University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Britt Barefoot Named to Ray Guy Watch List
9/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 16, 2008
Augusta, Ga. - Southern Miss senior kicker Britt Barefoot has been named to the 2008 Ray Guy Award Watch List, which identifies the nation's top collegiate punter. The watch list, which includes four Conference USA players, was announced Tuesday by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. This year's watch list is headed up by Cincinnati Bearcat punter Kevin Huber, the only returning Top-3 finalist for the 2007 Ray Guy Award.
The watch list will be narrowed to ten semi-finalists in early-November. The national voting body will then vote for the top three finalists, and ultimately the winner. The top three finalists will be announced in late-November, and the winner of the Ray Guy Award, which is affiliated with the National College Football Awards Association, will be presented live on ESPN during the ESPNU-Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 11, 2008.
Barefoot, a redshirt senior from Laurel, Miss., has had 14 punts so far this season for a total of 573 yards. His punting average is 40.9 yards and he has recorded two punts over 50 yards, with his longest punt being 58 yards. He has had two punts downed inside the 20-yardline and three punts were touchbacks.
The award's namesake, Ray Guy, arguably the greatest punter to play football, is excited about this year's prospects. "The award is becoming more competitive every year. And to me that means teams are placing a higher degree of importance on the role of the punter. It's a real honor to be associated with such a fine group of individuals who place more importance on the success of their team, than their own achievements."
About the Ray Guy Award The Greater Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award to honor Thomson, Georgia-native and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Ray Guy, arguably the greatest punter to play football. The award was first presented in 2000. The Ray Guy Award is determined by a national selection committee made up of sports writers, college football coaches, sports information directors, and past Ray Guy Award winners. Among the statistics used to identify the Ray Guy Award winner are total yardage punted, number of times a punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, net average, average returned yardage, and percentage of punts not returned. It is also of importance for the award winner to display team leadership, self-discipline, and to have a positive impact on the team's success.
About the Greater Augusta Sports Council The Greater Augusta Sports Council (GASC) is a 501-c-3 not-for-profit organization established in 1992 to market the Augusta-area as a major amateur sports destination. Annually, the organization attracts, supports, and creates numerous competitions and activities, at all levels of participation.
About the National College Football Awards Association The National College Football Awards Association was founded in 1997 as a coalition of major collegiate football awards. The purpose of the NCFAA is to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of college football's various awards. The NCFAA also encourages professionalism and the highest standards possible for administration of college football awards and the selection of their winners.
2008 Ray Guy Award Watch ListBryan Anger, Freshman, California
Britt Barefoot, Senior, Southern Miss
Brent Bowden, Junior, Virginia Tech
Justin Brantly, Senior, Texas A & M
Terence Brown, Senior, North Carolina
Peter Caldwell, Sophomore, Utah State
T.J Conley, Senior, Idaho
Keenyn Crier, Sophomore, Arizona
Desi Cullen, Junior, Connecticut
Jeremy Davis, Senior, Arkansas
David Defatta, Junior, Middle Tennessee
Matthew DiLallo, Junior, Colorado
Andy Dittbenner, Senior, Northern Illinois
Ryan Donahue, Sophomore, Iowa
Derek Epperson, Sophomore, Baylor
Matt Fodge, Senior, Oklahoma State
Graham Gano, Senior, FSU
John Gold , Sophomore, Texas
Chas Henry, Sophomore, Florida
Kevin Huber, Senior, Cincinnati
Kevin Jones, Sophomore, Duke
Chris Keagle, Senior, La. Tech
Justin Kucek, Senior, Minnesota
Jonathan LaCour, Sophomore, Texas Tech
Rob Long Sophomore, Syracuse
Scott Love, Junior, Louisiana-Monroe
Jimmy Maners, Senior, Clemson
Tim Masthay, Senior, Kentucky
Blake McAdams, Senior, Mississippi State
Pat McAfee, Senior, West Virginia
Zoltan Mesko, Junior, Michigan
Chris Miller, Senior, Ball State
Brian Mimbs, Senior, Georgia
Thomas Morstead, Senior, SMU
Aaron Perez, Senior, UCLA
Keegan Peterson, Junior, Florida Atlantic
Jake Richardson, Senior, Miami (Ohio)
Louie Sakoda, Senior, Utah
Brett Shrable, Senior, Arkansas State
Sam Swank, Senior, Wake Forest
Dan Titchener, Senior, Nebraska
A.J. Trapasso, Senior, Ohio State
Chase Turner, Junior, Houston
Swayze Waters, Senior, UAB
Jeff Wathne, Sophomore, Temple
Thomas Weber, Sophomore, Arizona State
