Guest HowieP1 Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 Craig Handel - October 1, 2004 Coaches' futures can hinge on their kickers' accuracyPublished by news-press.com on October 1, 2004Kickers. No player seems to aggravate, exasperate and frustrate a football coach more.It probably has something to do with the fact that they rarely hit or get hit, are basically asked to do one job  put the ball through the uprights  and are in two or three situations a year where their boots mean victory or defeat for their team.That also means the coach continuing at his current residence is directly tied to his kicker's success rate. If the saying "The day you coach kids is the day you're closer to being fired" is true, the day coaches rely on their kickers for their next contract extension is the day they need a physchologist. Badly.This season, missed extra points have cost Oregon State and LSU games, which also could cost the Beavers a bowl game and the Tigers a second straight national title.Last week, Texas Christian lost to South Florida on an extra-point attempt that never could be kicked. A bad snap by Texas Christian's backup snapper was the difference as USF won 45-44 in double overtime.LaBelle grad and USF kicker Santiago Gramatica, who saw the TCU trouble unfold, said, "From Day 1 here, I learned nothing is automatic. There are no gimmees in college football. There's still a degree of difficulty."Justin Daniel, the former Charlotte High product, who has been the Bulls' snapper for four seasons, said seeing the botched snap didn't make him feel better."But it makes my job seem more important," he added. "It all begins with the snap. If it's not good, that usually leads to other bad things."For an extra point  or field goal to be made  there has to be a good snap, good hold and good kick. A slippery ball, slippery hands or slippery turf can foul up any kick.Then there are the intangibles, the mental part. In order for USF to go into overtime, then beat TCU, Gramatica had to make four extra points. Each time the pressure grew, but he said he said he tried to approach it like any other kick."I put enough pressure on myself on each kick," he said. I work all week on it. I have one shot. Just go and do your job."Daniel added: "Thinking about it too much is how you screw up. It's hard but I try not to think of the pressure."Daniel, holder Brandon Baker and Gramatica work on extra points and field goals from 30 to 45 minutes a day. Daniel has a routine of setting his feet, looking back, gripping the ball and waiting for the call. He aims for the holder's knee. Gramatica's ritual consists of getting his steps down, getting a good spot and looking at the uprights.Gramatica is so intent about positive vibes, he doesn't even like to talk about misses."Every kick is important," he said.The difference is that the ones at the end are the difference between being a hero  or helping your coach lose his job. http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041001/COLUMNISTS08/410010387/1075 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted October 1, 2004 Group: Admin Topic Count: 13,332 Content Count: 97,090 Reputation: 10,859 Days Won: 469 Joined: 05/19/2000 Share Posted October 1, 2004 Good story...nice find...good to hear their angle on the job I think, until recently, many took for granted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HowieP1 Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 Santiago kicked a screwball extra point in that TCU game that could have made him the goat, but it just made it through the uprights. ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BULLheaded Posted October 1, 2004 Group: Member Topic Count: 37 Content Count: 1,480 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 10/08/2002 Share Posted October 1, 2004 I remember that and I was surprised he made it at since it looked like the snap was bad and the ball was practically lying on its side when he kicked it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Posted October 2, 2004 Group: Member Topic Count: 185 Content Count: 3,307 Reputation: 12 Days Won: 1 Joined: 01/26/2002 Share Posted October 2, 2004 Yeah, that was the PAT that tied the game at the end of regulation. It looked like he duffed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotsofbull99 Posted October 2, 2004 Group: Member Topic Count: 114 Content Count: 6,744 Reputation: 912 Days Won: 17 Joined: 02/17/2002 Share Posted October 2, 2004 What happens to our kicking game once Santiago leaves? We've been spoiled by the Automaticas ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Posted October 2, 2004 Group: Member Topic Count: 185 Content Count: 3,307 Reputation: 12 Days Won: 1 Joined: 01/26/2002 Share Posted October 2, 2004 I don't know, but they better use a scholarship to make sure they get a guy who can kick. Walk-on kickers will absolutely kill you at some point in the season, usually at the most critical times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotsofbull99 Posted October 2, 2004 Group: Member Topic Count: 114 Content Count: 6,744 Reputation: 912 Days Won: 17 Joined: 02/17/2002 Share Posted October 2, 2004 If we recruit Kickers as well as we've recruited Quarterbacks then we are in trouble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smazza Posted October 2, 2004 Group: Member Topic Count: 9,898 Content Count: 66,091 Reputation: 2,434 Days Won: 172 Joined: 01/01/2001 Share Posted October 2, 2004 pats shouldn't be missedand they aren't difficult Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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