Dec. 11, 2003
IOWA CITY – Iowa senior placekicker Nate Kaeding has been named one of eight finalists for the Sporting News Radio Socrates Award.
For a student-athlete to be nominated for this award, they must embody Socrates creed “Strong Mind in a Strong Body.” The individual must have shown himself to be a leader and a quality contributor in their sport, an outstanding student academically and be considered a quality citizen in their community.
This season, Kaeding helped lead the Hawkeyes to a birth in the Outback Bowl on January 1, 2004, against Florida. The 2002 Lou Groza Award winner and 2003 Lou Groza Award finalist connected on 17-18 field goals this season. He was a SI.com and America Football Coaches Association all-American, a first team all-Big Ten selection and he was twice selected as the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.
Kaeding is a member of the Hawkeye Leadership Council, while being named to the Dean’s list. He also volunteers at the Coralville Recreation Department of Youth Sports and regularly visits the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Past winners of this award have included Purdue’s Drew Brees (2000), Minnesota’s Ben Hamilton (2001), Virginia Tech’s Andr? Davis (2002) and Ohio State’s Craig Krenzel (2003).
Fans can vote online at www.socratesaward.com through December 24. The winner of the award will be announced on March 16, 2004, at the National Athletic Awards in Detroit, MI.