Treece Named to Lou Groza Watch List

Aug. 1, 2002

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech senior placekicker Robert Treece (Converse, Texas) has been named to the Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicker Award Watch List, announced today by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.

The second-year kicker finished second on the team in scoring in 2001 with 79 points on 12-of-15 field goals and a perfect 43-of-43 on point-afters. Treece's point total was the most for a Texas Tech kicker since Lin Elliott's 85 points in 1991.

In addition to Treece, other kickers include 2001 award winner Seth Marler (Tulane) and 2000 award winner Jonathan Ruffin (Cincinnati). Others on the list from the Big 12 Conference are Dusty Mangum (Texas), Johnny Beck (Kansas) and Luke Phillips (Oklahoma State).

The award, now in its 11th 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 is considered one of the first people to make kicking an art form, and help usher in to football the idea that a player could be used exclusively for kicking.

The watch list is comprised of the top 30 preliminary candidates and is presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl. The award will be given out during a ceremony on Tue., Dec. 10, in West Palm Beach, Fla.

2002 Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicker Award Watch ListJohn Anderson (Washington)Asen Asparuhov (Fresno State)Justin Ayat (Hawaii)Steve Azar (Northern Illinois)Johnny Beck (Kansas)Xavier Beitia (Florida State)Billy Bennett (Georgia)Peter Christofilakos (Illinois)David Davis (Southern California)Drew Dunning (Washington State)Damon Duval (Auburn)Damon Fine (Nevada)Curtis Head (Marshall)Adam Kiker (North Carolina State)Luke Manget (Georgia Tech)Dusty Mangum (Texas)Seth Marler (Tulane)Kevin Miller (East Carolina)Nick Novak (Maryland)Matt Payne (BYU)Luke Phillips (Oklahoma State)Jonathan Ruffin (Cincinnati)Josh Scobee (Louisiana Tech)Nicholas Setta (Notre Dame)Todd Sievers (Miami, FL)Nate Smith (Louisville)Robert Treece (Texas Tech)Alex Walls (Tennessee)J.D. Wallum (Wyoming)Daniel Weaver (South Carolina)

Texas Tech University Athletics

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