Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award

Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Committee Announces Final Three

WEST PALM BEACH-- The Palm Beach County Sports Institute and Palm Beach County Sports Commission are pleased to announce John Vaughn of Auburn University, Arthur Carmody of the University of Louisville, and Garrett Hartley of the University of Oklahoma as the finalist for the 2006 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl. These three place-kickers have compiled exceptional seasons in earning this honor.

John Vaughn, Auburn University, is currently tied for 3rd in the NCAA with 19 made field goals on the season. The senior is 19 of 23 in field goals. Twice this season Vaughn has made four field goals in a game. This season Vaughn is 2 of 3 in field goals 50 yards and longer. His season long came against Mississippi State when he connected on a 55-yard field goal. Also, Vaughn is a perfect 32 of 32 in extra points this season. Vaughn was also named a Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Star of the Week twice this season.

Arthur Carmody, University of Louisville, has been tremendously accurate all season long. On the year he has connected on 94.1% of his field goals. That percentage is currently the 3rd best in the NCAA for place-kickers who have attempted at least 10 field goals. Carmody is 16 of 17 in field goals this season with a long of 51-yards. The junior place-kicker is currently first among kickers in points per game with 9.3 points per game. Carmody is also a perfect 45 for 45 in extra points this season. On three occasions this year Carmody was 3 of 3 in field goals, helping his team win all three games.

Garrett Hartley, University of Oklahoma, has connected on 17 of 18 field goals this season. His only miss on the year came on a blocked 44-yard field goal against Oregon. Hartley currently ranks 2nd among all players in the Big 12 Conference with 8.2 points per game. The junior place-kicker’s season long is a 46-yard field goal against Iowa State. Hartley has also remained perfect this season in extra point attempts going 39 of 39. Twice this year Hartley was named a Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Star of the Week.

The Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award recognizes the top place-kicker in NCAA Division I-A football. Voters for the award include Division I-A head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters, conference representatives, professional kickers, and previous Groza Award finalists.

The three finalists for the Lou Groza Award are announced on Monday, November 20 and will be honored at the 15th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet on Tuesday, December 5 at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott. The 2006 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award winner will be announced on Thursday, December 7 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show in Orlando, Florida.

The award, now in its 15th year, is named for 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.

For more information on the finalists please visit, including photographs and biographies, please visit http://www.lougrozaaward.com/Candidates/index.htm.

The Lou Groza Award is also sponsored by The Breakers, Continental Airlines, Discretion Entertainment, Duffy’s Sports Grill, Enterprise rent-a-car, ESPN Radio 760, ESPN Regional Television, FedEx Orange Bowl, Florida Atlantic University Athletics, Florida Coca-Cola Bottling Company, InBloom, 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, Southern Audio Visual, The Tux Shop, and WPEC News-12.

For more information regarding the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, including banquet, hotel, and ticket information please contact Dusty Ann Williams at the Palm Beach County Sports Institute at (561) 233-3122 or dwilliams@palmbeachsports.com.

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