Dean Named Finalist for Lou Groza Award

Nov. 22, 2005

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WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Mason Crosby of Colorado, Jad Dean of Clemson and Alexis Serna of Oregon State have been selected as finalists for the 2005 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl.

The voters for the Lou Groza Award are comprised of all Division I-A head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters from across the country, conference officials, various NFL kickers and all previous Lou Groza Award finalists. The finalists will be recognized at the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Dinner hosted at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott on Tuesday, December 6. The Lou Groza Award winner is announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, December 8.

Mason Crosby, a junior, is tied for the longest field goal in the NCAA this season, with his 58-yarder at Miami. In his career, he has kicked six of the top 13 field goals in Colorado history of 50 yards or longer. His career long is a 60-yarder against Iowa State in 2004. For the season, Crosby is currently 19 of 24, has a 79.2 field goal percentage and has made 31 or 31 point after attempts. He has kicked 8 of 11 field goals from 40-49 yards; and 5 of 6 from 50+ yards including field goals from 56, 57 and 58.

Jad Dean, a junior, is the leading scorer in the ACC with 9.0 points per game and 99 points on the season, including a perfect 33-33 on extra points. He is third in the nation in field goals per game with 2.0. In Clemson’s season-opening win over Texas A&M, Dean made a school-record six field goals including the game winner from 42 yards with 0:02 left. The performance earned him Dean is 12th overall in the nation in scoring (all positions), has made 22 of 29 field goals and has a 75.9 field goal percentage.

Sophomore Alexis Serna is ranked first in NCAA Division I-A ESPN kicking listings with 101 points this season. He also holds the number one spot as the NCAA active leader for career field goal percentage at 83.3. Serna is 23 of 28 on the season, with an 82.1 field goal percentage. Alexis is 32-of-32 in point after attempts this season and has made 57 consecutive extra point attempts. Highlights of Serna’s season include leading Oregon State to an 18-10 victory over Washington by scoring six field goals, in windy and rainy conditions. He also kicked the game winning 29-yard field goal with 1:03 remaining in an Oregon State come from behind defeat over Boise State, 30-27. Serna was named PAC-10 Special Teams Player of the Week for November 7.

The Lou Groza Award is named for 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.

The three finalists for the Lou Groza Award are honored at the 14th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Dinner on Tuesday, December 6 at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott. The 2005 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award winner is announced on Thursday, December 8 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show in Orlando, Florida.

The Lou Groza Award is presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl and is sponsored by BankAtlantic, Clipper Corporate Apparel and Promotions, Continental Airlines, Crooks Printing Services, ESPN Radio 760, ESPN Regional Television, Florida Atlantic University Athletics, Florida Coca-Cola Bottling Company, JBS Destination Solutions, John F. Romano, P.A., KaBloom, Palm Beach Kennel Club, Parallax Productions, Rooney’s Public House, Palm Beach Gardens Marriott, Team A-fin-ity Sportfishing, The Breakers, The Palm Beach Post and WPEC News-12.

For more information regarding the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, including banquet, hotel and ticket information, please contact the Palm Beach County Sports Institute at (561) 233-3180 or visit www.lougrozaaward.com.