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Hurricanes kicker Jake Wieclaw discusses his recent slump

 
Miami kicker Jake Wieclaw (40) celebrates with holder Dalton Botts after Wieclaw's field goal during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame at Soldier Field on Oct. 6, 2012, in Chicago.
Miami kicker Jake Wieclaw (40) celebrates with holder Dalton Botts after Wieclaw's field goal during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame at Soldier Field on Oct. 6, 2012, in Chicago.
Nam Y. Huh / AP

By Susan Miller Degnan

sdegnan@MiamiHerald.com

Wieclaw: ‘Gotta make it’

Senior kicker Jake Wieclaw started this season in fine form, converting his first seven field-goal attempts. All was well.

Until the slump.

Wieclaw has missed five of his past six attempts. Against Notre Dame, he scored UM’s only three points with a 28-yarder in the first quarter, then missed from 47 yards in the second quarter.

“I don’t know if it’s just a … kind of a confidence thing,” Wieclaw said Monday. “Like, trust your swing, trust what you know you can do. It’s not really anything to focus on as far as technique. It’s just trusting my swing and getting back into rhythm.”

When asked if he has ever had a stretch like this, he said, “I haven’t, but that’s what I’m working on getting over.”

What does he think of when he lines up for a kick?

“Gotta make it,” he said. “Gotta make it.”

• The FSU at UM game is set for 8 p.m. Oct. 20 and will be televised nationally — on ABC in South Florida.

Susan Miller Degnan

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