August 18, 2009
Click here for entire Fred Mitchell Watch List
BLUFFTON, Ohio - Senior Jonathan Thompson (Carmel, Ind.) is one of 18 collegiate place-kickers to be named to the Watch List for the 2009 Fred Mitchell Award. He led the Beavers in scoring in 2008, going 10-of-10 on PAT's and 7-for-11 on field goals. Thompson averaged 54 yards per kickoff a year ago on his way to being named second team All-Heartland Conference. After scoring 11 points in Bluffton's 23-15 victory over Kalamazoo on Sept. 27, 2008, he was selected HCAC Special Teams Player of the Week. Thompson has also been active in community service during his time at Bluffton. He assisted with flood prevention efforts during the March 9, 2009 crisis, working with the football team to fill bags with nearly 18 tons of sand. In addition, Thompson raised funds and awareness for victims of domestic and family violence in the Crossroads Crisis Center’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event and he volunteered to beautify the grounds of the Maple Crest and Mennonite Memorial Home.
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 in development) 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 (listed at www.fredmitchellaward.com) 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, Dan Jiggetts, Jeff Michalczyk, Mark Murphy, Rob Perry, Bob Thomas, Todd Wilkins, Gary Zauner and Rob Zvonar. There are eight former college or NFL place-kickers on the Selection Committee.
The Watch List for the Fred Mitchell Award includes 18 Division II and III collegiate place-kickers that were nominated by their colleges for excellence on the football field and in the community. The Award’s Selection Committee Chairman Chris Kearney said, “These place-kickers are a very impressive group on and off the football field. They admirably represent their schools, their football teams, their communities, their families and themselves.” The Watch List includes place-kickers from schools in 16 states, with three place-kickers playing in Ohio. Fred Mitchell said, “The diversity of these fine young men is terrific and it is a pleasure to include them on the Watch List for this Award. Division II and III place-kickers seldom receive national recognition, and we are delighted to recognize them based on outstanding performance in the community and expectations going into the 2009 college football season.”
-BEAVERS-
