Nick Browne Named To Groza Semifinal List
11/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 5, 2003
TCU senior placekicker Nick Browne has been selected as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the nation's top placekicker.
Browne, a 5-10, 172-pounder from Garland, Texas, was the first team all-Conference USA placekicker last season. He has been named as the league's special teams player of the week four times this season and eight times in his career. He has connected on 17-of-20 field goal attempts this year, ranking fifth in the nation with an average of 2.13 per game. Browne also has hit 24 extra-point points to give him 75 total points and a league-leading average of 9.4 per game. With 252 career points, he needs just seven more to tie TCU's record for kick scoring, held by 1995 Groza Award winner Michael Reeder. A first team academic All-American in 2002, Browne was Playboy Magazine's Anson Mount Scholar Athlete winner.
Started in 1992, the Lou Groza Award is named after Lou "The Toe" Groza, the Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame placekicker who is credited with elevating the role of placekicker to one of an offensive weapon and scoring machine. Groza, who played 21 seasons in the NFL, set NFL records for field goals and extra points in a season as a rookie and he ended his career with 10 league records and 24 Cleveland Browns marks.
Browne looks to become the second TCU kicker to win the award. Michael Reeder was honored as the nation's top placekicker in 1995.
The three finalists for the 2003 award will be announced on November 17. The award, which is presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl, will be given out during a ceremony on Tuesday, December 9, at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
For more information about the Lou Groza Award, please visit www.palmbeachsports.com/Groza
2003 LOU GROZA AWARD SEMIFINALISTS
Name, School, Yr.
Steve Azar, Northern Illinois University, Sr.
Xavier Beitia, Florida State University, Jr.
Nick Browne, TCU, Sr.
Trey DiCarlo, University of Oklahoma, Soph.
Drew Dunning, Washington State University, Sr.
Connor Hughes, University of Virginia, So.
Ben Jones, Purdue University, So.
Nate Kaeding, University of Iowa, Sr.
Ryan Killeen, USC, Jr.
Matt Leach, University of Florida, Jr.
J.C. Mejia, San Diego State University, Sr.
Jonathan Nichols, University of Mississippi, Jr.
Nick Novak, University of Maryland, Jr.
Matt Payne, Brigham Young University, Jr.
Jon Peattie, University of Miami (Fla.), Fr.
Dillon Pieffer, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Sr.,
David Rayner, Michigan State University, Jr.
Nate Smith, University of Louisville, Sr.
Andrew Wellock, Eastern Michigan University, Fr.
Kirk Yliniemi, Oregon State University, Sr.
