Former Colorado football coach Gary Barnett once called Mason Crosby a once-in-a-lifetime player.

Over the past three years other coaches have said Crosby is the best place-kicker in college football because he provides a chance to score once the ball reaches the 50-yard line.

Former Iowa State coach Dan McCarney probably topped the list of compliments paid to Crosby earlier this month by calling him "the best kicker in the history of college football."

The best kicker in history didn't make the list of three finalists announced Tuesday for the 2006 Lou Groza Award, given annually to the nation's best place-kicker by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.

Crosby was a finalist last season and was considered a strong candidate for the award this year, despite not having his best season. He made only 19 of 27 kicks this season. However, six of his eight misses came from 50 yards or more and three came from 60 or more.

"I want to win everything," Crosby said after Tuesday's practice in preparation for the season finale Friday at Nebraska. "I want to be on top in everything I do so it's disappointing, but it's kind of like just another thing that has happened this year and I will get better because of it."

A panel of 374 voters choose the finalists and the winner. Those panelists include every Division I head coach, former finalists for the award, NFL kickers, conference administrators and members of the print and electronic media, according to Dusty Ann Williams, a spokeswoman for the commission.

Williams admitted she and others in the commission offices were surprised Crosby wasn't chosen as a finalist. She said the commission supplies statistics to voters and tries to answer any questions, but the decision is ultimately in the hands of the voters.

"We think he is a great kicker," she said. "We see great things for him in the NFL in the future. Unfortunately, it is left to the voters and not the people here. We would have loved to see him back here in Palm Beach County."

CU coach Dan Hawkins said he has no doubt Crosby is the best kicker in the college game, and Hawkins said he believes that will be proven in the spring during the NFL draft. Hawkins has been aggressive in allowing Crosby to attempt long field goals this season. He said during training camp that he hoped Crosby would get an opportunity to set the NCAA record for the longest field goal in history this year.

"He's the guy, and he'll prove that next year," Hawkins said "But, you know, we're always talking about life is not fair and you can only control what you can control.

"I'm sure it's going to bother him a little bit, but it's not going to ruin his self-esteem."

Crosby actually made a 61-yard attempt against Colorado State this season, but it was wiped out by a timeout allegedly called by CSU coach Sonny Lubick prior to the kick. Oregon State's Alexis Serna, who won the award last season but was not named a finalist this year, made the longest kick in the nation so far this season. It was 58 yards.

Crosby has made two kicks in his career of 58 yards or more. One set the school record at 60 yards and came in Folsom Field last year and the other was 58 yards at Miami last season.

"The only thing I think about is who tries three or four 60-plus yarders in a year, much less a career?" Crosby said. "You know, I tried those and maybe if I make one or two of them it's a different story. But I missed too many kicks this year. That's on my shoulders."