Former Brownwood Lion and now Kansas State kicker Matthew McCrane was nominated Monday as a “Star of the Week” recognizing him as a top collegiate kicker by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Lou Groza award which is presented each year by the Orange Bowl. Those nominated as “Stars of the Week” may be considered for the prestigious Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award which has become the most prestigious college football award for kickers.
Fans are encouraged to vote for Matthew McCrane as their “Star of the Week” by visiting www.LouGrozaAward.com. Although this week’s voting poll does not determine the winner of the annual award, it does give McCrane recognition.
McCrane, a freshman at KSU, has attempted six field goals so far this season and has made all of them. Three of them, 38, 30 and 19 yards, were made this weekend in a game against Texas in Manhattan, Kansas, helping the Wildcats win 23-0 Saturday against Texas, improving their Big 12 record to 4-0. The game was a landmark win for the Wildcat program 500th all-time and for the first time in his career, McCrane successfully made multiple field goals in one game and added two extra points. He is one of eight in the nation with at least six field goals and no misses this season.
Other nominees this week include the Clemson Tiger’s Ammon Lakip, a junior from Johns Creek, Georgia and TCU’s Jaden Oberkrom, a junior from Arlington, Texas.
How the award is determined: Prior to the start of each college football season, the Lou Groza Award Watch List consisting of 30 players is released. This Watch List is determined based on statistics from the previous season and preseason expectations. Information is received from national media, school sports information directors and other ranking sources. However, all Division I-A kickers are eligible for the coveted award. During the season the Groza Awards committee monitors the success of all kickers on a national level. Weekly, beginning in early September the award recognizes the three outstanding kickers of the week based on the previous week’s play.
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award committee announces its 20 semi-finalists in early-November. From this list, a panel of over 300 experts selects the top three finalists for the award in late November. That same group then selects the national winner.
This year, the Lou Groza Award will be presented as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards in Orlando, Florida on Thursday, December 11th. The three finalists will be honored at the 23rd Annual Lou Groza Awards Banquet on Tuesday, December 9th at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. For more information on the Lou Groza Award, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, and to vote for your favorite Star of the Week, visit www.LouGrozaAward.com.
The Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s official website, www.ncfaa.org.
About the Palm Beach County Sports Commission: The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, not-for-profit organization contracted by Palm Beach County to promote and market the County as a sports and sports tourism destination. The Commission brings sporting events and activities to the County, enhances economic impact, stimulates bed tax revenues (primarily in the off-season), and maximizes utilization of County facilities. The Commission offers a full range of event service support, corporate partnerships, sponsorships and a local membership program that support its goals. Local, regional, national and international marketing efforts are ongoing by the Commission with sports organizations and event owners. The Commission also produces sports-related programs for the residents of Palm Beach County including the annual Lou Groza Awards program, the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame, the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches and awards the annual Sam Budnyk Student-Athlete Scholarship. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission go to www.palmbeachsports.com.
