Alabama fans now have two national award outlets they are upset with.
JK Scott, a former Crimson Tide punter, never won the Ray Guy Award.
He was one of the college football’s most extraordinary specialists, but Scott graduated from the University of Alabama without being recognized as the nation’s top punter. Fans of the Crimson Tide were upset to see Scott not win the Ray Guy honor, but their emotions boiled on Friday after watching what happened with Will Reichard at the ESPN College Football Awards Show.
RELATED: Alabama kicker losing out on Lou Groza Award is an all-time snub
Reichard was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, which goes to the nation’s top kicker. He is the NCAA’s all-time scorer with 539 career points. The fifth-year senior displayed an ability to make kicks (20-for-23), achieve perfection on extra points (53-for-53), execute on kickoffs (47 touchbacks on 82 attempts), and perform punts (four attempts for 165 yards, 41.3 yards per punt).
Graham Nicholson of the University of Miami at Ohio won the honor, and Tide fans are angry at the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. They sounded off on the organization via social media after Reichard got snubbed.
The college football award show is terrible
— Reggie Ragland (@reggieragland) December 9, 2023
It’s amazing that the all-time points leader in major college football cannot win the Lou Groza Award..Will Reichard has been royally hosed twice in terms of this honor..
— Stan J. Griffin 🐘 (@StanJGriffin) December 9, 2023
I don’t give a damn what anyone says, Will Reichard still the BEST kicker in college football pic.twitter.com/ycjTdatSi5
— Alabama Rydeouts (@MarvinBama16) December 9, 2023
Really disappointed in @LouGrozaAward
Will Reichard is now the top scorer in NCAA history, at any position.
Achievements like that should be recognized, in addition to Reichard being integral to Bama’s season.
smh
— LivingCrimson (@LivingCrimson) December 9, 2023
Will Reichard was robbed of the Lou Groza award. That’s two years in a row. Now would be a good time to remind everyone that he is the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer. Keep it – we’ll take the Natty! Roll Tide
— Cory Bridgmon (@cbridgmon) December 9, 2023
Will Reichard literally has the most points ever in FBS history. Not giving him the Lou Groza award is dumb
— Courtney McKinney (@CourtAnne1225) December 9, 2023
Will Reichard is the best kicker in college football and has now been snubbed in 2020 and 2023. Sickening.
— Chris Owens (@BGChrisOwens) December 9, 2023
Will Reichard not winning the Lou Groza Award is absolutely disgusting. We’d use a stronger word, but we’d get cancelled. Riechard is the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer. Yet, that apparently isn’t part of the criteria voters require. #CollegeFootball #RollTide #AlabamaFootball
— The Bama Standard Network™️🐘 (@TheBamaStandard) December 9, 2023
PLEASE make it make sense!! I do not understand. @WillReichard is most deserving. WHY not him???!!?! #LouGarza #BAMA fatigue is real https://t.co/nlPeEvJvCG
— Kieron Anderson 💋 (@KIsDesigns) December 9, 2023
WILL REICHARD WAS ROBBED OF THE LOU GROZA AWARD!!!!!!
BREAKING:
The Lou Groza Award is given annually to the nation’s top placekicker.
Here’s his stats for 2023:
20-23 on FGs
53-53 on extra pointsScored 113 so far.
ANDDDDDD
HE also broke the NCAA all-time points record.…
— Hannah Stephens (@TheUASignGirl) December 9, 2023
Will Reichard got screwed to not ever win the Lou Groza award
Literally the best kicker in the history of the NCAA.. just another example of ESPN’s bias against Alabama
— Nick Perkins (@NickyPerkss) December 9, 2023
So I see Will Reichard didn’t win the Groza, losing out to the kicker from Miami, OH. So I assume that Redhawk kicker is the all-time NCAA points leader correct? Oh he’s not? Reichard is? Hmmm…interesting. #LANK
— Tom Canterbury 🎙🥎⚽️🏐🏊♂️🏃♂️✍️🏈🏀 (@TCanterburyRTR) December 9, 2023
Can you explain this to me?
Will Reichard broke the all-time NCAA scoring record but did not win the Lou Groza which goes to the top place kicker in college football
Reichard was a finalist for the award
Will Reichard’s Credentials
• One of the most reliable placekickers… pic.twitter.com/8IOGrgGQlY
— Ryan C. Fowler (@RyanCFowler) December 9, 2023
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
