Ray Guy
Ray Guy did more than pave a career, he pioneered one. Drafted out of Thomson High School to play professional baseball, the Georgia native chose instead to continue a football path at the University of Southern Mississippi where his accomplishments are legendary. In his first collegiate game in 1970, Guy booted a 77 yard punt against Southwest Louisiana, the second longest in school history.
Over his collegiate career, Guy would have three punts over 70 yards, including a 93 yarder against Ole Miss in 1972, the same year he was the NCAA's leading punter with a 46.2 yard average. Over three seasons, Guy averaged 44.7 yards for 200 punts, the fifth best in NCAA history. The versatile Guy was also an outstanding field goal kicker, hitting 25 in his career and once kicking a 61 yarder, setting an NCAA record at the time. Guy also worked as a back-up quarterback, and would double as a safety where he finished his senior season with a record-setting eight interceptions.
In 1972, Guy was a unanimous choice for All-American. Ray is also recognized as one of USM's best baseball pitchers and pitched one of only four no hitters in school history. He was elected into the USM Sports Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1978. In 1973, Ray Guy became the first pure punter selected in the first round of the NFL draft. No one in the history of football has ever punted a ball as far or as accurately or as high as Guy. His punts would often hang in the air for so long, that the NFL invented a new punt statistic known as hang time. In 14 years with the Raiders organization, Guy was an integral part of propelling them to three Super Bowl titles. He also appeared in seven pro bowls, was named to the 75th anniversary All-Time Team, the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary Team, and the 1970's All-Decade Team.
Guy has been inducted into both the Mississippi and Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the National High School Sports Hall of Fame, and the College Football Hall of Fame. To culminate a monumental career, on August 2, 2014, Ray Guy became the first pure punter ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, further solidifying his moniker as the greatest punter ever.
The Ray Guy Award
The Ray Guy Award - named for football's premier punter - honors the nation's best collegiate punter in the FBS. The Augusta Sports Council (ASC) created the award in 2000. Along with other awards such as the Heisman Trophy and the Doak Walker Award, the Ray Guy Award honors an important member of any football team. The ASC presents the award live on The Home Depot College Football Awards broadcast on ESPN.
The Ray Guy Award winner is selected by a voting body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, national media and former Ray Guy Award winners. Punters are evaluated on their overall statistics and contribution to the team. Particular emphasis is placed on the following statistics: net average, percentage of total punts inside the 20-yard line, and percentage of punts not returned. Punters must be nominated by their Sports Information/Athletic Communications Director to be considered for the award.
Augusta orthopedic surgeon and sculptor Dr. John Savage Jr. created the bronze Ray Guy Award trophy in the likeness of the punting legend.
The Augusta Sports Council
The Augusta Sports Council (ASC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to marketing the Augusta area as a destination for amateur sporting events. The ASC attracts, creates and supports dozens of sporting events and activities each year, generating positive economic impact and enhancing the quality of life for the residents of Augusta's River Region. To learn more, visit www.augustasportscouncil.org.
National College Football Awards Association
The Ray Guy Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 24 awards boast 765 years of tradition-selection excellence. Visit www.NCFAA.org to learn more about their story.