Marler Named First Team All-American
Nov 28, 2001 | Football
Nov. 28, 2001
NEW ORLEANS - Tulane placekicker Seth Marler was named to the Football Writers Association of America All-America football team Wednesday as the FWAA announced its 2001 squad. The Football Writers annually select just one team and Marler was the only Conference USA player chosen to the 25-player squad this year.
The junior from Lilburn, Ga., is the first Tulane player to earn first-team All-American honors since wide receiver Marc Zeno was a first-team selection by the Associated Press in 1987. Marler is the 18th first-team All-American in Tulane football history, but the first kicker to earn the honor. Marler's predecessor at kicker for Tulane, Brad Palazzo, was a second-team All-American in 1997.
Marler was nearly flawless this season, connecting on 15-of-16 field goal attempts and 39-of-40 extra point attempts. He made his first 54 kicks of the season (15 field goals and 39 PATs), and had a string of 17 straight field goals over the last two seasons snapped in the Wave's second-to-last game of the year at Navy. His .938 percentage on three-pointers is second in the nation among those with 14 or more field goal attempts and established a new Tulane record. His career field goal percentage of .793 (46-of-58) is tops all-time at the school.
Tulane's kicker was perfect on seven field goal attempts of 40 yards and longer in 2001, including three-of-three from 50-plus yards. His 53-yard field goal versus East Carolina established a new Conference USA record and was the second-longest in school history. Marler also connected on a 51-yard boot versus TCU and a 50-yarder versus Southern. He needs three more field goals to break the Tulane career record of 48.
Marler is also one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, given to the top kicker in the nation. That award will be announced at a dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 4, in West Palm Beach, Fla.
For the complete 2001 FWAA All-America squad, visit www.fwaa.com.
