Gary Pinkel Ices Own Kicker In Overtime Loss

Mizzou head coach Gary Pinkel chose to call a pair of
timeouts just before his senior kicker attempted and missed
a 48 yard field goal that would have won the Tigers a hard-
fought road game against Arizona State. - Photo courtesy
of Getty Images

After watching his sophomore quarterback James Franklin lead his team back from a 30-16 deficit on the road in a hostile environment against Arizona State, Mizzou head coach Gary Pinkel had to feel pretty good about his situation.

With the score tied at 30-30, Mizzou head coach Gary Pinkel sent his senior kicker Grant Ressel out try to a 48 yard field goal with 12 seconds left on the clock ton win the game.

Ressel was a preseason All-Big 12 selection and is among the best kickers in the country.  While converting a 48 yard field goal under extreme pressure is never a given, the chances were favorable that Ressel would convert and the Tigers would pull out a miracle road victory.

So, just as Ressel was lining up, predictably a timeout was called.  No, Arizona State head coach Dennis Erickson did not call the time out.

It was Gary Pinkel.

Not only did Pinkel call the time out, he called a second time out once Ressel and the Tigers lined up a second time.  Pinkel effectively had iced his kicker.  And guess what happened next?  Ressel hooked the field goal attempt, missing just barely left, and the Tigers eventually lost the game in overtime 37-30.

Generally, as opposing kickers line up to attempt game-winning or tying field goals, coaches will call a time out in an attempt to "freeze the kicker."  But rarely do you see a coach do so when their own kicker is lining up to give his team a win.

Pinkel's decision to call a pair of timeouts just before Ressel kicked certainly is controversial and definitely unconventional.  Internet message boards and Twitter were outraged with the decision to call a pair of timeouts.

No matter what his reason, whether it was to try and draw the defense off-sides or possibly he unimaginably toyed with the idea of faking the kick, Pinkel put his kicker in a terrible position and may have cost his team an impressive road victory.

Sources:

• Box Score: Arizona State 37 Missouri 30 (OT)