FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2005
Contact: Justine K. Mitchell, Public Relations Manager, (561) 233-3189, jmitchell@palmbeachsports.com

Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award
Announces 2005 Preseason Watch List

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – One of last year’s top three finalist and kickers from some of the top-ranked teams in the country highlight the 2005 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Preseason Watch List.

The Preseason Watch List is comprised of the top 30 preliminary candidates for the 14th annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl. The top three finalists are recognized during the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet and Silent Auction on Tuesday, December 6, 2005, at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott and the winner is announced on Thursday, December 8, 2005 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show in Orlando, Florida.

Among kickers named to the Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List is a Lou Groza Award finalist from last year, Andrew Wellock of Eastern Michigan University.

Also making the list are the place-kickers from some of the top rated teams this season. They include Jesse Ainsworth, Arizona State University; John Vaughn, Auburn University; Kyle Schilcher, University of Iowa; Arthur Carmody, University of Louisville; Stephen Gostkowski, University of Memphis; Garrett Rivas, University of Michigan; Josh Cummings, University of Pittsburgh; Ben Jones, Purdue University ; James Wilhoit, University of Tennessee; and Brandon Pace, Virginia Tech.

A brief biography of each player on the Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List can be found at www.lougrozaaward.com beginning August 31, 2005.

Kickers on the Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List were chosen based on statistics from the 2004 season and 2005 preseason expectations. However, all Division I-A kickers are eligible for consideration for the award.

A panel of over 300 experts vote on the award, including Division I-A head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters, conference representatives, professional kickers and all previous Groza Award finalists.

The 20 semi-finalists for the Lou Groza Award are announced on Monday, October 31, 2005, followed with the naming of the three finalists two weeks later on Monday, November 14, 2005.

The award, now in its 14th year, is named for National Football League (NFL) Hall-of-Fame kicker Lou 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. Nicknamed “The Toe,” Groza was one of the first people to truly make kicking an art form, and he helped usher in to football the idea that a player could be used exclusively for kicking.

The Lou Groza Award is also sponsored by BankAtlantic, The Breakers, Continental Airlines, ESPN Radio 760, ESPN Regional Television, Florida Coca-Cola Bottling, JBS Destination Solutions, Palm Beach Kennel Club, The Palm Beach Post, Parallax Productions, Rooney’s Public House and WPEC News Channel 12.

For more information regarding the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com or contact Dusty Ann Williams at the Palm Beach County Sports Institute at (561) 233-3122.

2005 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Preseason Watch List

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