Publication Date: Friday, October 22, 2004
Sgroi is getting his kicks at Stanford
Sgroi is getting his kicks at Stanford
(October 22, 2004) Cardinal placekicker hopes to continue this season's
success with a big outing against Oregon on Saturday
by Rick Eymer
Michael Sgroi had a choice coming out of high school: He could have become a Division II strong safety, or taken his chances as a Division I placekicker.
Stanford (2-1, 4-2) has reaped the benefits of his final decision as the redshirt junior leads the Cardinal football team in points (45) heading into Saturday's 2 p.m. Pac-10 showdown with visiting Oregon (2-1, 3-3).
Saturday is Stanford's homecoming and every former Cardinal athlete has been invited to attend to take part in Stanford's 10-year run as Director's Cup champions.
Oregon hasn't been in town since 1997.
Sgroi led Central Catholic High in Michigan in tackles as a senior, and also played quarterback. He earned his accolades as a kicker though, receiving first team all-state status and being named the No. 1 kicker in the Midwest by one publication.
"As a soccer player I learned how to kick," Sgroi said. "I just got better and better at it and knew that was the way to go to a high level school."
Sgroi overcame back problems his first years at Stanford to develop into one of the team's most consistent weapons. After missing his first three attempts (the first two were from 42 and 49 yards) of the season, Sgroi has connected on nine straight, including a career-best 47-yarder late in the fourth quarter in last Saturday's 23-17 win over Washington State.
"That was absolutely critical," Stanford coach Buddy Teevens said. "He has been very consistent and is playing with a lot of confidence, maybe something he lacked at the end of last year. He's so hard on himself that he thinks about the last one. Now he's relaxed and thinking about the next one."
Sgroi, who also led the team in scoring (42 points) last year, finds himself moving rapidly up the career ladder for field goals. He's 25 of 40 in his two-plus seasons, already eighth best in the Stanford record books. Kevin Miller is next with 27, and Sgroi's good friend, Mike Biselli is sixth with 31. Biselli assumed the kicking chores from Miller while Sgroi assumed the duties from Biselli.
"Mike is one of my best friends," Sgroi said. "I feel like if I need help I can send him film to watch."
While Biselli never played soccer, the two kickers - Biselli was a senior during Sgroi's redshirt season - do have something besides kicking for Stanford in common.
His name is Dick Pierce, a renowned kicking coach in Ohio who has produced a number of NFL kickers.
"He's a good guy," Sgroi said. "I'd spend some of my summer with him and send him game film. He's worked with a lot of guys."
Sgroi refined his techniques with Pierce and has put them into practice with Stanford, where he suffered through a bulging disc, and a broken bone in his back his first two seasons.
"I spent a summer in a brace from my chest to my thigh," Sgroi said. "Then last year I hadn't kicked for nine months and mechanically I just wasn't there. That affected me physically and mentally. During the past offseason I went back to training hard and now I'm seeing the results."
Teevens said he wouldn't hesitate to use Sgroi in situations beyond 50 yards.
"He has a powerful leg, and he's 50-plus," Teevens said. "If it's an ideal situation, I would give him a good look at that (up to 58 yards) distance."
Sgroi also has made 18 of 19 PAT attempts.
"If they call my name I'm ready," Sgroi said. "It's another opportunity to get on the field and time to do a job."
Sgroi also has been effective with his kickoffs, sending 14 of his 34 kicks into the end zone for touchbacks. Opponents have only recorded four touchbacks.
Sgroi spends most of practice time chatting with punter Jay Ottovegio, and they usually watch each other kick. They also get to watch a lot of practice from the sidelines.
"You usually don't kick more than 30 balls a day," Sgroi said. "So a lot of practice we aren't doing anything."
Sgroi also tries to avoid the rest of the team during games, preferring to avoid the emotional intensity.
"I try not to talk to anybody," he said. "I concentrate on my job."
With 62 career PATs, Sgroi is six shy of Miller and David Sweeney for ninth on the all-time list.
Sgroi is hoping Saturday's game against Oregon will give him plenty of opportunities to add to that.
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