Thomas Weber named Groza Award semifinalist

TEMPE, Ariz. - Redshirt freshman kicker Thomas Weber has been named a Semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, presented to the nation's top placekicker. Weber is one of 20 semifinalists.

The Downey, California native set a school record by making the first 17 field goal attempts of his career. The 17 straight field goals is also a school record. Weber is currently 18-19 on field goal attempts, including a career-best 50 yarder. He is 34-36 on PATs and has scored 88 points so far in 2007. He nailed the game-winning kick against the Washington State Cougars on October 6, connecting on a 37-yarder with 50 seconds to go.

Weber also took over the punting duties prior to the game at Washington State, and is averaging 41.5 yards per punt. He was named the Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks, following wins over Stanford and the Cougars.

The Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award recognizes the top place-kicker in NCAA Division I-A football. Voters for the award include Division I-A head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters, conference representatives, professional kickers, and previous Groza Award finalists.

The three finalists for the Lou Groza Award are announced on Monday, November 19 and will be honored at the 16th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet on Tuesday, December 4 at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott. The 2007 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award winner will be announced on Thursday, December 6 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show in Orlando, Florida.

The award, now in its 16th 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.