CHICAGO, Ill. – Tarleton place kicker Garrett Lindholm has been named a finalist for the Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place Kicker Award.
Lindholm, a senior from Pflugerville, is one of 10 kickers on the finalist list for the 2009 award that will be announced on Feb. 22, 2010 at the National Football Foundation Chicago Metro Chapter Awards Ceremony at Halas Hall in Chicago, Ill.
Lindholm went from not even being on the “Watch List” that was released in August to being named one of the finalists. The Texan was a first team All-Lone Star Conference South Division selection, a Daktronics All-South Central First Team honoree and a Daktronics Second Team All-America choice.
Lindholm led the team in scoring with 88 points from 43-of-45 point after attempts (one blocked, one missed) and 15 of 18 field goals (one blocked, one bad snap, one missed). He made 10 of the last 11 attempted.
The kicker was featured in the USA TODAY for nailing a 64-yard kick in the first round of the NCAA playoffs at Texas A&M-Kingsville as time expired to send the game into overtime – which the Texans eventually ended up winning 57-56 in the second OT session. Lindholm's kick was the second longest in Division II history and the longest in Division II playoff history. Lindholm scored 11 points in the game. The kick and overtime was also highlighted on ESPN.
He made a game-winning 55-yard kick as time expired against Midwestern State on October 3 after hitting a 36-yard field goal to tie the game with 12 seconds on the clock.
Lindholm averaged 63 yards on 77 kickoffs this season and had 22 touchbacks.
The award also honors community engagement, and some of the things Lindholm has dne include visiting the Ronald McDonald House to prepare meals for ill children and their families as well as delivering Meals-on-Wheels to the local elderly.
Starting with the 2009 college football season, the annual Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award (also known as the Fred Mitchell Award, www.fredmitchellaward.com) will be provided to the nation's top collegiate place-kicker among the approximately 150 Division II and 240 Division III football teams. The Award is named for Fred Mitchell, the record-setting place-kicker, Wittenberg University Athletic Hall of Famer, author, philanthropist and Chicago Tribune sports columnist. The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award will be chosen based on excellence on the football field and in the community. The Award's Watch List is released in August, top performers will be recognized monthly during the college football season, and the winner (who is not required to be on the Watch List) will be announced in mid-December. The school of the Award winner will receive scholarship funds and the Fred Mitchell Award trophy will be presented on February 22, 2010 at the National Football Foundation Chicago Metro Chapter Awards Ceremony at Halas Hall. Further details about the Awards Ceremony are at www.nffchicagoawards.eventbrite.com.
A blue-ribbon Selection Committee will evaluate place-kickers that are nominated by Division II and III schools. There are nine members of the Pro and/or College Football Hall of Fame on the Selection Committee including Tom Beck, George Blanda, Kevin Butler, Lou Holtz, Paul Hornung, Marv Levy, Steve McMichael, Don Pierson and Gale Sayers. Several former football players that are active in their communities are also on the Selection Committee including Carl Allegretti, Sean Gothier, Jeff Michalczyk, Mark Murphy, Rob Perry, Bob Thomas, Todd Wilkins and Rob Zvonar. There are eight former college or NFL place-kickers on the selection committee.
