Maryland Punter Named To First-Ever Ray Guy Award Watch List
8/30/2000 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 30, 2000
AUGUSTA, Ga. - Thirty-two punters, including Maryland sophomore Brooks Barnard and representatives from every Division I-A conference, comprise the first Ray Guy Award watch list as announced Tuesday by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. The following punters have been named to the Ray Guy Award watch list as possible candidates for the award. The punters were eligible for inclusion in the preseason list if nominated by August 21, 2000.
The Ray Guy Award will be awarded to the Nation's best punter as determined by a committee made up of sports writers, college football coaches, former punters and members designated by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. The winner will display leadership, self-discipline, and have a significant positive impact on the team's success. Players are eligible to join the watch list throughout the season.
The National Selection Committee will choose the ten semi-finalists who will be announced by November 8, 2000. That same national body will then vote for the three finalists who will be announced November 30, 2000.
The Ray Guy Award in its first year has become one of the most talked about awards in college football, finally recognizing the remaining major position on the football field that can single-handedly altar the outcome of a game. The award is named after the greatest punter of all time, Ray Guy who attended the University of Southern Mississippi and then was drafted in the first round by the Oakland Raiders. Ray Guy was an integral part of the Raider's successful years between 1973-1986.
The Greater Augusta Sports Council will present the Ray Guy Award in December at a combined awards dinner with the Greater Augusta Medal For Excellence in Sports Awards for high school students in the Augusta metro area.
Ray Guy Award Nominees Watch List:
School NomineeIowa Jason Baker Maryland Brooks Barnard Nevada- Las Vegas Ray Cheetany Houston Mike Clark Florida State Keith Cottrel Washington State Alan Cox Oregon Kurtis Doerr Purdue Travis Dorsch Georgia Tech Dan Dyke Michigan Hayden Epstein West Virginia Mark Fazzolari Oklahoma Jeff Ferguson Illinois Steve Fitts Nebraska Dan Hadenfeldt California Nick Harris Marshall Curtis Head Mississippi Reagan King New Mexico State Andy Kohl Tennessee David Leaverton Tulsa Casey Lipscomb Southern Cal Mike MacGillivray Boston College Kevin McMyler Utah State Steve Mullins Duke Brian Morton Kansas Joey Pelfanio Florida Alan Rhine Tulane Casey Roussel Arkansas State Andy Shatley Western Michigan Matt Steffen Wisconsin Kevin Stemke Southern Methodist Colin Vadheim Ohio University David Zastudil
