Football: Trapasso Ray Guy Award Semifinalist – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
50 players nominated for collegiate punting top honor
Augusta, GA – 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 |
