Miami's Freddie Capshaw Makes Final Cut For Ray Guy Award
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Nov. 27, 2001
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Greater Augusta Sports Council announced today the top three finalists for the second annual Ray Guy Award recognizing the nation’s top collegiate punter. They are Freddie Capshaw (Junior, University of Miami), Travis Dorsch (Senior, Purdue University) and Jeff Ferguson (Senior, University of Oklahoma).
Capshaw has punted 30 times this season, averaging 42.0 yards per punt, with 12 punts have pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line. His longest punt this season is 59 yards. Capshaw was named BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week (an honor he has earned 4 times in his Miami career) for his performance versus Florida State in which he averaged 48.2 yards per punt, including a best of 55 yards, and scored a touchdown on a 7-yard run after a bad snap on a field goal attempt. He has been a major factor in Miami’s rank of 8th in Net Punting (39.48 avg.) in NCAA Division 1A and he has placed 12 of his 30 punts (40 %) inside the opponent’s 20-yard line in 2001. Ten of Capshaw’s punts have traveled 50+ yards in 30 attempts (33.3 %) this season.
“Freddie’s been a vital part of our success this season,” said Miami head coach Larry Coker. “He consistently pins our opponents deep in their end of the field and his excellent hang time is a major reason for the success of our punt coverage unit. He’s developed into one of the most dangerous components of our team.”
Each of the 10 semi-finalists were evaluated on their overall statistics and contribution to their team with emphasis placed on the following categories: net average, number punted inside the 20, percentage of total punts inside the 20, average return yardage and percent not returned. A national selection committee of college coaches, sports information directors and sports writers decided the three finalists.
These various components are what made Ray Guy, the award’s namesake, a most exceptional punter and that these characteristics are indicative of the nation’s top collegiate punter. Ray Guy, a former NFL punter (Oakland Raiders, 1973-1986) is a native of the Augusta, Georgia area, currently residing in Thomson, Georgia.
The winner of the award will be named on the ESPN College Football Awards Show, which will air Thursday, December 6, 2001. The winner will then be honored at the Greater Augusta Sports Awards Gala early next year. Also honored during the evening will be the 11th Annual G.A.M.E.S. Medal (Greater Augusta Medals for Excellence in Sports) winners.
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