On the eve of the heated rivalry against an insignificant school in Southwest Virginia, I will bury the hatchet this week and give credit where credit is due. All year I have clamored for the Virginia offense to run the speed option with perhaps the most elusive quarterback in the game (okay, so the Longhorns have a decent running QB as well).
Finally, with a little over a minute left in the game Saturday, the offense broke out the option on fourth down to gain the yards needed to seal an impressive home victory. Yet this option did not feature a Hagans, Lundy or Johnson in the backfield. Running the option for the University of Virginia was none other than the school's all-time leading scorer, senior field-goal kicker Connor Hughes.
At a time in the game when most of the civilized world expected Hughes to pad his kicking accolades, holder John Phillips ran the ball with the option to pitch to Hughes. While Hughes did not get the pitch, he later expressed his unique desire as a kicker to get a chance to run with the ball.
"I really wanted that thing; that was my chance to score," Hughes joked.
If this seems to break your mold of the average kicker, you would not be alone.
During a roller coaster season that has had as much drama as a season finale of Laguna Beach, there has been one constant throughout the year. While other players were suspended for blindside blocks or "conduct detrimental to the team," Hughes continues to show the classiness that gives him the respect of everyone who crosses his path. As the headlines continually showcase the play of Kai Parham or Marques Hagans, a player known simply as "Kicker" by his "Lefevre First Right" residents has had a remarkable season.
Despite being offered partial scholarships to play soccer in college, he chose to follow his dream of being an NFL kicker despite only being recruited as a walk-on at Virginia. It seems the decision paid off as Hughes is currently a semifinalist for the Lou Groza award, given annually to the best kicker in college football. It speaks volumes of his character that he hasn't even mentioned this special distinction to his roommates.
With rumors swirling of his ability to be picked in the upcoming NFL draft, I asked Hughes if he has a favorite team already picked out.
Hughes simply shrugged his shoulders and admitted, "I guess I would rather go down south since it's warmer."
While players such as Terrell Owens and Randy Moss draw national attention for their selfish style of play, Hughes exhibits a breath of fresh air for his under-the-radar approach to the game. When asked about a preference between making a field goal and winning the game, there was no hesitation in his response.
"It's a team game. I would rather the team win every time," Hughes said.
Another team-oriented Wahoo, quarterback Matt Schuab, is now a successful second-string quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. While he was at Virginia, he also had the distinction of holding kicks for Hughes.
"When he throws for three TD's and a couple hundred yards, I tell everyone that he used to be my holder," Hughes joked.
Earlier this year, my columns were quite critical of the Groh regime. Hughes, however, offered a different spin on the current Virginia coach.
"A lot of people have the wrong impression about Coach Groh," Hughes said. "He cares more about the players than most people think. He puts his whole life into winning the game each week."
Hughes told vivid stories of Groh's ability to wield confidence into each player.
"Coach will walk over sometimes and just say, 'You know you are the best kicker in college, you just have to believe it,'" Hughes said.
The more you talk to Hughes, the more you understand what makes his demeanor so unique among top-tier athletes. When asked if he is happy with the current season, he responded, "I guess I'm kicking the ball okay, but I've missed a few I shouldn't have."
Hughes says the strength he gains from his Christianity helps ease his nerves during games.
"I've grown a lot as a Christian," he said. "I'm not as worried about those details anymore, I just feel that God has a plan for me."
Whether Hughes hits the game-winning field goal this week or simply nets a few extra points, it is clear his character will continue to stay the course.
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