Kicking is a strange position. It’s unlike any other in all of sports. I’ve often described it as trying to play golf in a war zone. Unfortunately, for Cade Foster (Alabama’s long field goal kicker), Saturday night against LSU was a painful learning experience. This reminds all kickers everywhere that no matter how confident you may be, you too can fall victim to a bad game at any time. Anyone who kicks long enough will have a bad game– maybe even an awful one, I know I sure have. The key is to forget the mistake and remember the lesson. Another lesson here: it’s much less painful to learn from the mistakes of others. What are the lessons that can be learned from Cade’s experience and similar experiences that many of us have suffered at the hands of a treacherous position? I think there are several key ideas to maintain:
1.) Always separate your personal worth from your athletic performance. There are plenty of really great people who are going to occasionally suffer a bad game. The inverse is true also. There are some athletes that act as if a great performance gives them the right to be an inconsiderate jerk. The ultimate goal: be a great person and a great athlete, but never forget that athletic performance should have nothing to do with your self-worth as an individual.
2.) Recognize that being a kicker is a unique position and that excellent preparation is different for every position. The old football mantras of hard work, extra effort, high intensity, etc. do not always apply to kickers. It’s important to emphasize smart work as a kicker, the proper energy level (both mental and physical) as well the right forms of preparation.
3.) Remember that if you are going to do anything great in life that you run the risk of public and embarrassing failure. This isn’t a bad thing. Some of life’s greatest learning experiences (almost all I would argue) stem from our most memorable failures. It is important to always credit those who have the courage to try. It’s all too easy to criticize from the sidelines. I think this quote says it all:
“The greatness comes not when things always go good for you. But the greatness comes when you’re really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments when sadness comes. Because only if you’ve been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.” — Richard Nixon
Success is never certain. Failure is never final.
Until next time,
Leigh Tiffin
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Great post Leigh! I hope that Foster and Shelley both read it and take it to heart. I also hope that they know a few other things: First, people who try to blame an individual player on a team for a loss have no understanding of what ‘team’ means, nor what it’s like to play on one. Next, the people who get so life-and-death upset over a loss are people who don’t truly understand sports because they never played at a level that would teach them that no matter win or lose, the sun rises the exact same way the next day and that there are far worse things going on in the world. And finally, they should always remember that it is far more important to be a good, honest, loving and responsible person first and to be a great athlete next. Through having had a class or two with you at the C&BA School at UA, I remember that you were a truly kind person who happened to be a kicker on the football team. I feel like that is something that Coach Saban tries to teach guys, which makes me proud to remind people, when I was a student and now as an alumna, that these are talented young men with real lives- not machines only used for a game.
And when all else fails- I like to point out that even their flaws or mistakes, anyone who gets on a college football team, let alone the Crimson Tide football team, is a far better athlete than any one of us that is watching the game.
“If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not trying hard enough.” Vince Lombardi
Best Wishes-
Victoria
Thanks Leigh, great insight.
I was an All-American kicker in college and tried out for the pros, so I can certainly relate.
I have a technical question for you. Have you seen the way Cade lines up? His hips, shoulders, everything are pointed the exact direction that a lot of his misses went. It’s almost like a classic golf swing mistake. Cade has to make several corrections during his kick just to bring those hips back to approx square, which is why he does not get the power a guy his size should. It also deteriorates his accuracy. With his size, he should not have to open his hips and shoulders so much and close them abruptly to generate power. I wonder if he kicks and runs in the swimming pool? One summer I made the mistake of training for too much power, instead of balancing out with ample stretching and speed training. I looked great at the beach, but lost a lot of leg whip and flexibility, which is critical to maximizing one’s kicking potential. The last thing I noticed is that Cade takes some very long strides to the ball, and it almost seems like he loses some of his balance as a result. I’m not dogging on Cade, but in watching him kick all season and his much reported lack of distance on kick-offfs this year, it’s pretty clear to me what may be causing it. But of course you can’t just change the way Cade kicks now, 3/4 way through the season!
I think he definitely has some technical kinks to work out. I know that he’s a hard working guy, so if he is aware of these things I think he’ll do whatever it takes to make the corrections.
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From Saban’s presser today: “”It’s not really fair to put this on the kickers for anybody.” First of all,when we end up going backward (on offense) for losses, it made the kicks longer. You’re talking about really anybody, even in pro-ball, it’s difficult to hit from 50 consistently. Well what about the 3 plays that happened before the kick?”
This is what I try to remind people… it’s a TEAM EFFORT.
Absolutely, Coach Saban understands.
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Good stuff Leigh. I have told many in the last 24 hours – all what we needed was ONE TIFFIN and we would have been ok!”
PS – met you at the register at Cold Stone Creamery a couple of years ago. Told you I was at the game when your dad kicked school record 57 yarder v. A&M 1985.
We will need these guys in the future so we should be encouraging them.
Hi Leigh,
I appreciate your offering these comments and perspective on the game last night. I find myself a fan of the scoring-kicker position because of the psychological aspect unique to it. I love the analogy of “playing golf on a battle field.” There’s no need to make the case for the need for a different practice regime, obviously there’s no way to practice that! As I’ve thought about it, nothing in sport really compares.
So beautifully said! Hope Cade sees this! He had a lot asked of him Saturday and he should keep his head held high! Roll Tide!!
Excellent post. One player does not win a game, and one player does not lose a game. As you said, the kicking position is unique to sports. One observation is how people tend to hate the kicker if there was a “mistake” and yet the kicker is a hero if he makes it.
At the end of the day, it is just a game, and like any endeavor, again as you mentioned, we all can learn from our experiences.
I think it’s awesome that you are blogging. I loved it when you were at Bama. Thanks for everything you do and have done. Roll Tide
Thanks Leigh. Great blog. Keep ‘em coming. Puts everything in a different perspective.
Wise words Leigh & so true! I always hate to lose, but halfway through the fourth quarter, I said win or lose, we have played hard & I am proud to be a Bama fan! In sports and in life there are so many lessons to be learned if we just pay attention! Miss seeing you out there though!
. RTR!
I wish we would have had you last night! Roll Tide!
I am not a Bama fan but I think this post is great because both teams played great and both deserved to win. The kicker is not to blame :/
Absolutely true every body is going to have “their bad game “,but it takes an exceptional athlete to realize his mistakes and go out to practice determined to fix the mistakes they made. Cade is a great kicker and I know he will do whatever it takes to perform to the best of his ability
Awesome post Leighbo!!!! I miss you bro! Congrats on the baby and the marriage! Next time you’re in town hit me up and we’ll hang out dude.
Thanks so much for that post. I wish everyone in Bamanation could read it! I do not blame the kickers at all and I hope that they are not being hard on themselves. It takes the whole team to get them in a predicament and the whole team to get them out. Anyone who truly understands football knows this! I certainly hope the kickers have had access to your words of wisdom after this game. May they move forward with confidence that Bama fans still have their back!
Great perspective! I always feel sorry for the kicker in situations like that…but I feel worse for the kicker’s mom!! (haha!) A great team should never have to rely on just one person. God Bless!
Great blog post. Most of us (you excluded, obviously) will never know what it is like to have the weight of thousands of fans’ hopes put on our shoulders. Football, especially in college, is a fickle beast, with teenagers and young adults often being denied the luxury of mistakes or growing pains. As an Alabama fan, I love Cade and all of the rest of the Alabama players and staff. Cade was thrust outside of his comfort zone (those were long attempts for any kicker), and I hope he knows that for every negative bandwagon fan there are thousands more of us who are so grateful that he chose The Tide.
Great post! Walking out of the stadium last night, I heard some “so called fans” blaming our loss on Cade. It made me sick to hear them. I’m sure nobody was more upset than he was. These guys gave their all on that field last night and they are champions, all of them! I have never been prouder,even when we have celebrated some great wins. Lets all stand behind this team. Thanks for sharing !
Roll Tide!!!
Great article…such wise words and suggestions . The true strength of a person is shown in how they handle difficult times and regroup. We all know that is what true Bama leaders do.
Leigh, Thank you for your words of wisdom for Alabama’s kickers and devoted fans. It helps to hear from a player’s personal experience to understand the game of football. Hopefully, we all learned something from yesterdays heart and soul Bama battle. We are so blessed to be able to watch these talented young man develop into super athletes that always play with class and respect for the game. Roll Tide, Elizabeth
Great post Leigh. Having sons who kicked, I understand this all too well. I always preached to my sons to not become too “one dimensional”. So many lessons can be learned, and turned into a positive, by seemingly bad situations. Babe Ruth had almost 8400 at bats, with 1330 strike outs. yet we all remember him for a far smaller number! The quote that I always remember, is that you will not be judged by how you carry yourself when things go well, but by how you will pull yourself up when they don’t!
Could not agree more. Thanks for the comment!
Great post! It’s ridiculous to blame the loss on the kickers. It’s a TEAM effort, and a team win or a team loss. No one person lost the game, just like no one person for LSU won the game. He should’ve been closer, he should’ve had better field position, he should’ve been kicking a PAT. But none of that was the case because his team didn’t make it the case. Bottom line, it was the 2 best teams in the country playing their hearts out. Mistakes are made, and just like any other time in life, hindsight is 20/20. I for one don’t blame anyone…its not the end of the world. I’m just as proud to say I’m a Bama fan today as I was last week, and I’m extremely proud of every player that had the guts to be on that field last night! Roll Tide!!
Agree. Great points all around. Roll Tide!
Great post Leigh. Keep them comin. RTR