Lopata Named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week
11/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- The Big Ten Conference office announced Monday morning (Nov. 10) the selection of University of Michigan fifth-year senior kicker K.C. Lopata (Farmington, Mich./Farmington HS) as the conference's special teams Player of the Week for his five field-goal performance in the Wolverines' 29-6 victory at Minnesota. This is the first career Player of the Week laurel for Lopata.
Lopata helped U-M retain possession of the Little Brown Jug with a school-record-tying and career-best five field goals against the Gophers. He converted field goals of 44, 34, 26, 48 and 23 yards while adding two PATs. Lopata's five FGs are the most by a conference kicker this season. His 17 points also are a career high.
The five field goals tied the Michigan record attained previously by Mike Gillette against Minnesota on Nov. 5, 1988, and J.D. Carlson against Illinois on Nov. 10, 1990.
Lopata hit a pair of field goals in both the first and third quarters and added another in the second quarter. They were his first attempts since converting a 27-yarder at Penn State on Oct. 18. He did not attempt a field goal for two-plus games.
Lopata has converted 10-of-13 field goals this season and is tied for 57th nationally in field goals per game (1.0 avg.). He holds Michigan's career record with a field-goal percentage of .840 (21-of-25).
Lopata and 15 other Michigan seniors will play their final home game Saturday (Nov. 15) against Northwestern at Michigan Stadium. The noon game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
