Two years ago, a lot rode on Fresno State kicker Kevin Goessling’s left leg, probably more than head coach Pat Hill would have liked to put on his young freshman.
The same year, a lot of groans and disappointments engulfed Bulldog Stadium, usually because that same left leg.
In 2008, Bulldog football was flying pretty high. A season-opening road win resulted in Fresno State’s first national ranking since 2005; that was until tenth-ranked Wisconsin came to town.
A lot of fingers could be pointed at Goessling’s horrible evening as resulting in the 13-10 loss, but the offense itself was poor, at best, through the first three quarters after moving into Badger territory just twice in the first half.
His Bulldog Stadium debut was difficult to watch with three missed field goals when just one could have sent the game into overtime. But the rough start to Goessling’s career was far from out of sight.
Three weeks following the Badger meltdown, the ‘Dogs retained their national ranking with a pair of road wins and hosted a hapless 1-3 Hawaii club that had issues of its own at the quarterback position. But the Warriors came to play that early October evening and forced Goessling into a familiar, but uncomfortable position. Goessling’s chance at redemption in regulation was blocked, and a short time later pushed a 40-yarder wide left on the first possession of overtime. When he was bailed out by a controversial running-into-the-kicker penalty, his 35-yard retry sailed right and was greeted with a smattering of boos.
Hawaii went on to pull the upset, and Goessling retired to the locker room with a swirl of doubts””some fair and some foul””for what appeared to be his second big mistake in four weeks.
Since then, no matter how many times the talented kicker knocks through 50-plus yarders (five) or game winners (two), Goessling’s dissenters linger in the stands, waiting for him to crumble under pressure for the third time in a Bulldog uniform.
But while the Kevin Goessling Hate Club still remains, I am waiting for the opposite.
Last season, Goessling buried his Badger memories of 2008 by drilling a 41-yard field goal at Camp Randall Stadium to give his ‘Dogs a chance in overtime. Fresno State went on to lose the game, but it took two overtimes, and this time it wasn’t Goessling’s fault.
Last year’s game at Hawaii provided Goessling with little chance at salvation, mostly because the ‘Dogs dismantled the Warriors from start to finish.
But with an explosive offense that leads the nation in passing yards, expect Hawaii to force a more competitive contest Saturday in Bulldog Stadium that just may come down to Goessling’s left leg””again.
Now obviously I’m being a little subjective, and could almost guarantee that, if asked, Goessling would give the politically correct response that it’s just another game and what happened in 2008 is far behind him.
But no matter how far back his freshman season may be, putting a couple kicks through the uprights this Saturday, and perhaps a game-winner, would put to rest a lot of Goessling’s doubters, and even bury his own demons.
That is, if he has any left.
Supporter.... • Oct 7, 2010 at 1:02 am
Great kicker, maybe a finalist for the groza award, but he failed to make the kicks when they counted. We can say that he was a freshman, but he redshirted his first year and was working with Clint Stitser (who was one of the best kickers in Fresno state history). Stitser (strongest kicker to ever play at fresno state)was a kicker who focused on always getting stronger and better. Kevin should have picked up on that during his first year here. He knew that he was going to be the face of the special teams, and it seemed like he psyched himself out for the role. Although the experience was like a first year player, he should have gone into his first playing season with the attitude and composure of a sophomore, something we haven’t seen until now. He will be a great kicker in Fresno state history, but he did have an opportunity to help us win the biggest game of our football program and failed. Then to the performance in the Hawaii game 4 weeks later, well…… Idk what to say about that.
Informed Fan • Oct 13, 2010 at 1:46 am
Mr. Ingersoll,
Congratulations. You are well on your way to becoming another home-grown Fresno opinionist. Notice I didn’t say journalist. Your negative take on the career of this young player will make many Fresnan’s proud. They will especially relate to your reference to the ‘Kevin Goessling Hate Club’. There is a lot of hate in this town and your reference will, unfortunately, ring true to many of your readers. Maybe this is just another indication of why former players are reluctant to ‘give back’, like so many fans question. While this young player will move on with his career, you will be in Fresno fomenting hate, something you’re pretty good at. Ben, your envy doesn’t suit you well.