University of Tennessee Athletics
UT's Lincoln on Groza Watch List
August 25, 2008 | Football
Aug. 25, 2008
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Tennessee sophomore Daniel Lincoln is one of 30 placekickers on the Lou Groza Award Watch List, announced here Monday.
Lincoln was a Groza Award semifinalist and earned Football Writers All-America honors last season after setting a UT season kick scoring record with 115 points. The Ocala, Fla., native made 21-of-29 field goals and 52-of-53 PATs. Lincoln also was a consensus Freshman All-SEC pick and earned Academic All-SEC and Academic All-District IV from ESPN The Magazine.
Kickers on the Lou Groza Award Watch List were chosen based on statistics from the 2007 season and 2008 preseason expectations, but all Division I-A kickers are eligible for the award. Weekly beginning Sept. 8, the award recognizes the three (3) outstanding kickers of the week based on the previous week's play.
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award announces its 20 semifinalists on Nov. 11. From this list, a panel of more than 300 experts selects the top three (3) finalists for the award by Nov. 26. That same group then selects the national winner, which will be aired Dec. 11 during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show, broadcast live from Orlando, Fla.
The 17th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl, recognizes the three (3) finalists during an early week celebration in Palm Beach County culminating with a gala awards banquet on Dec. 9 prior to joining ESPN in Orlando.
Lincoln is one of eight semifinalists or finalists from last season: 2007 winner Thomas Weber of Arizona State, finalists Jose Martinez of UTEP and Austin Starr of Indiana, and semifinalists Kyle Brotzman of Boise State, Ryan Pretorius of Ohio State, Louie Sakoda of Utah and Sam Swank of Wake Forest.
The 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. Although an All Pro offensive lineman, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.
HAWYOOD HARRIS INTERVIEW OF COACH FULMER BEFORE LABOR DAY GAME AT UCLA
1. Have you been pleased with the overall progress the team has made in reaching goals you set for preseason practice?
A - "I have been pleased with the progress of the first units. I'm still concerned about depth issues. Overall, there has been an excellent attitude, and the players have worked hard to get themselves ready."
2. How has the team adjusted to any changes instituted by your new offensive coordinator, Dave Clawson?
A - "I think real well. In the spring we had our struggles early, to say the least. But we made headway the last week or so of spring practice. I compliment the players. They did a great job during the summer, spending time studying tape on their own. Everybody seems to be on the same page. I think they are ready for the opener with Dave Clawson's offense."
3. Describe the role that could be played by tight end Brandon Warren, who has been declared eligible by the NCAA under transfer rules.
A - "He will fill a significant role -- partly as tight end, maybe as an H-back at times. He's a very fine athlete, a man who can adjust and play a lot of positions. We are really encouraged about the progress he has made."
4. How has junior Jonathan Crompton stepped into the quarterback job after two years as backup?
A - "He has done well, working hard to learn the offense. He and Coach Clawson have been practically inseparable since the spring, which is a big plus for us. I think the time he spent as backup has been very valuable to him. The last couple of scrimmages, I don't know how you could ask him to manage things any better."
5. What do you expect from UCLA on Monday (5 p.m. Pacific time/8 p.m. Eastern) under new head coach Rick Neuheisel and offensive coordinator Norm Chow?
A - "Openers are always tough, but when you have a coaching switch as UCLA did, it makes it especially tough for us. It will be a process of adjusting and learning throughout the game Monday night. I mean both teams will have to adjust as the game moves along."
MISSISSIPPI STATE TICKETS ADDED TO AVAILABLE LIST
Individual game tickets for five University of Tennessee home football games - UAB (Sept. 13), Northern Illinois (Oct. 4), Mississippi State (Wyoming (Nov. 8) and Kentucky (Nov. 29) - remain available for purchase online at utsports.com, via phone at (800) 332-VOLS and at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Tickets for Northern Illinois and Wyoming are $40 each plus shipping and handling. Tickets for UAB, Mississippi State and Kentucky are $50 each plus shipping and handling.
The athletics department also has a very limited number of single seat, non-renewable season tickets on sale for the 2008 season. These tickets will be sold for $315 and will be available for purchase only at the Thompson-Boling Arena ticket office or by phone at (800) 332-VOLS.
