Matsuzawa just the second Warrior to be AP All-America first team
by Stephen Tsai · Star-AdvertiserGEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM / NOV. 8
Hawaii place-kicker Kansei Matsuzawa joined Al Noga (1986) as the only other Rainbow Warriors to be named to the Associated Press first-team All-America list.
Another day, another national honor for University of Hawaii kicker Kansei Matsuzawa.
Matsuzawa today was selected to the Associated Press’ All-America first team. Matsuzawa joins defensive lineman Al Noga as the only Rainbow Warriors to be named as AP All-Americans. Noga was selected in 1986.
Last week, 26-year-old Matsuzawa was selected to the Walter Camp Foundation’s All-America first team. The AP and Walter Camp lists are two of the five All-America teams recognized by the NCAA. Matsuzawa would become the Warriors’ first consensus All-American if he also were named to the first team by the American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America or The Sporting News. Those teams will be announced this week.
“It’s amazing to represent Hawaii to the entire country,” Matsuzawa said. “It means a lot to me. I’m happy to make Hawaii proud. I’m proud of myself.”
Matsuzawa, a self-taught kicker from Chiba, Japan, joined the Warriors as a preferred walk-on after two years at Hocking College in Ohio. This season, his third with the Warriors, he made his first 25 field goals to tie an FBS record for best start. The streak ended when he was wide right on a 30-yard attempt in the fourth quarter of the regular-season finale against Wyoming.
But Matsuzawa impressed enough to be named a finalist for the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker. Oklahoma’s Tate Sandell was named the winner.
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“I didn’t chase Lou Groza,” Matsuzawa said. “I just wanted to help the team win.”
Matsuzawa thanked his teammates, particularly long-snapper Jack Mowrey and holder Caleb Freeman, and coaches.
“Without them, I couldn’t have done this,” he said. “I appreciate my family. I represent the state of Hawaii and Japan.”
His key, he said, is focusing “on the process. I want to keep it simple. Just make field goals.”
See more:UH football
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