University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
McCaleb Named Semifinalist For Lou Groza Award
11/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 7, 2005
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Junior placekicker Darren McCaleb was named one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award today, presented by the FedEX Orange Bowl. The Lou Groza Award is awarded annually to the nation's top collegiate kicker.
McCaleb, named to the preseason watch list before the season began, was also named a semifinalist for the award in 2004.
On the season, McCaleb has made 14-of-16 field goals and 25-of-25 extra points. He ranks No. 1 in Conference USA and No. 3 nationally in field goals per game (2.0), ranking second in Conference USA and No. 19 nationally in scoring (10.29), No. 1 in Conference USA in points by a kicker (9.6), No. 1 in Conference USA in field goal percentage (87.5) and No. 1 in PAT kicking percentage (100.0).
McCaleb became the school's all-time leader in field goals made (43) this season, as he broke Steve Clark's total of 41 with three field goals against UAB (10/21). The Biloxi, Miss., native also set the school record for most points scored by a kicker (215) with five points against N.C. State (10/29), breaking the previous total of 212 set by Clark in his career from 1981-83.
In the East Carolina game (10/1), McCaleb tied a school record with four field goals (45, 43, 21 and 32 yards), matching Chris Seroka against Memphis in 1988 and Rex Banks against Georgia in 1984. He also set a school record with 15 points kicking against the Pirates, breaking the 14 point total set by Seroka against Memphis in 1988.
For his career, McCaleb has connected on 44-of-52 field goals (.846) and 82-of-88 (.932) extra points.
The three finalists for the Lou Groza Award will be announced on Monday, Nov. 21 and are honored at the 14th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott. The 2005 Lou Groza Collegiate PlaceKicker Award winner will be announced on Thursday, December 8 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show in Orlando, Florida.
Voters for the award include Division I-A head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters, conference representatives, professional kickers and previous Groza Award finalists.
The award, now in its 14th 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.
2005 Lou Groza Award Semifinalists
Mike Barrow Idaho
Dan Beardall Utah
Kenny Byrd New Mexico
Brandon Coutu Georgia
Mason Crosby Colorado
Jad Dean Clemson
John Deraney N.C. State
Brad DeVault Tulsa
Connor Hughes Virginia
Josh Huston Ohio State
Robert Lee East Carolina
Darren McCaleb Southern Miss.
Brandon Pace Virginia Tech
Garrett Rivas Michigan
Jason Robbins Toldeo
Kyle Schlicher Iowa
Reagan Schneider UTEP
Alexis Serna Oregon State
Clint Stitser Fresno State
Sam Swank Wake Forest
