Place Kicker Looking Breakout Season, Consistency – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 7, 2002
Last fall sophomore place kickers Mike Nugent and Josh Huston were involved in a tight battle for the No. 1 place-kicking position.
This year, after proving himself at the end of last season and during the spring, Nugent enters this fall as the No. 1 place kicker with more confidence.
“I’m much more comfortable this year,” Nugent said. “Last year I was really timid. I’d be out there shaking, worrying about every kick. This year I just go out there and do it. I don’t really think about it anymore. I actually get anxious to kick now.”
Nugent knows the job is his to lose. Staying consistent and healthy is his primary concern.
” I can’t go out there one day and go 5-for-5 and 1-for5 the next day,” Nugent said. “I have to be consistent everyday. My coaches and teammates rely on me to be consistent.”
Nugent finished the 2001 season strong, nailing a 33-yard field goal at Michigan and drilling all four of his PAT’s in the Outback Bowl against South Carolina. He also connected on a 35-yard field goal against Minnesota, which turned out to be the difference in a 31-28 victory.
Nugent said those kicks and several others are a sign of things to come.
“They weren’t last second field goals to win the game, but they gave me a lot of confidence that (becoming a great kicker) is in the future,” Nugent said.
The chemistry between a holder and a kicker can be just as important as a quarterback and his receiver. Nugent has been working hard with his holder and punter Andy Groom, making sure Groom always places the ball exactly where he wants it.
“I’m hitting the ball real well,” Nugent said. “(Groom) and I have been working so good together. Just like a wide receiver depends on the quarterback not to hang the ball across the middle, a kicker relies on his holder to get the ball exactly how wants it.” This fall Nugent’s younger brother, Kevin, will be a freshman on the OSU men’s soccer team. Mike Nugent is equally excited to get the football season underway as he is to watch his younger brother play for the soccer Buckeyes.
Kevin Nugent was the Gatorade Ohio High School Player of the Year and Ohio Boys’ High School Division I Player of the Year. He also was a first team all-state selection the past two seasons.
“I don’t mean to brag about my brother, but I love watching him play,” Mike Nugent said. “He works so hard. He’s one of those guys you can count on out on the field. I’m really excited about him coming here to play.”
Plenty of Good Seats Remain for Texas Tech and Kent State
Associate Athletics Director Richelle Simonson announced over 10,000 tickets remain for both the Texas Tech game Aug. 24 and the Kent State game Sept. 7. Tickets are currently are on sale by phone or at the Athletics Ticket Office in the southeast rotunda at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.
Tickets are $47.50 each. There is no limit. To order tickets call (614) 292-2624 or 1-800 GO BUCKS. Texas Tech tickets also are available on line at www.hangonsloopy.com.
