Winner by a Foot

The Lou Groza Award winner is chosen by a panel of over 300 kickers, coaches, and sportswriters. One additional vote is determined by a fan vote that lasted almost two weeks. Blankenship got out to a large early lead, but Iowa's Keith Duncan came back to take the lead on the last day of the vote.

Several social media accounts posted pleas for fans to keep voting.

Rodrigo retook the lead,

but in the final hours the vote remained close.

While the Groza is awarded to the nation's top collegiate place-kicker as voted by the panel, Iowa's Duncan and Washington State's Mazza do not even handle their team's kickoff duties. Rodrigo is near the top nationally in touchback percentage.

Throughout this past Thursday I continued to monitor the vote.

As this sun set Blankenship's lead stretched past 1500 votes.

Iowa fans rooted for their man, and trolled UGA accounts to make their case. I made sure they got their math right.

As the clock ticked down,

Duncan inexplicably narrowed the lead 550 votes.

Hawkeye fans claimed their rivals were voting against the Iowa kicker. Seems far-fetched. I know of at least one Georgia Tech fan voting for the Georgia kicker.

 Later a 580 vote difference.

 Meanwhile this week Rodrigo earned yet another award.

 The lead widened.

 I went to bed, though I considered staying up to see the result.

Friday morning I saw this tweet.

This was the last tally I saw.

Almost as close as a presidential election.

 And finally, the good news...