Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week 10/16/06

This week’s Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Stars of the Week are Sam Swank of Wake Forest University, Mason Crosby of Colorado University, and Bryant Hahnfeldt of Vanderbilt University. All three of the Stars of the Week had very impressive performances and also helped lead their teams to victory over the weekend.

Sam Swank, Wake Forest University, became the fifth player in NCAA history to kick three field goals from 50-plus yards in a single game. Swank helped lead the Demon Deacons to a 25-23 win over North Carolina State with field goals from 51, 53, and 53-yards on the afternoon. The pair of 53-yarders tied the Wake Forest school record for longest kicks. Swank also connected on both of his extra point attempts.

Mason Crosby, Colorado University, and a 2005 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Finalist, was a perfect 3 for 3 in field goals against Texas Tech. Crosby made field goals from 26, 53, and 56-yards in the 30-6 victory over the Red Raiders of Texas Tech. Crosby also went 3 for 3 in extra point attempts in the game. With the two 50-plus yard field goals it gives Crosby a total of 12 50-plus yard field goals in his career.

Bryant Hahnfeldt, Vanderbilt University, nailed a game winning 33-yard field goal with two seconds left to cap off a huge 24-22 upset victory over the University of Georgia. The Sophomore Hahnfeldt also made all three of his extra point attempts to help the Commodores to victory.

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 2006 winner of the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award is presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl and is announced on Thursday, December 7, 2006 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 5, 2006, 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 The Breakers, Coastal Limousine, Continental Airlines, Enterprise rent-a-car, ESPN Radio 760, ESPN Regional Television, FedEx Orange Bowl, Florida Atlantic University Athletics, Florida Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Hartless Foundation, JBS Destination Solutions, John F. Romano, P.A., Palm Beach Gardens Marriott, Palm Beach Kennel Club, The Palm Beach Post, Parallax Productions, PGA National Golf Club, Rooney’s Public House, Team A-fin-ity Sportfishing, The Tux Shop and WPEC News-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 dwilliams@palmbeachsports.com.