July 11, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; July 11, 2012 - Penn State kicking specialist Anthony Fera (Cypress, Texas) has been named to the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Watch List. The Palm Beach County Sports Commission annually presents the honor to college football's top placekicker.
A junior, Fera was a semifinalist for the 2011 Lou Groza Award and a candidate for the Ray Guy Award, presented to the nation's top punter. He was named ESPN.com first-team All-Big Ten and second-team all-conference by the media in 2011.
Last year, Fera became the first Nittany Lion since Chris Bahr in 1975 to be the starter for field goals, kick offs and punts. He also was the first Penn State player to be selected Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week three times in a season, earning the honor after Penn State's Leaders Division wins over Ohio State, Purdue and Indiana.
Fera connected on 14-of-17 field goals (82.4) and was 20-of-20 on extra point attempts last year, scoring 62 points. He was 11-of-11 on field goal attempts inside 40 yards and delivered a career-long 46-yard field goal on the final play of the first half in Penn State's critical 20-14 win at Ohio State. Fera ranked third in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (82.4 pct.), fourth in punting average (42.0) and fifth in field goals made (1.17 fgpg).
A prep American at St. Pius X, Fera also averaged 42.0 yards on 64 punts last season, with 18 kicks landing inside the 20. He also delivered 12 punts of 50 yards or longer, led by a career-best 69-yard effort late in the tight win over Purdue. He also handled 45 of the team's 55 kickoffs, with 10 touchbacks.
The Groza Award was first presented in 1992 and is named in honor of Pro Football Hall of Famer Lou Groza, who played 21 seasons for the Cleveland Browns.
The Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award's 20 semifinalists will be announced on November 5. From this list, a panel of more than 300 experts selects the top three finalists for the award by November 19. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Thursday, December 6 during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Award Show, broadcast live from Orlando, Fla.
The 21st Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl Committee, recognizes the three finalists during an early week celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet on December 4, prior to joining ESPN in Orlando.
Coach Bill O'Brien's Penn State squad returns 34 letterwinners and nine starters for the upcoming season, as well as 16 players that have starting experience, having made a combined total of 77 starts among them.
Season tickets are available for the 2012 season, with the Nittany Lions hosting five teams that played in a bowl game last year, starting with Ohio on Sept. 1 (12 p.m.). Penn State also will host Ohio State (Oct. 27), Wisconsin (Nov. 24-Senior Day), Northwestern (Oct. 6-Homecoming), Indiana (Nov. 17), Navy (Sept. 15-Military Appreciation Day) and Temple (Sept. 22-All-University Day) in Beaver Stadium this fall.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can go to www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets or call 1-800-648-8269 (1-800-NITTANY) weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The pricing of 2012 Penn State football game tickets and accompanying donation levels is the same as in 2011.
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