Greater Augusta Sports Council

October 30, 2008
Top Ten Semi-Finalists Announced for 2008 Ray Guy Award

The Greater Augusta Sports Council announced today the top ten semi-finalists for the 2008 Ray Guy Award, which identifies the nation’s top collegiate punter. This year 53 punters were nominated for the honor. The nominees were evaluated on their overall statistics and contribution to the team. Particular emphasis was placed on the following categories: net average, percentage of total punts inside the 20-yard line, average return yardage, and percentage not returned.

The award is named for football legend, Ray Guy, the first punter ever inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (2004). Guy, who played with the Oakland Raiders from 1973 to 1986, is, perhaps, the first punter who could change the make-up of a game with his kicking style. According to NFL Hall of Fame historian Joe Horrigan, Ray Guy was “the first punter you could look at and say, ‘he won games’. This namesake award, which was created by the Greater Augusta Sports Council, was first presented in 2000.

A national voting body of Bowl Subdivision coaches, sports information directors, national media, and former Ray Guy Award winners will decide the three award finalists, and ultimately the winner of this year’s award. The winner will be announced live on ESPN during the ESPNU - Home Depot College Football Awards show, Thursday, December 11, 2008. The winner will again be honored at the Greater Augusta Sports Award Gala in early 2009.

2008 Ray Guy Award Semi-Finalist
• Bryan Anger-California-Freshman
• Derek Epperson-Baylor-Sophomore
• Ryan Donahue-Iowa-Sophomore
• Matt Fodge-Oklahoma State-Senior
• Chas Henry-Florida-Sophomore
• Kevin Huber-Cincinnati-Senior
• Pat McAfee-West Virginia-Senior
• Zoltan Mesko-Michigan-Junior
• Louie Sakoda-Utah-Senior
• A.J. Trapasso-Ohio State-Senior

June 11, 2008
Ray Guy Award Pre-season Watch List Announced
Previous Ray Guy Winners Setting the Bar High for Class of 2008

The Greater Augusta Sports Council announced today its pre-season watch list for the 2008 Ray Guy Award, which identifies the nation’s top collegiate punter. The pre-season list is comprised of the top non-graduating finalists from the previous year. The 2008 pre-season list is headed up by Cincinnati Bearcat punter Kevin Huber, who was a Ray Guy Award top-three finalist last year.

Former Georgia Tech punter Durant Brooks won the award in 2007. Brooks was the only punter selected in the 2008 NFL draft, where he was taken in the sixth round by the Washington Redskins. He looks to follow on the success of 2006 and 2004 winner Daniel Sepulveda (Baylor), who is making a name for himself with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and 2005 winner Ryan Plackemeier (Wake Forest) of the Seattle Seahawks.

The Ray Guy Award watch-list will be expanded after the start of the season. The list will be narrowed to ten semi-finalists in early-November. The national voting body will then vote for the top three finalists, who will be announced in late-November. The winner will be announced live during the ESPNU-Home Depot College Football awards show on December 11, 2008.

2008 Ray Guy Award Pre-Season Watch List
+ Keenyn Crier (Arizona) - had a phenomenal freshman season. He was named 1st-team All-PAC-10, 1st-team freshman All-America (FWAA), and Sporting News 2nd team. He had 2,577 total yards punting, His net punting average was 39.8 yards, and he dropped 22 of his 59 punts inside the 20. 66% of his punts were not returned.
+ Kevin Huber (Cincinnati) looks to be the man to beat in 2008. In addition to being a 2007 Ray Guy Award finalist, his other honors included Consensus All-America, Walter Camp All-America, Big East Special Teams Player of the Year, 1st Team All-Big East. 20 of his 57 punts downed inside the 20, his net punting average was 44.23 yards per kick, and nearly 72% of his punts were not returned. Kevin’s total punting yardage was 2,672.
+ Chris Miller (Ball State) - was an American Football Coaches Association All-America First Team selection in 2007. He had a net punting average of 40.02%, and 23 punts downed inside the 20. 54.1% of his punts were not returned. He punted for 2,772 total yards.
+ Louie Sakoda (Utah) - had a stellar 2007 season. He was named a 1st-team All-America punter by the FWAA and CBSSports.com, 2nd-team All-America punter by SI.com, and 2nd-team All-America punter and kicker by College Football News. He was the only starting dual punter/placekicker to rank in the top-five of both disciplines. Louie had 3,231 total punting yards. He had a net punting average of 40.19 yards, had 28 of 73 punts downed inside the 20, and 65.75% of his punts could not be returned.
+ A.J. Trapasso (Ohio State) - was recognized in 2007 as the Big Ten special-teams player of the week after the Buckeyes played Michigan State. 19 of his 50 punts were downed inside the 20, his net punting average was 38.46 yards, and 66% of his punts could not be returned. He finished the season with 2,049 punting yards.

The Ray Guy Award national voting body is made up of sports writers, college football coaches, sports information directors, and former 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 important 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. The Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award to honor of Thomson, Georgia-native and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Ray Guy, arguably the greatest punter to play football.

June 2, 2008
Ironman 70.3 Augusta Announced

Today, Ironman, in conjunction with Premier Event Management and the Greater Augusta Sports Council announced a new Ironman 70.3 event scheduled for 2009 in the southeastern United States. Ironman 70.3 Augusta will take place in the classic southern city of Augusta, Georgia on Sunday, September 27, 2009 with a field limit of 2,000 athletes.
Premier Event Management, producers of the several major triathlons across the United States including the Nautica New York City Triathlon, Ironman 70.3 Lake Stevens and the Ochsner Ironman 70.3 New Orleans, is excited to bring Ironman 70.3 to the city of Augusta. "The city of Augusta and the Greater Augusta Sports Council have been simply fantastic to work with on the planning of this inaugural event," said race director, Bill Burke of Premier Event Management. Premier Event Management will be overseeing race logistics for the Augusta Half- Marathon this October.
Ironman 70.3 Augusta will offer athletes the unique opportunity to race in two states, as the cycling portion of this event will take athletes into the great state of South Carolina. Prior to the bike portion, athletes will swim a 1.2 mile point-to-point course in the Savannah River exiting at the Augusta Rowing Club Complex and the Augusta public boat launch. Athletes will then cycle a single-loop 56 mile bike course through the beautiful countryside of South Carolina before returning to the Georgia side of the Savannah River and the city of Augusta, Ga. Finally, athletes will run a two-loop course consisting of 13.1 miles, through the downtown community of Augusta finishing near the Augusta Golf and Gardens.
Athletes will be vying for 50 age group slots to the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 being held in Clearwater, Florida and a $25,000.00 professional prize purse.
To recognize the 4th of July, Premier Event Management is offering athletes with a one-time discounted registration fee to the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Augusta. Register online anytime throughout the month of July at www.ironmanaugusta.com beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 until July 30, 2008 and receive a $10.00 discount on your 2009 Ironman 70.3 Augusta entry. Ironman 70.3 Augusta is limited to 2,000 athletes so don’t be left out of this new event.

For further information on the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Augusta event or other events produced by Premier Event Management, check out www.pem-usa.com or call 866-454-6561. For more information on Ironman and the 70.3 Event Series, visit www.ironman.com.

March 20, 2008
The Greater Augusta Sports Council Announces the Inaugural Augusta Half Marathon

The Greater Augusta Sports Council announced today they will host the first Augusta Half Marathon on Sunday, October 26, 2008. The 13.1 mile race, which will start and finish at the Augusta Common, is the highlight of a weekend of activities that will include a 5K race, race expo, and a kid’s Trick or Trot race. The weekend’s festivities will also include a Halloween celebration presented by Augusta Parks and Recreation.
Premier Event Management, the nation’s preeminent organizer of multi-sports racing events, will oversee race logistics. The New Orleans-based group produces approximately 20 events a year. Their past and current list of races includes the 2004 and 2008 Triathlon Olympic Trials, the Alpharetta Marathon, the 2002 ITU Duathlon World Championships, and the Barclays North Ironman 70.3 Triathlon.
Greater Augusta Sports Council Executive Director Tammy Stout predicts over 1,000 competitors for the inaugural event, which could generate in excess of a half-million dollars in direct economic impact. The annual event could eventually draw 2,000 plus participants. According to Stout, "Cities across the country continue to launch new events, experiencing a healthy increase annually. Augusta sits within a short distance to many large cities with popular running clubs and impressive membership. We are in a prime location to draw from such markets in the Carolinas, Atlanta and northern Florida."
Although the route has not been finalized, the half-marathon race course will include some of Augusta’s most scenic areas. PEM’s Race Director Bill Burke commented, "The Augusta course is beautiful. It is very challenging, but not killer. The southern landscape of old homes through some great shaded neighborhoods will prove to be a hit with the runners." He added, "The community agencies are being very supportive in launching this exciting event that will put Augusta on the map for yet another sport." Course details are being developed with the cooperation of the city and the Georgia Department of Transportation, and will be released later this spring. The Augusta Striders, a local running group, are also assisting in race planning.
The Sports Council will be recruiting local cheerleading groups to make the water stations entertaining, and local live bands to be part of the post-race hospitality area. They will be reaching out for groups of volunteers to assist with course safety, the runner’s expo as well as start and finish line support.

February 26, 2008
American Football Kicking Hall of Fame Inaugural Inductees Announced

The Greater Augusta Sports Council and Prokicker.com announced today the inaugural inductees of the American Football Kicking Hall of Fame. The five legends of American football are being recognized for their remarkable accomplishment as kickers and how they impacted the success of the special-teams position over their career. The inductees are: Jim Thorpe, Sammy Baugh, Lou Groza, George Blanda, and Jan Stenerud. The five players being recognized represent some of the brightest stars of American Football’s first 50 years. The impact of these players has made them truly legends of the game.

Sammy Baugh - With the Washington Redskins Slingin’ Sammy led the NFL in punting yardage from 1940 - 1943. During the 1940 season he averaged 51.4 yards, and to this day is still the only punter to have averaged over 50-yards in a season. In 1943 Baugh led the league in passing (1,754 yards), punting (45.9 yards) and interceptions (11). He held the best career punting average (45.1 yards) for 52 years. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1963.

George Blanda - "The Fossil" retired from professional football in 1976 after playing 26 seasons, an NFL record. He began his NFL career as a quarterback with the Chicago Bears. After an injury sidelined him for half the 1954 season he focused his efforts on place-kicking, as well as serving as a backup quarterback. He retired in 1958, but returned in 1960 as a quarterback and kicker for the Houston Oilers. He was traded to the Oakland raiders in 1967 where he served primarily as a kicker. He has the most career extra points and attempts (943 of 969). He was the first person to score 2,000 points, and is ranked third in career points. He retired as the oldest player to ever take the field in the NFL at the age of 48. He was named as the place-kicker on the All-Time All-AFL team, and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1981.

Lou Groza - "The Toe" played one season at Ohio State before being drafted into the Army. After being discharged in 1946, he joined the newly established Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference. He he would play 21 seasons with the Browns. In 1950, the year the Browns joined the NFL, Groza had his greatest moment in football when he nailed a 16-yard field goal, with 28 seconds remaining in the game, to defeat the Los Angeles Rams for the NFL Championship. Although he began his career as an offensive tackle and a kicker, a back injury forced him to sit out the 1960 season. Upon his return he focused solely on kicking. Groza had 1,608 career point when he retired in 1967. That is a franchise record for the Browns, and ranks him third all-time in league history. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1974. In 1992 the first Lou Groza Award, honoring the nations top collegiate placekicker, was established in his honor.

Jan Stenerud - a native of Fetsund, Norway, Stenerud began his collegiate career at Montana State University in 1962, where he was an All-American skier. In 1965 he joined the football team as a kicker, kicked a 59 yard field goal, and was named an All-American in that sport as well. As a professional, Jan participated in 263 games over 19 seasons, and never missed a game due to injury. He played in six Pro Bowl Games, and when he retired in 1985 he held the NFL record for most career field goals (373); a record that stood for 13 years. His seven seasons of scoring 100 or more points also stood as an NFL record. He played in six Pro Bowls, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991. He is still the only "pure" kicker in the Hall.

Jim Thorpe - The Sac and Fox Indian was acclaimed by his peers as the world’s greatest athlete of his time. He attended Carlisle Indian Institute, where he was a running back, defensive back, placekicker, and punter on the football team. He first gained national acclaim in 1911 when he scored all of his team’s points (four field goals and a touchdown) in an 18- 15 upset over Harvard. He was a named a first-team Walter Camp All-American in 1911 and 1912. He was also a gold medal Olympian, and played professional football and baseball. He was inducted in the NFL Hall of Fame in 1963, and in 1986 the Jim Thorpe Award was created, honoring the best defensive back in college football.

The American Football Kicking Hall of Fame was created to recognize the individuals who excelled as kickers, to educate the public on the historic contributions of the kicking game, promote the advancement of kickers as strategic playmakers, and provide an arena to honor the players who put the "special" in special teams. The inaugural Hall of Fame inductees will be presented during the Greater Augusta Sports Council’s Sports Awards Gala, which will be held May 23, 2008 in Augusta, Georgia.

About Prokicker.com
Prokicker.com is a premier kicking institution committed to providing athletes the best learning opportunities available. Their instructors provide the most comprehensive learning concepts that enable developing kickers to learn quickly, and maintain the sound training and biomechanical principles that will most effectively guide them in performance. Their "positive" teaching approach improves mental discipline, as well as physical skills. Prokicker.com’s visualization and goal-setting methods are designed to build confidence and self-esteem, not only in athletics, but also in every day life.

About Greater Augusta Sports Council
The Greater Augusta Sports Council (GASC) is a 501-c-3 not-for-profit organization established in 1992 to further 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. Ten of thousands of athletes generate a positive impact upon the local economic landscape and enhance the quality of life for residents of the Greater Augusta community.

January 24, 2008, Augusta, GA
Creation of American Football Kicking Hall of Fame Announced

The Greater Augusta Sports Council and Prokicker.com announced today the formation of the American Football Kicking Hall of Fame. The program will honor professional, collegiate and high school players who have shown remarkable accomplishment as kickers in American football. It will also recognize individuals who have impacted the success of kicking over their career.

It is a goal of the American Kicking Hall of Fame committee to recognize the individuals who have excelled in the position, to educate the public on historic contributions to the kicking game, promote the advancement of kickers as strategic playmakers, and provide an arena to honor the players who put the "special" in special teams. The inaugural class of the hall will be presented during the Greater Augusta Sports Council’s Sports Awards Gala, which will be held in mid-February.

The Hall of Fame will recognize two categories - Athlete and Contributor. Player inductees will be culled from professional and amateur ranks alike. In addition to professional and collegiate players, high school kickers are also eligible.

The 2008 honorees list will be released in early-February. The induction will take place during the Augusta Sports Council’s annual Sports Awards Gala, an annual fete that honors the top athletes in Augusta amateur sports.