60-yard field goal turns boos to cheers
BOURBONNAIS — Elliott Fry’s 60-yard field goal cleared the crossbar at Bears practice Saturday morning, and suddenly all was well in the team’s kicking competition.
The smattering of boos and groans from earlier in Fry’s kicking session? They transformed into to one loud cheer.
After Fry missed his first attempt from 33 yards, he made nine consecutive tries between 35 and 60, restoring the glee to an otherwise euphoric packed house at Olivet Nazarene University.
“He bounced right back, so I look at it from that point of view,” Nagy said. “He was mentally strong enough to bounce back and make the rest of them, and then he put the cherry on top with the 60-yarder.”
OK, so those good vibes should last until the next miss, which will come soon enough. But for one day, at least, the Bears appreciated Fry’s strong start to the preseason.
Game performances, much more than practices, will determine whether Fry or Eddy Pineiro wins the job or if the Bears sign a kicker from the outside.
Practices are an important component, though, and Nagy likes that fans’ presence at camp creates pressure that can’t be duplicated in the seclusion of spring practices. Saturday’s crowd of 8,385 was particularly amped. Not only was it the first session open to the public, but the Bears once again have star power for fans to appreciate.
Nagy revealed Fry and Pineiro will alternate days during camp. Saturday was Fry’s day to kick; Pineiro will kick Sunday, back to Fry on Monday, and so on.
“That kicker can mentally prepare and understand that today is his day,” Nagy said.
Nagy values getting into a rhythm, equating it to shooting free throws in a shooting competition at a basketball camp or hitting golf shots without having to wait for the group ahead.
Fry “got in a rhythm and he did great,” Nagy said.
So great, in fact, that cornerback Prince Amukamara hugged him at midfield after he hit the 60-yarder.
“At first, we would make it hard on them,” Amukamara said. “We would scream and boo at them just to make it tough. Now it’s like, ‘Ya know what? Let’s try a different tactic. Let’s uplift them and encourage them.’ ”
Fry felt the surge of confidence even before the 60-yarder. Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor asked Fry if he wanted to continue moving back after he hit from 54 yards, and Fry welcomed the chance to hit from 60. Conditions were fine — 80 degrees and a cross wind of 13 mph — and Fry was on a roll.
Now the challenge is to remain consistent.