Knoll not kicking back at BC camp
Mike Knoll had only seconds to execute the biggest pressure kick of his career and needed months to get over it.
As a freshman, Knoll was the kicker who hooked a routine extra point in overtime that resulted in a 31-30 Boston College loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl last December at Yankee Stadium.
Knoll began his atonement with an outlook of hope and optimism when the Eagles opened training camp this week.
“It was real tough. Any time you let your team down and let your fans down and you let your family down it is hard,” Knoll said. “But it comes with the position, and you have to learn how to handle it and man up and get through it and push forward. “What’s that phase, ‘ What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger?’ I think there is some truth in that. You learn from tough experiences and it makes you a better man and a better player. It hurt but it helped.”
Knoll’s miscue was not the final play of the contest. Following the failed conversion, all of the pressure shifted to the BC defense. Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg connected on a 17-yard touchdown strike to Jesse James on third-and-7 to tie the game at 30-all. Nittany Lions kicker Sam Ficken secured the victory for his team when he split the uprights on the final play of the game.
“I think it makes you want to drive yourself, and I think it was hard on everyone definitely,” Knoll said. “But I think it makes us better and stronger and will help us push through this season.”
Knoll’s botched PAT was the last of a sustained streak of kicking breakdowns last season. Eagles coach Stave Addazio split the duties between Knoll, Joey Launceford and punter Alex Howell, but the kicking game never really got off the ground.
BC was 12-of-19 on field goal attempts and had missed six PATs prior to the bowl game. Knoll was the best of the bunch by making 3-of-4 short range field goals and was 13-of-15 on PATs.
With camp under way, Knoll is determined to put the past to rest. He stayed on campus over the summer working out with the team. Knoll attended clinics in Florida and Chicago to refine his technique and improve his leg strength. And Addazio brought in Coleman Hutzler as the new special teams coach.
“I’ve gotten a lot of support from team, coaches and family and I think everything is positive right now,” Knoll. “(Coach Hutzler) has been great and he pushes us real hard and that real good.”