Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week 10/28/06

This week’s Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Stars of the Week are John Vaughn of Auburn University, Travis Bell of Georgia Tech, and Kenny Byrd of the University of New Mexico. All three of this week’s winners were perfect in both field goals and extra points in leading their teams to victory.

John Vaughn, Auburn University, made three second half field goals to help lead the Auburn Tigers to a 23-17 victory over Mississippi. Vaughn was perfect on the afternoon making field goals from 20, 29, and 31-yards. With the addition of his two extra point attempts Vaughn accounted for 11 of the Tiger’s points. This is Vaughn’s second appearance of the season as a Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Star of the Week.

Travis Bell, Georgia Tech, went a perfect 3 for 3 in field goals and extra points to help the Yellow Jackets to their 30-23 victory over Miami. Bell made a 38-yard field goal and two 39-yard field goals in a key Atlantic Coast Conference match up.

Kenny Byrd, University of New Mexico, made a game winning 33-yard field goal as time expired to defeat Colorado State 20-19. This was Byrd’s second game winning field goal of the season and third of his career. Byrd also made a 39-yard field goal at the end of the first quarter and two extra points to account for 8 of the Lobos points in the game.

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.