When it comes to kickers, our sentiments tend to fall in line with the sage life lesson Hank Hill once imparted on his beloved son Bobby.
“Don’t let them tease you too much, son. Remember, you’re the mascot, not the kicker.”
However, there may come a point in time when a team like Florida needs a field goal at a critical juncture of a game in order to keep their national title hopes alive. Fortunately for the Gators, they have one of the best in the country. Unfortunately for the Gators, they may not be able to say that for the near future, if not longer.
According to WKMG-TV in Orlando, and citing unnamed sources from sports director David Pingalore, UF kicker Caleb Sturgis will not play against Alabama in Tuscaloosa Saturday night due to a back injury. Additionally, sources told Pingalore that the junior could miss up to eight weeks because of the injury.
Apparently, Sturgis is still suffering from back pain as the result of a stress fracture. It’s the same injury that left the kicker questionable for the Gators’ second game of the 2010 season.
The Gainesville Sun reported earlier this month that Sturgis suffered the injury while lifting weights in the week leading up to the South Florida game. An MRI, the paper reported, revealed a herniated disk and a stress fracture.
If the report is accurate and Sturgis is indeed out, punter Chas Henry will kick field goals and freshman Brad Phillips will take over kickoffs.
UPDATED 10/2 at 11:31 a.m. ET: Sturgis did not travel with the Gators to Tuscaloosa and will not play against the Tide. Head coach Urban Meyer confirmed that Henry, who has never attempted a field goal at the collegiate level, will handle Sturgis’ field-goal duties.
