University of Tennessee Athletics
The Right Guy For The Job
September 14, 2007 | Football
By Tony Williams, UT Sports Information
The sun has begun its descent onto the western horizon, and the game clock is creeping closer and closer to zero. As has been the case many times, Tennessee and Florida are battling in a close game.
The Vols are driving methodically down the field, intent on gaining ground, scoring points, and consuming enough clock to keep a high-powered Florida offense on the sideline.?? The teams are separated by inches at the line of scrimmage, by less than a field goal on the scoreboard, and by nothing in the SEC Eastern Division standings
Philip Fulmer stands on the sidelines watching every action and reaction closely. In his mind, he realizes he has seen this movie before. He saw it in 2004, when Erik Ainge led the Vols 28 yards in 37 seconds and James Wilhoit converted a 50-yard field goal to give the Vols a 30-28 win and propel them into the SEC Championship game.
He also remembers back to 1998, when Jeff Hall converted a 41-yard field goal in overtime to give Tennessee a crucial win on its way to a national title.
The clock ticks even closer to zero and it becomes clear that a Tennessee field goal attempt will again decide this storied rivalry.
From the sidelines jogs not a tested senior like Wilhoit or Hall, but redshirt freshman Daniel Lincoln.
???That???s something I???m prepared for,??? Lincoln said. ???Sitting here thinking about it puts a smile on my face. The day is marked on my calendar. That???s one of the reasons I came to play at Tennessee. I???m looking forward the fact that I may have an opportunity to make that kick.?????
It will be only the third time since the two teams began playing annually in 1990 and only the second time in the Philip Fulmer era that Tennessee will charge a freshman with the kicking duties against Florida.
In his entire football career, Lincoln has attempted only 26 field goals. He played soccer growing up and didn???t step onto the football field until he was a sophomore. In high school, he played for a coach that was not accustomed to having a kicker, and as a result had a wide variety of fourth-down plays in the playbook. In three years, Lincoln lined up for only 22 kicks.
He attempted four in the first two games of this season and made them all, including a 47-yard effort against Southern Miss.?? He is the first Tennessee kicker since 1985 to start a season with four consecutive made field goals.
???I???m not really counting,??? Lincoln said. ???I just try to make as many as I can. I took advantage of as many opportunities as I could, but I didn???t get many in high school.???
The story gets better from here.
The ground-shaking noise produced by the Florida faithful as the kick is attempted shouldn???t even be a factor. Lincoln is from Ocala, Fla., about 45 minutes south of Gainesville. He grew up a Gator fan, and has been to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium many times. He was coached by Judd Davis, a former Gator and Lou Groza Award winner.
???I???ve been to the Swamp so many times I can???t even count,??? Lincoln said. ???I???ve kicked there, been to camp there, and watched who knows how many games there. I know what the environment is like. I grew up going to the games wearing orange and blue.???
An inexperienced freshman kicker, in only his third college game, kicks a game-winning field goal to knock off the fifth-ranked team in the country in their (and his) own back yard.
Although it will provide a little too much stress for his liking, it is an ending to the movie Philip Fulmer would like to see.
???Certainly, kicking will play a very important role in this game,??? Fulmer said. ???I???m anxious to see Daniel go on the road and handle himself.???
The game-winning kicks in 1998 and 2004 took place in the friendly confines of Neyland Stadium. A game winning kick this week will take place in ???The Swamp.???
???I???ll have friends and family there,??? Lincoln said. ???Some of my best and closest friends go to the University of Florida, but I don???t think any of it will distract me. I???ll be mentally prepared and on top of my game.???
If it does come down to a kick, it looks like the Vols have the right guy for the job.??
