Nov. 9, 2004
ATLANTA–Georgia Tech placekicker Travis Bell has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the 2004 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.
The 2004 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award is presented by the 2005 FedEx Orange Bowl National Championship.
A redshirt freshman from Roswell, Ga., Bell ranks among the national leaders in field goal percentage. After missing his first goal try of the season, he has made nine in a row and is now 9-for-10 on the season, including a long of 47 yards against Duke. He is also perfect (19-for-19) on extra points.
Bell is Tech’s leading scorer with 46 points.
Name SchoolJeff Babcock Colorado StateTravis Bell Georgia TechBrian Bostick AlabamaMason Crosby ColoradoStephen Gostkowski MemphisTyler Jones Boise StateDarren McCaleb Southern MississippiJustin Medlock UCLAMike Nugent Ohio StateMatt Nuzie ConnecticutBrandon Pace Virginia TechMatt Payne Brigham YoungTodd Pegram Texas A&MDave Rayner Michigan StateJoe Rheem Kansas StateReagan Schneider Texas-El PasoAlexis Serna Oregon StateColby Smith Middle TennesseeShaun Suisham Bowling GreenAndrew Wellock Eastern Michigan
The voters for the Lou Groza Award are comprised of all Division I head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters from across the country, conference officials, various NFL kickers and all previous Lou Groza Award finalists.
The three finalists for the Lou Groza Award will be announced on Monday, Nov. 22. Finalists will be honored at the 13th Annual Lou Groza Award Banquet on Tuesday Dec. 7 at the West Palm Beach Marriott in West Palm Beach, Fla.
The award, now in its 13th 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.
The Lou Groza Award is sponsored by AIM Riverside Press, BankAtlantic, The Breakers, Clipper Corporate Apparel, Continental Airlines, ESPN Radio 760, ESPN Regional Television, Florida Atlantic University Athletics, Florida Coca-Cola Bottling, JBS Destination Solutions, Palm Beach Kennel Club, The Palm Beach Post, Parallax Productions, Rooney’s Public House, West Palm Beach Marriott and WPEC News Channel 12.
For more information regarding the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, including banquet, hotel and ticket information, please contact the Palm Beach County Sports Commission at (561) 233-1015 or visit www.lougrozaaward.com.
