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The University of Utah Athletics
King Louie Blogs About The Kick
7/27/2009 12:00 AM | Football
July 27, 2009
SALT LAKE CITY -
Two seconds left on the clock. Game tied 28-28. 50,000 fans in their winter outfits screaming and cheering. Eleven warriors exhausted as they depart for the sideline; their huffing and puffing almost tangible in the night's cold air. Fans that left prematurely begin to pour back in. Hundreds of thousands of eyes peeled to witness the outcome of this remarkable comeback. And in the northeast corner of Rice-Eccles Stadium stands #35; no longer a boy, but not yet a man. The capping of an extraordinary comeback and the fate of continuing a perfect season rests on his shoulders.
He pays little attention to the lack of sensation in his toes or the nerves that he should be feeling. All that is running through his mind is that he has done this 1000 times. Left hash, right hash, 30 yards, 60 yards. He had prepared for this moment for years. The confidence only rising within him as the Utes' final timeout nears its expiration. He takes one last warm-up kick into his net and calmly jogs toward the field-goal unit huddle on the sideline. A low roar originating in the MUSS soon reverberates around the entire stadium taking the form of "LOUUUUUUUU". A broad grin flashes across #35's face, but quickly fades as the reality of the situation sets in once more.
The whistle blows. The unwavering confidence he had felt on the sideline begins to falter. The stadium feels as if it is closing in around him. The cheers seem deafening. With his heart racing, palms sweating, he marks his spot with his foot for his holder. And as if the words came straight from an angel, his holder looks up and simply says, "Just like practice man." In this second, the weight lifts. The stadium deflates around him. The cheers are silenced and his heart begins to beat regularly. The confidence is regained and the only thoughts stirring as he takes his steps are the wind and the uprights.
Almost happening too fast to where the magnitude of the situation could not be fully appreciated in the moment, he hears, "GREEN, GREEN SET!" And the ball is snapped. "Wasn't the opposition supposed to call a timeout to `ice' me?" he thinks to himself, soon realizing the ball still needs to be kicked. He begins his approach. Part adrenaline and part muscle-memory, the ball sails through the uprights from 37 yards out. A fraction of a second of silence, thick enough to cut, fills the air as the crowd awaits confirmation from the referees. Then in an instant, an eruption of cheering and screaming fills the stadium, spilling out over the entire city. His holder yelling with joy picks him up as the sideline empties and fans begin to rush the field. Coaches give each other hugs and high fives with recognition of a job well-done. A dog pile grows rapidly on top of #35 who, gasping for air, cannot help but to laugh at the amazing feat that was just accomplished. It is a night none of them shall ever forget.
Hours later, the last of the fans and players are catching their rides home. The clean-up crew picks up the last pieces of trash. As the stadium lights dim, a sigh of satisfaction seems to permeate through every seat. Those who were there to experience it will never forget the feeling of an agonizing eight point deficit being overshadowed by an unforeseeable offensive surge, ultimately leading to one of the biggest victories in Utah history. Each player eventually falling asleep knowing that no matter what the future may bring, that night they were heroes.
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