Few athletes understand the lasting impact of victory over defeat more than former University of Tennessee kicker James Wilhoit.
Because Wilhoit’s 50-yard field goal at the close of the 2004 game against Florida inside Neyland Stadium made the Volunteers 30-28 winners – instead of the 28-27 losers they might have been due to his missed extra-point attempt a few minutes earlier – the Hendersonville, Tenn., native will go down in Tennessee history as a hero instead of a goat.
“If I miss that kick, my life might have been completely different,” Wilhoit said this week. “I probably wouldn’t be doing this interview. I probably wouldn’t have my kicking camps. I don’t think anybody would want to learn kicking from a guy who missed a field goal to beat Florida.”
But Wilhoit didn’t miss. With the weight of the world on his shoulders after that botched extra point, with Neyland in full throat under the lights that Sept. 18 night, he nailed as big a field goal as the Vols have ever made to knock off the dastardly Gators on their way to that year’s Southeastern Conference title game.
And next Wednesday and Thursday at Chattanooga Christian School, young kickers and punters throughout the region have a chance to learn that skill from one of the best as Wilhoit conducts a clinic for a cost of $325 per student. If this seems high, understand it’s aimed at polished kickers, especially seventh- and eighth-graders who have already shown proficiency in soccer.