FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2005
Contact: Justine K. Mitchell, Public Relations Manager, (561) 233-3189, jmitchell@palmbeachsports.com

Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week

Jad Dean of Clemson, Paul Martinez of Oregon, and Mason Crosby of Colorado are this week’s Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Top Three Stars of the Week.

With only two seconds left in the game Jad Dean kicked his school-record sixth field goal to lift Clemson to a thrilling 25-24 victory over Texas A&M. The 42-yard field goal was Dean’s 6-of-6 on the night, with additional field goals of 21, 21, 25, 18, and 44. Dean also scored one extra point in the game, for a total of 19 points, and had a 100 field goal percentage.

In his first game as a place-kicker, Paul Martinez was 5-for-6 in Oregon’s 38-24 victory over Houston, tying the school record for field goals made and attempted. Martinez’s field goals included a career-best 51-yarder early in the second quarter. He also scored one extra point, for a total of 16 points in the game.

Mason Crosby of Colorado, a 2004 Lou Groza Award semifinalist, made a 47-yard field goal with four seconds left to beat Colorado State 31-28. He also had a 48-yarder that tied the game at 21 with 2:32 to play, a 32-yarder in the second quarter, and three extra points.

For more information on the Top Three Stars of the Week, including photos and bios, please visit http://www.lougrozaaward.com/Candidates/index.htm.

The 2005 winner of the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award is presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl and is announced on Thursday, December 8, 2005 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show in Orlando, Florida. The top three finalists for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award are honored during the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet and Silent Auction on Tuesday, December 6, 2005, at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott. This is an event of the Palm Beach County Sports Institute.

All Division I-A kickers are eligible for the Award named for NFL Hall-of-Fame Kicker Lou "The Toe" Groza. Voters for the award include Division I-A head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters, conference representatives, professional kickers, and previous Groza Award finalists.

The Lou Groza Award is also sponsored by BankAtlantic, The Breakers, Clipper Corporate Apparel and Promotions, Continental Airlines, ESPN Radio 760, ESPN Regional Television, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Coca-Cola Bottling, JBS Destination Solutions, KaBloom, 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 contact Dusty Ann Williams at the Palm Beach County Sports Institute at (561) 233-3122 or Justine Mitchell at (561) 233-3189.

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