Hartley on Preseason Groza List

Aug. 28, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma kicker Garrett Hartley, one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award last year, is on the preseason watch list for that same honor in 2007.

Hartley, a senior from Southlake, Texas, made 19-of-20 field goals last season along with 49-of-50 extra points. His 2006 field goal percentage set an OU record and led the nation among kickers with more than 10 attempts.

Hartley ranks No. 8 at OU in career kick scoring with 200 points, while his 34 field goal rank No. 6. With 98 career point after touchdown kicks, he ranks No. 9 on the all-time Sooner list.

Two former winners of the award, Arthur Carmody of the University of Louisville and Alexis Serna of Oregon State University, are on the list too.

The watch list is comprised of the top 30 preliminary candidates for the 16th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl. The top three finalists will be honored during the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet on Tuesday, December 4, 2007. The award will be presented Thursday, December 6, 2007 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show broadcast live from Orlando, Fla.

Five former winners or nominees, Mason Crosby, Martin Gramatica, Sebastian Janikowski, Nate Kaeding and Mike Nugent became successful NFL kickers.

In addition to the former winners and Hartley, seven former semi-finalists have been named to this year's opening list. Last year's semi-finalists returning are: Gary Cismesia, Florida State; Taylor Mehlhaff, Wisconsin; Jeremy Ito, Rutgers; Patrick Shadle, Syracuse; Ryan Succop, South Carolina; Sam Swank, Wake Forest and Jeff Wolfert, Missouri.

Kickers on the Lou Groza Award Watch List were chosen based on statistics from the 2006 season and 2007 preseason expectations. However, all Division I-A kickers are eligible for consideration for the award.

A panel of over 300 experts vote on the award, including Division I-A head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters, conference representatives, professional kickers and all previous Groza Award finalists.

The 20 semi-finalists for the Lou Groza Award are announced on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 followed by the naming of the three finalists two weeks later on Tuesday, November 20, 2007.

The award, is named for National Football League (NFL) Hall of Fame kicker Lou "the Toe" 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. Although an "All Pro" offensive lineman, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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