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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Shene Named Semifinalist for Lou Groza Award
10/31/2008 | Football
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ole Miss' Joshua Shene is among 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl and announced Friday by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.
A junior from Oklahoma City, Shene ranks first in the SEC in field goal percentage (92.3) and tied for first in PATs (1.000). Since his lone missed kick of the year at Vanderbilt on a 47-yard try, he has made eight straight FGs and is 12-of-13 overall. Shene is a perfect 26-for-26 on PATs this year to extend his streak to 50 consecutive extra points converted, which is fourth-longest in school history.
Semifinalists will be voted on by a panel consisting of all Division 1 coaches and SID's, along with national, regional and local football writers and others who will select the three finalists. These finalists will be invited to the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet December 7-9 in West Palm Beach, Fla. The winner will be announced live on the nationally televised Home Deport ESPNU College Football Awards Program on the evening of December 11, 2008.
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.
Among past Groza recipients is the Rebels' Jonathan Nichols in 2003, while other previous finalists include current NFL kickers Nate Kaeding, Sebastion Janikowski, Mike Nugent, Martin Gramatica, Jason Elam and Mason Crosby.
The Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicker Award presented by the Fed Ex Orange bowl will be announced on the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards aired on ESPN on Thursday December 11th. The three finalists will be honored at the Lou Groza Awards Banquet at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on Tuesday December 9th.
For more information regarding the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to follow the season progress, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com. Additional information can be obtained by contacting Charlie Dunn, Director of Marketing at the Palm Beach County Sports Commission at (561) 233-3122 or cdunn@palmbeachsports.com.
