Tulsa World: Kicker bounces back after miss

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Kicker bounces back after miss

OU kicker Jimmy Stevens is congratulated by Jermaine Gresham after making a field goal against Texas A&M. Stevens had missed a field goal earlier in the game. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World

By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 11/9/2008 2:17 AM
Last Modified: 11/9/2008 3:25 AM

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — His team led 35-14, but Oklahoma's Jimmy Stevens might as well have been attempting a game-winning 42-yard field goal with three seconds left in Saturday's first half at Texas A&M. The pressure was that severe.

"I thought, 'If I make this, I still keep my season alive,' " Stevens said. " 'If I don't make it, I might lose my job.' "

Stevens had already pulled a 30-yard try wide left earlier in the second quarter, making him 3-of-6 on his freshman season to go with his four missed extra points. After the miss, he sat alone on his bench. Minutes later, ABC's camera caught him arguing with defensive tackle Cordero Moore. ("It's over with," Stevens said in postgame. "We already talked about it. We're good.")

Coach Bob Stoops even sent Matt Moreland out to try OU's next field goal, also a 42-yarder. Moreland, luckily for Stevens, missed wide left. Freshman kicker Tress Way hadn't made the trip, and Stoops said he would not have tried Way had he been available.

Stevens was getting a second chance.

"(Stoops) told me to keep my head down and follow through," Stevens said.

The kick was long and straight, and it gave the Sooners a 38-14 lead.

"It was big," Stoops said. "I think it gave him a boost."

Tight end Jermaine Gresham was the first to congratulate Stevens, grabbing the kicker's helmet and shaking it playfully. Stevens got to the sideline, and nearly the entire team huddled around him.

"That was nice," he said. "Everyone said, 'Keep your head up, nice job.' "

Everyone knew what was at stake, never mind the score.

Asked if he had reached a now-or-never point, Stevens said: "I thought I might be there. I just knew I needed to make that kick, and was glad Coach gave me another shot to make it."

Guerin Emig 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer

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