Marshall's Ratanamorn Named Lou Groza Award Semi-Finalist

Go C-USA! Craig Ratanamorn
Go C-USA!
Craig Ratanamorn
Go C-USA!

Nov. 9, 2009

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced Monday that Marshall University senior kicker Craig Ratanamorn is one of 20 semi-finalists for the prestigious Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl.

Ratanamorn, a senior from Wichita, Kansas, is a perfect 11-of-11 of field goals and 22-of-22 on extra points this season. He is the only kicker in the nation with at least 10 made field goals that has not missed this season. He is also the only Conference USA kicker to make the list of 20 semi-finalists.

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.

For more information regarding the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to follow the season progress, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com.

The 2009 Lou Groza Award Semi-Finalists
Wes Byrun - Auburn
Jordan Congdon - USC
Stefan Demos - Northwestern
Morgan Flint - Oregon
Kai Forbath - UCLA
Alan Gendreau - Middle Tennessee
Kevin Goessling - Fresno State
Alex Henery - Nebraska
Spencer Lanning - South Carolina
Hunter Lawrence - Texas
Joe Phillips - Utah
Robert Randolph - Virginia
Craig Ratanamorn - Marshall
Grant Ressel - Missouri
Will Snyderwine - Duke
Caleb Sturgis - Florida
Brett Swenson - Michigan State
Nick Tausch - Notre Dame
Leigh Tiffin - Alabama
Blair Walsh - Georgia

 

 

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