Andy Lee Considered One of Nation's Best

8/28/2003

The Pittsburgh punter is up for this year's Ray Guy Award.

Andy Lee

      University of Pittsburgh senior punter Andy Lee is one of 32 preseason candidates for the Ray Guy Award, annually presented to college football?s top punter.

      This is the latest preseason honor for Lee (Westminster, S.C./West-Oak), who in 2002 was named Big East Special Teams Player of Year. Previously, he was named a preseason All-American by Athlon Sports, Street & Smith?s and Lindy?s magazines.

      The Ray Guy Award will be presented to the nation?s best collegiate punter as determined by a national selection committee made up of sports writers, college football coaches and sports information directors, former punters and members designated by the Greater Augusta Sports Council.

      The Ray Guy Award preseason list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists who will be announced in early November. The three finalists will then be selected with the winner announced on Dec. 11 during the ESPN telecast of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

      Lee averaged 43.1 yards on 73 punts last year to lead the Big East and rank 13^th nationally. He is the first conference Special Teams Player of the Year honoree in Pittsburgh history and only the second Panthers punter to earn first team All-Big East.

      The South Carolina native set a Pittsburgh single-season record with 3,147 punting yards last year, eclipsing Nate Cochran?s mark of 3,075 established in 1996. Lee has averaged 41.6 yards per punt during his career and owns the leg strength to challenge the Pittsburgh career record of 43.5 yards set by Brian Greenfield (1989-90).

      Lee has been a special teams fixture at Pittsburgh since his freshman year. He claimed the starting job late in the 2000 season and enters the ?03 campaign with a streak of 30 consecutive starts. Lee teams with placekicker David Abdul to form an exceptional 1-2 special teams punch for Pittsburgh. The duo is a big reason why The Sporting News has ranked the Panthers? special teams No. 2 in the country headed into this season.

      The Panthers open the 2003 season Sept. 6 at Heinz Field versus Kent State. Kickoff time is set for 7 p.m. Ticket information is available by calling (800) 643-PITT.

      The 2003 Ray Guy Award Watch List:

      Curtis Ansel, Kansas, Senior

      Grant Autrey, Louisiana-Lafayette, Senior

      Bryce Benekos, Texas-El Paso, Junior

      Vinnie Burns, Virginia Tech, Senior

      Adam Coles, Connecticut, Senior

      Jared Cook, Mississippi State, Junior

      Luke Donovan, Wyoming, Senior

      Ryan Dougherty, East Carolina, Sophomore

      Ryan Downes, Idaho, Senior

      Adam Finley, Michigan, Senior

      Brock Harvey, Missouri, Senior

      Austin Herbert, North Carolina State, Senior

      Brian Huffman, Northwestern, Senior

      Todd James, West Virginia, Senior

      Derek Jones, Nevada, Senior

      Donnie Jones, Louisiana State, Senior

      Brad Kadlubar, North Texas, Junior

      Kyle Larson, Nebraska, Senior

      Andy Lee, Pittsburgh, Senior

      Tom Malone, Southern California, Sophomore

      Jimmy McClary, Houston, Senior

      Tim Parker, Arizona State, Senior

      Matt Payne, Brigham Young, Senior

      Ryan Plackemeier, Wake Forest, Sophomore

      Adam Podlesh, Maryland, Sophomore

      Cody Ridgeway, Mississippi, Junior

      Cody Scates, Texas A&M, Senior

      Nicholas Setta, Notre Dame, Senior

      John Skaggs, Navy, Senior

      Brent Slaton, Purdue, Senior

      Mike Wafzig, Miami (Ohio),Junior

      Tony Yelk, Iowa State, Senior

University of Pittsburgh Athletics

Andy Lee Considered One of Nation's Best

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