Rivas Voted Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week
11/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- The Big Ten Conference office announced today (Monday, Nov. 6) the selection of University of Michigan football kicker Garrett Rivas (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit HS) as the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for his 10-point performance in the Wolverines' 34-26 victory against Ball State. This is the first career Big Ten weekly award for Rivas and the fifth conference honor received by a U-M football player this season.
Rivas
Rivas was ever-present in Michigan's victory against Ball State, effectively handling field goal and kickoff duties. He was 100 percent between the posts, converting two field goals and three extra points. Rivas' field goal conversions came from 22 and 23 yards, in the second and fourth quarter, respectively. On seven kickoffs, the fourth-year senior notched a touchback and averaged 62.0 yards per kick.
A semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, Rivas ranks second in the Big Ten and 25th nationally in scoring with an average of 7.8 points per game. He has converted 15 of 18 field goals and 33 of 34 extra points for a team-leading 78 points on the year. Rivas is tied for seventh in the nation with an average of 1.50 field goals per contest. In the Big Ten, he ranks second in field goals made and field goal percentage (.833). Rivas' field goal percentage is tied for the third-best season mark in school history. He became the starting kickoff man against rival Michigan State and has averaged an impressive 61.9 yards per kick this season.
Rivas became Michigan's all-time leading scorer with his 10-point total on Ball State. He passed the prior mark held by Anthony Thomas (336 total points) with his 23-yard fourth-quarter field goal. Rivas heads to Indiana attempting to set a pair of Michigan career field goal records. He is two successful field goals and three attempts from breaking Remy Hamilton's career marks. Rivas has converted 62 of 80 field goals during his career.
Media Contacts: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
