 34-21 victory over West Virginia and shared MVP honors in the game as he threw for over 200 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 75 rushing yards. Notre Dame went a perfect 12-0 on the year and captured the eighth title in program history.

During his senior season in 1989, Rice nearly led the Irish to a second straight title before falling to Miami in late November. Led by legendary head coach Lou Holtz, Notre Dame bounced back to defeat Colorado 21-6 in the Orange Bowl in Rice's final collegiate game.

For his career, he finished with 3,273 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air, and 2,049 yards and 23 touchdowns as one of the best option quarterbacks in college football history. Rice earned All-American honors in 1989 and was also named the recipient of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

After completing his career in South Bend, Rice played one season for the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders, two seasons with the Barcelona Dragons of the World League and one season for Munich Thunder in the Football League of Europe in 1994.

Today, he serves as member of the board of directors of the Patrick's Pals Foundation, founded by Jim '90 and Kerry '90 Conmy, in honor of their son, Patrick, a 19-year-old who was born with many special needs, which has left him unable to do many things for himself. The Patrick's Pals Foundation was founded on the idea of helping children with multiple disabilities and their families get help in the form of equipment, services or both. Since its founding, Patrick's Pals has raised more than $1 million to help these special children and their families.

A native of South Carolina who now lives in Miami, Rice is also active in the D.A.R.E. program, working to keep kids off drugs and away from gangs and violent behavior. He works closely with Pop Warner youth football teams, making visits and speaking to young athletes. He's also involved in the annual Walter Camp Weekend, where current and former stars gather to celebrate Walter Camp's legacy and complete community service work, including virtual hospital visits at last month's event.

He also remains active at Notre Dame and in the South Bend area, regularly participating in Notre Dame alumni events while also working with the Center for the Homeless in South Bend and South Bend LOGAN Community Resources, Inc., which serves adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Click here for more information on the 2022 Carlesimo Golf Tournament and Award Dinner.

Original source can be found here.