Tulsa World: Bailey kicks adversity to the wayside

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Bailey kicks adversity to the wayside
Cowboy walk-on is thriving after hitting a rough patch earlier this season.

By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
Published: 12/24/2008 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 12/24/2008 2:30 AM

Like his orange shoes, Dan Bailey has been a bright spot for Oklahoma State this season.

"Dan was exactly what we were looking for," special teams coordinator Joe DeForest said.

The sophomore kicker, a walk-on, enters the Holiday Bowl solidly entrenched in his position.

In many ways, this has been a dream season for Bailey. He made his last nine field goals, including a career-best 44-yarder against Oklahoma, to finish the regular season 14-of-17.

He also converted all 61 of his extra points.

"It gets so repetitive that you get into a comfort zone," Bailey said. "I'm fortunate that I work with a good group of guys to make this all work well."

Bailey's place on the team is secure. But back in August, the sophomore from Mustang was just trying to keep his place on the team.

Late last season, Bailey took over the kicking duties from the struggling Jason Ricks for the final four games. His performance was more than adequate. Bailey was perfect on all 20 extra points, 2-of-4 on field goals and had good distance and hang time on kickoffs.

But it provided only a chance to compete for the job again in 2008. OSU signed Quinn Sharp, regarded as the nation's top high school placekicking prospect.

Bailey was not fazed by the challenge. Competition is good, he said, and everybody has to compete for their job every day.

But Bailey did have experience after all. It earned him the job, and he ended up doing it well.

"He has

improved. He is comfortable and more relaxed out there," head coach Mike Gundy said. "We put him in a pressure situation every day and he has performed. That's what I look at in a kicker.

"We all know success breeds more confidence, and as he continues to have more success, the more confident he will get."

Bailey's confidence grew as the season progressed. When he missed a short 25-yard field goal in the first half of the Oct. 11 game at Missouri, there was some cause for concern.

Missed short field goals doomed Ricks a year ago, and Bailey had yet to convert a field goal longer than 28 yards.

However, game tape showed a correctable weakness.

Over the final six games, Bailey made every kick.

"I'm more comfortable than anything," Bailey said. "After that miss (at Missouri), I just focused more and not put so much pressure on myself in those big situations.

"After that, I showed my coaches and teammates that I can be counted on in any situation."

Matt Doyle 581-8316
matt.doyle@tulsaworld.com By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer

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