Palm Beach County Sports Commission Presents

Palm Beach County Sports Commission

Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award

Palm Beach Sports

2009 SEMI-FINALISTS

Lou Groza National Collegiate Place Kicker Award
Announces Top 20 Semi-Finalists

West Palm Beach, FL. November 10, 2009-- The Palm Beach County Sports Commission has released its 20 semi –finalists for the 2009 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl. These twenty place-kickers have all excelled throughout the season in earning their places as semifinalists.

This year’s list of candidates for the 18th annual Award is led by 2008 semi-finalist Leigh Tiffin, a frequent “Star of the Week” selection who has earned SEC Special Teams player of the week recognition during the season. Tiffin is the only 2008 semi-finalist to make the final twenty this season.

At this writing, Tiffin and UCLA junior Kai Forbath were tied for the national lead in field goals made with twenty each. The only candidate among the final twenty who has yet to miss a kick, field goal or PAT, is Craig Ratanamorn, a senior from Marshall University. He’s been successful on 11 of 11 field goal tries and all 22 of his extra point attempts.

The honor for the longest field goal among the semi-finalists belongs to University of Florida sophomore Caleb Sturgis who connected from 56 yards against Georgia this year. Also included on the list is Georgia’s Blair Walsh who is a perfect 3 for 3 on attempts of 50 yards or longer.

Semi-finalists will be voted on by all Division 1 Head Coaches and SID's, along with national, regional and local football writers and others who will select the three (3) finalists. These finalists will be honored at the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on December 8 in West Palm Beach, FL. The winner will be announced live on the nationally televised Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on the evening of December 10, 2009.

The award is named in honor of one of the all-time great kickers in football history, Lou Groza. Groza played 21 seasons for the Cleveland Browns setting numerous franchise records, including most games played, most points scored, and an amazing 107 consecutive games in which he scored a point. The 1,608 career points he scored is still a Browns' franchise record, and he ranks third all-time in league. Groza was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

Past Groza finalists include current NFL kickers, Nate Kaeding, Sebastian Janikowski, Mike Nugent, Martin Gramatica, Jason Elam and Mason Crosby.

Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards 2009 National Semi-Finalists

(In alphabetical Order)

Wes Byrum – Auburn

Height: 6’2" - Weight: 209 lbs - Class: Junior - Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
13	14	92.9	1-1	4-4	3-3	5-6	0-0	49	34	34	73

Jordan Congdon – Southern California

Height: 5'9" - Weight: 180 - Class: Junior - Hometown: San Diego, California

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
10	12	83.3	0-0	7-7	2-2	1-3	0-0	42	27	27	57

Stefan Demos – Northwestern

Height: 5’10" - Weight: 185 - Class: Junior - Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
13	15	86.7	2-2	5-5	3-4	3-4	0-0	49	23	24	62

Morgan Flint – Oregon

Height: 5'9" - Weight: 173 - Class: Senior - Hometown: Ellensburg, Washington

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
10	12	83.3	0-0	3-3	5-6	2-3	0-0	42	32	32	62

Kai Forbath – UCLA

Height: 6'0" - Weight: 192 - Class: Junior - Hometown: Pacific Palisades, California

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
20	22	90.9	0-0	4-4	9-9	4-4	3-5	53	11	12	71

Alan Gendreau – Middle Tennessee

Height: 5'10" - Weight: 170 - Class: Sophomore - Hometown: Apopka, Florida

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
12	13	92.3	2-2	6-6	2-2	2-3	0-0	48	24	25	60

Kevin Goessling – Fresno State

Height: 6'0" - Weight: 195 - Class: Sophomore - Hometown: Placentia, California

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
10	11	90.9	0-0	2-2	2-2	5-6	1-1	50	36	36	66

Alex Henery – Nebraska

Height: 6'2" - Weight: 175 - Class: Junior - Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
11	13	84.6	1-1	4-4	3-3	3-3	0-2	46	26	26	59

Spencer Lanning – South Carolina

Height: 5'11" - Weight: 188 - Class: Junior - Hometown: Rock Hill, South Carolina

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
14	16	87.5	0-0	5-6	7-7	2-2	0-1	47	20	21	62

Hunter Lawrence – Texas
Height: 6'0" - Weight: 187 - Class: Senior - Hometown: Boerne, Texas

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
16	18	88.9	1-1	4-5	6-6	5-5	0-1	44	36	37	84

Joe Phillips – Utah

Height:5'11" - Weight: 187 - Class: Junior - Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
10	11	90.9	0-0	4-4	3-3	3-4	0-0	48	19	20	49

Robert Randolph – Virginia

Height: 5’10" - Weight: 160 - Class: Sophomore - Hometown: Naples, Florida

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
13	14	92.9	1-1	1-1	9-10	2-2	0-0	49	6	6	45

Craig Ratanamorn – Marshall

Height: 6’3" - Weight: 178 - Class: Senior - Hometown: Wichita, Kansas

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
11	11	100	1-1	3-3	6-6	1-1	0-0	43	22	22	55

Grant Ressel – Missouri

Height: 6'2" - Weight: 190 - Class: Sophomore - Hometown: Jackson, Missouri

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
14	15	93.3	0-0	5-5	5-5	4-5	0-0	46	23	23	65

Will Snyderwine – Duke

Height: 5'11" - Weight: 185 - Class: Junior - Hometown: Potomac, Maryland

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
11	12	91.7	0-0	4-5	3-3	4-4	0-0	47	18	18	51

Caleb Sturgis – Florida

Height: 5'10" - Weight: 190 - Class: Sophomore - Hometown: St. Augustine, Florida

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
15	18	83.3	0-0	7-8	5-7	1-1	2-2	56	19	20	64

Brett Swenson – Michigan State

Height: 5'8" - Weight: 185 - Class: Senior - Hometown: Pompano Beach, Florida

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
14	15	93.3	0-0	7-7	5-5	2-2	0-1	45	27	28	69

Nick Tausch – Notre Dame

Height: 6'0" - Weight: 190 - Class: Freshman - Hometown: Plano, Texas

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
14	15	93.3	0-0	5-6	6-6	3-3	0-0	46	24	27	66

Leigh Tiffin – Alabama

Height: 6'2" - Weight: 212 - Class: Senior - Hometown: Muscle Shoals, Alabama

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
20	23	87.0	0-0	10-10	7-9	2-3	1-1	50	24	26	84

Blair Walsh – Georgia

Height: 5’10" - Weight: 185 - Class: Sophomore - Hometown: Boca Raton, Florida

FGM	FGA	FG%	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
12	13	92.3	0-0	1-1	4-5	4-4	3-3	53	22	22	58

About Palm Beach County Sports Commission
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, not-for-profit organization contracted by Palm Beach County to promote and market the County as a sports and sports tourism destination. The Commission brings sporting events and activities to the County, enhances economic impact, stimulates bed tax revenues (primarily in the off-season), and maximizes utilization of County facilities. The Commission offers a full range of event service support, corporate partnerships, sponsorships and a local membership program that support its goals. Local, regional, national and international marketing efforts are ongoing by the Commission with sports organizations and event owners. The Commission also produces sports-related programs for the residents of Palm Beach County including the annual Lou Groza Awards program, the Sports Hall of Fame, the Kids Fitness Festival and awards the annual Sam Budnyk Student-Athlete Scholarship. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission go to www.palmbeachsports.com.

1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd, Suite 1410,
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Fax: (561) 233-3125

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