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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ridgeway On 2003 Ray Guy Award Watch List
8/28/2003 | Football
Aug. 28, 2003
AUGUSTA, Ga. - Ole Miss punter Cody Ridgeway of Jackson, Tenn., is among 32 college football punters who have been named to the 2003 Ray Guy Award watch list as potential candidates for the top collegiate punter of the year, it was announced this week by the Greater Augusta Sports Council.
Ridgeway, a 6-1 1/2, 190 pound junior, averaged 42.4 yards on 67 punts a year ago as he saw action in all 13 games, placing 18 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Ridgeway, who was limited in spring drills after having off-season shoulder surgery, enters the year with a 40.9 yard career punting average with 4,701 yards on 115 punts.
The Ray Guy Award will be presented to the nation's best collegiate punter as determined by a national selection committee made up of sports writers, college football coaches and sports information directors, former punters and members designated by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. Among the statistics to be included in determining the Ray Guy Award winner are total yardage, number of times a punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside of the opponent's 20-yard line, net average, average return yardage and percentage not returned. The winner will display leadership and self-discipline, and will have a positive impact on the team's success.
The Ray Guy Award watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists who will be announced in early November. The national voting body will then vote for the three finalists and the winner who will be announced in late November. On December 11, 2003 the three finalists will travel to Orlando, Fla., for the Home Depot College Football Awards Show, with the winner being announced and presented with the award live on ESPN. Punters are eligible to join the watch list at any time prior to the announcement of the ten semifinalists.
Further, the Ray Guy Award winner will be invited to Augusta, Ga., for an exciting two-day celebration, including the Greater Augusta Sports Awards Gala, the Ray Guy Kicking & Punting Academy, and community appearances.
During his All-American collegiate football tenure at Southern Mississippi and his legendary career as a Pro Bowl punter for the NFL's Oakland Raiders, Ray Guy, a native of Thomson, Ga., was unsurpassed in his ability to impact the outcome of games with incredible hang time and ball control. Since his retirement, Ray Guy has sought to bring heightened awareness and recognition to the punter position at all levels, and to spotlight the contributions and talents that these young athletes bring to the playing field.
