University of Massachusets Athletics
Kicker Reboots Well For UMass
September 26, 2006 | Football
Sept. 26, 2006
When it comes to placekickers, one week's liability can turn into the next week's lion.
University of Massachusetts football coach Don Brown knows. Villanova coach Andy Talley can only hope.
"Chris Koepplin showed what he could do, and we're happy with where he's at," Brown said yesterday after his junior kicker converted field goals of 41 and 48 yards in Saturday's 48-7 victory over Stony Brook. "Hopefully, he's put the Villanova game behind him."
Koepplin won a competition for the kicking job with sophomore Armando Cuko, seizing his chance when Cuko was slowed by a groin injury.
He made one field goal in the Minutemen's 31-21 victory at Villanova Sept. 16. But another was blocked, and Koepplin missed two more, one from 29 yards.
His 48-yarder Saturday was the third longest field goal in school history. Only 52-yarders by Denis Gagnon (1971) and Sandro Vitiello (1978) were longer.
Villanova didn't try any field goals against UMass, but two kickers have combined to go 0 for 5 this year, missing twice from inside the 30. The Wildcats (1-3) missed two in Saturday's 27-20 win over Penn.
"All I know about kicking is to keep your head down and follow through," Talley said. "We've had several all-conference kickers here, but nobody on our staff really knows how to help them. Most kickers have their own kicking gurus, but if any other coaches know how to help them, I'm open to suggestions."
Brown said it probably helped that Koepplin got back on track in non-pressure situations. Both field goals came in the second half, after UMass had taken a 42-0 lead.
"That 48-yarder had a lot to spare," Brown said. "It might have made 58."
No. 9-ranked UMass is off this week, then home against William & Mary Oct. 7.
"You've got to give rest when the time for rest is there," Brown said. He gave his players two days off, interrupted only by weight-lifting duties.
"We'll practice in sweats (today)," Brown said. "The one area where you have to stay sharp is in the passing game, but you can do that without a lot of pounding."
