So, the other day, I was just fiddling around, you know, trying to clear out my garage, which, by the way, is a never-ending saga. It’s like, for every box I throw out, two more just magically appear. It’s a real head-scratcher. Anyway, while I was in the middle of that mess, I stumbled upon an old football. Not even a proper NFL one, just one of those slightly deflated, scuffed-up things from who-knows-when. And it got me thinking about college football, especially those high-pressure kicking moments.
Getting into the Kicking Mindset
That’s when the name Ricky Aguayo popped into my head. I remember watching some Florida State games back in the day, and kickers, man, they’re either heroes or, well, not. I’m not aiming to become a pro kicker or anything, don’t get me wrong. I’m way past my prime for that, if I ever even had one! But I got curious about what it actually feels like, even on a super amateur level. So, I decided, why not try a little experiment? Just a bit of fun, really.
My “practice” wasn’t exactly scientific. Here’s how it went down:
- First, I had to actually inflate that sad-looking football. Took me a good ten minutes to find the pump, and another five wrestling with the needle. Already felt like a workout.
- Then, I went down to the local park. It’s got a decent patch of grass, not exactly a pristine football field, but good enough for my silly endeavor.
- I propped my phone against my water bottle and tried to pull up some clips of Aguayo. Just to get a visual, you know? See the run-up, the swing. Of course, watching a pro do it and then trying it yourself are two very, very different things.
The Actual “Practice” – If You Can Call It That
So, there I was. Me, the slightly lopsided football, and a patch of uneven grass. My first few “kicks” were, to put it mildly, embarrassing. One dribbled about five feet. Another went sideways. I nearly tripped over my own feet once. It’s way harder than it looks on TV!
I wasn’t trying for field goals or anything fancy. Just trying to get a decent, straight kick with a little bit of height. I focused on trying to mimic a smooth approach, keeping my head down – easier said than done when you’re wondering where the ball’s gonna shank off to.
I must have spent a good half hour out there. I wasn’t keeping score, obviously. The main goal was just to see if I could get any consistency. After a while, a few kicks actually went somewhat straight! Not far, mind you, but straight. That felt like a small victory.
What I realized pretty quick:
- Timing is everything. Mess that up and the ball just sort of… flops.
- The plant foot is super important. If that’s not solid, forget about it.
- Even thinking about it too much makes it worse. You just gotta try and let it flow, which is tough when you’re actively trying to learn something.
By the end, I was a bit sweaty, slightly frustrated, but also kinda amused. It’s funny how something that looks so simple on screen involves so much technique. My respect for kickers, even college ones like Ricky Aguayo back in his day, definitely went up a notch. It’s a tough gig. My little session didn’t make me a kicker, not even close, but it was a fun way to spend an afternoon, and a good reminder that some things are best left to the pros. And yeah, my garage is still a mess. That football is probably going back in there, but at least now it has a bit of a story attached to it.
