Popham putting best foot forward

BY RYAN ERNST | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Covington Catholic football coach John Rodenberg couldn't help but laugh a little as he watched bowl game after bowl game last week. There he sat, watching the top players and coaches in the country settling for pooch punts inside the 45-yard line.

 

Suckers.

 

Read the rest of the story From today's Cincinnati Enquirer

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Keep you head up Pop.... Good things happen, to good people.......

 

You know I had the same conversation with friends while watching some of these College Kickers miss countless field goals or their Coaches not having any confidence in their teams field goal kicker, even from close range.. How many times a season will a FG kicker either win or lose a game for you? Far too often I think.....to not sign a kid who has proven he can do it all....... Some coach/team is going to get very lucky in signing Pop.....

You never know what some colleges are thinking, what is Cincy doing he is across the river?

 

I think with all the mass numbers of H.S players wanting to play college; it is hard for colleges to read through the numbers.

 

Plus, having several "walk ons" fight for the job is what colleges usually do with kickers. Unless they need a kicker for the next season or they find a kicker who they love and must have, then they might give a scholly.

We have heard nothing from the new guys at UC. I have sent them material but have heard nothing. They have been busy with their bowl game yesterday, we'll see what this week brings.

"When we got to the 40-yard line this year, we were in scoring position," Rodenberg said. "You don't have to do anything stupid on third and 10 or take unnecessary chances. I'm watching these bowl games and watching them line up to punt in those situations. In that position, I was lining up for a field goal."

 

Popham obviously has a big leg. But the reason it is an easy decision to attempt a 40 plus yard field goal every time and not punt isn't because Popham was extremely accurate from outside of 40 yards. It's because in high school football any missed FG that goes into the endzone is a touchback and not back to the original line of scrimmage like in the college football. Not to mention college kickers must kick everything off the ground and do not get the benefit of a tee.

We have heard nothing from the new guys at UC. I have sent them material but have heard nothing. They have been busy with their bowl game yesterday, we'll see what this week brings.

I'll see what I can do to help...

"When we got to the 40-yard line this year, we were in scoring position," Rodenberg said. "You don't have to do anything stupid on third and 10 or take unnecessary chances. I'm watching these bowl games and watching them line up to punt in those situations. In that position, I was lining up for a field goal."

 

Popham obviously has a big leg. But the reason it is an easy decision to attempt a 40 plus yard field goal every time and not punt isn't because Popham was extremely accurate from outside of 40 yards. It's because in high school football any missed FG that goes into the endzone is a touchback and not back to the original line of scrimmage like in the college football. Not to mention college kickers must kick everything off the ground and do not get the benefit of a tee.

 

 

Good Point

As a result of the article, Penn State, UC, and NC State have all contacted Shane.

As a result of the article, Penn State, UC, and NC State have all contacted Shane.

It wasn't just the article...

Not to mention college kickers must kick everything off the ground and do not get the benefit of a tee.

 

According to the 2006 rules, a place kicker can use a tee that lifts the lowest point of the ball no greater than 1" off the ground (A.R 2-15-4-I). That's the same size tee Popham used in high school. Therefore, this point is mute. However, the field position thing is a plus, but many of these punts resulted in poor kickers. If a coach has faith in his kicker, then he's kicking the field goal and taking the points.

To compare kicking in college bowl games in front of tens of thousands of people and millions of people on tv to high school is pretty crazy. Let's face it, much of kicking is handling the pressure. That said, I fully expect him to be one of those guys kicking under that pressure in the coming years and I expect he will handle it well.

According to the 2006 rules, a place kicker can use a tee that lifts the lowest point of the ball no greater than 1" off the ground (A.R 2-15-4-I). That's the same size tee Popham used in high school. Therefore, this point is mute. However, the field position thing is a plus, but many of these punts resulted in poor kickers. If a coach has faith in his kicker, then he's kicking the field goal and taking the points.

 

Very interesting, I didn't think they allowed tees in college, maybe most choose not too so they can ready themselves for the pros.

Very interesting, I didn't think they allowed tees in college, maybe most choose not too so they can ready themselves for the pros.

 

 

I didn't either, but apparently you can.

 

Here's the link to the rules. Just download the rule book.

 

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLN4j3CQXJgFjGpvqRqCKOcAFfj_zcVH1v_QD9gtzQiHJHRUUAc0tpTA!!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvUUd3QndNQSEvNElVRS82XzBfTFU!?CONTENT_URL=http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/playingrules/football/2005/index

The tee is used for kickoffs only. FG and PAT's are not allowed to use any tee.

 

Rule 6 Article 10d specifically states : "Any device or material used to mark the spot of the place kick or elevate the ball makes the kick illegal".

 

The point is very "mute".

trust me guys, in college you are not, I repeat ARE NOT allowed to use tees for field goals.

 

Only Kickoffs.

 

What are the new colleges saying, and most important what year is the starting kicker going to be. Great news though.

The point is very "mute".

 

Are there different levels?