Sam Swank Named a Groza Award Semifinalist
11/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 7, 2007
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest placekicker Sam Swank on Tuesday was named as one of 20 semifinalists for the prestigious Lou Groza Award presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl. The semifinalists for the Groza Award, which is given annually to the nation's top placekicker in the NCAA Bowl Subdivison, were announced by the Palm Beach Sports Institute and Sports Commission.
Swank has been successful on 14 of 17 field goal attempts this year and is perfect on all 31 PAT attempts. For his career, Swank is 56 of 72 on field goal attempts and perfect on 93 career PAT tries. On Oct. 27, Swank became Wake Forest's all-time scoring leader. He currently has 261 career points.
Six kickers from the ACC are among the 20 semifinalists. No other conference had more than four honorees.
Florida State's Gary Cismesia and Swank were both among the semifinalists last year. Combined, the six ACC kickers have made 91 of 107 field goals this year, an impressive percentage of .850, and have made 137 of 141 PATs, a .972 percentage.
Three finalists for the award will be announced on Monday, November 19 and will be honored at the16th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicker Award Banquet on Tuesday, December 4 at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott Hotel. The 2007 Lou Groza Award winner will be announced on Thursday, December 6 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Orlando, Fla.
