DICARLO, KAEDING, NICHOLS NAMED FINALISTS FOR 2003 LOU GROZA COLLEGIATE PLACE-KICKER AWARD

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is pleased to announce the three finalists for the 2003 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award. The finalists are Trey DiCarlo of the University of Oklahoma, Nate Kaeding of the University of Iowa, and Jonathan Nichols of the University of Mississippi.

The Award, which is presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl, will be given out during a ceremony on Tuesday, December 9, at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott in Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. The winner will then travel to Orlando, Fl, and participate in the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, December 11.

The kicking of sophomore Trey DiCarlo has added another dimension to the strength of Oklahoma football this season. DiCarlo has made 19 of his 20 field goal attempts and currently leads all kickers in scoring (120). The sophomore from Carollton, TX, is 2nd in the league in Field Goal Percentage (.950) and has converted his last 14 field goal attempts.

Possibly the most consistent place-kicker in all of college football over the past few years has been Iowa’s Nate Kaeding, the 2002 Lou Groza Award winner. Kaeding has been nearly perfect this season, converting on 15 of 16 field goal attempts. The senior from Coralville, IA, is tied for 3rd in the league in Field Goal Percentage (.938) and recently set a new Iowa career field goal record (58).

Jonathan Nichols has emerged as a powerful offensive weapon for the Ole Miss Rebels. Nichols has converted on 23 of his 24 field goal attempts this season, his only miss a 52-yarder at Florida. Nichols is tied for the NCAA lead in Field Goals Made (23) and Field Goals per Game (2.30), and leads the league in Field Goal Percentage (.958). The junior from Greenwood, MS, has had a truly remarkable season.

All Division I-A kickers are eligible for consideration for the Award. Voters for the award include Division I-A head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters, conference representatives, professional kickers, and previous Groza Award finalists.

The Award is named for NFL Hall-of-Fame Kicker Lou “The Toe” Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954.

Sponsors include Aim Riverside Press, BankAtlantic, Continental Airlines, ESPN, ESPN Radio 760, Florida Coca-Cola Bottling, JBS Destination Solutions, Palm Beach Kennel Club, Parallax Productions, Rooney’s Public House, The Breakers, The Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach Gardens Marriott and WPEC News 12.

For more information regarding the Award, contact the Sports Commission at (561) 233-1015.

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