Just when one thinks the kicking game has come around, the University of Louisville football team gets an abysmal performance from place-kicker Ryan Payne.

The senior, who boots barefooted, blew three attempts, including one field goal and two extra point tries against Connecticut.  Just a week after after nailing a field goal with 30 seconds remaining to give U of L a win over Southern Mississippi.

Ryan Payne
Ryan Payne

Payne is the team’s leading scorer with 33 points, with seven of 10 field goal attempts and 12 of 14 extra point kicks. He has made more field goals in six games than the team made last season.

Now his coach, Steve Kragthorpe, is indicating that he may have to reopen competition for the position, a move sure to mess with Payne’s already shaky confidence. His competition includes Tim Dougherty, who made nine of nine extra point attempts and one of two field goal attempts last season, and Chris Philpott, who was one for three on field and six of eight on extra points.

Hmm. Dougherty nine of nine on extra points last season? Wonder how high his confidence level is at the moment.

This isn’t rocket science. A coach should know his best place kicker by now.

Paul Sykes























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By Paul Sykes

Paul Sykes owns Paul Sykes Advertising and does contract work for other advertising and publishing firms. The proud husband of Sonja, he has a fascination with bears, bars and Cardinal sports. He's also the moderator of CardinalCouple.blogspot.com

6 thoughts on “Challenge For Demoralized Louisville Kicker”
  1. Two comments.
    1. Paul you left out an important word when you said “A coach should know his best place kicker by now.” You should have said “A GOOD coach….” which of course limits the field here.
    2. I come back to SK’s not recruiting the kid from Bell county who was the first kicker ever to be the top vote getter in the CJ All State team voting. He was a kid who wanted to come here and never ever heard from us even though we had such a terrible kicking game last year.

    1. I agree with the Bell County snub…it also now appears ex Butler kicker Desi Cullen’s little brother Kieran is making an impact down at Murray State. He booted three field goals in Murray’s win this weekend. Another kid who got no interest from the UofL coaches.

      I still believe that our kicking game is better than last year, though. And field goals and extra point probably won’t matter against Cincy this weekend. If we get the chance to attempt any…

  2. This is a walk-o, NON- scholarship player
    filling in for scholarship guys who failed in some way themselves
    and this walk-on consequently deserves the support of his coach
    particularly at times like this–
    because do you really think extra points are gonna matter vs. Cincy

  3. A Divisin I college kicker needs to make extra points! His performance was pathetic. Kragthorpe is doing exactly the right thing in opening up the competition.

  4. I don’t know how he kicks barefoted. Especially in the cold weather. And Kragthorpe…asked Howie Lindsey if he wanted the job…in jest, of course, but still…way to toss him under the bus, Steve.

  5. This is NOT the way to support a kicker after a bad game!

    My god, the kid WON the previous game for us–give him a break!

    It apparently got mental with him–but practice to handle that. If he missed the first after -point in Cincy , THEN let someone else do it.

    K has done this same thing with other players…just undermining , not supporting at the right time

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