Johnson: Troy kicker trying to regain lost form

TROY — The game wasn’t about a missed field goal, or two, or three.

But 170-pound Sam Glusman is big enough to know it could have been the difference.

“You hate leaving points out there,” Glusman said. “The offense does a good job, and you leave points out there.”

It’s a been a downward spiral in recent weeks for Glusman, who was a perfect 12-for-12 in field goal tries before missing his first in the seventh game.

Glusman missed three field goal tries (50, 35, 36 yards) in Troy’s 17-7 win over Western Kentucky on Saturday afternoon. He did nail a 34-yarder in the third quarter, which proved to be the final points of the game.

Yet a clear illustration that some confidence may be wavering just a bit from the Troy coaching staff came when the Trojans went for and made it on a 4th-and-4 play from the WKU 28 with around five minutes left.

Over the past two games, Glusman has connected on just two of eight tries — though one of those was from 56 yards out that hit the crossbar on the final play of the game in last week’s one-point loss to Louisiana-Monroe. There have been some missed extra point kicks as well.

“I’m in a bad slump,” Glusman said. “I watched film and thought we fixed some problems. The last game I had bad alignment — not closing my hip. Just some minor things.”

His confidence wasn’t helped on his first try Saturday, this coming from 50 yards out. The play clock was about to run out when Glusman lined up.

“I always thought when we were low on time, they (coaches) would call a timeout,” Glusman said. “When I went up and got my spot, I had four seconds left. Austin Silvoy, the holder, said to hurry up.”

Glusman did hurry, and kicked the ball extremely low on a line drive in rushing to beat the play clock.

On the other misses against WKU, Glusman hit the ball well but was just off the mark.

“The only thing I can think of is I’m jamming my plant foot too close and not getting the full right leg swing,” Glusman said.

He still has confidence he can make the kicks, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel jittery at times.

“I only kicked one year in high school,” he said. “I still feel the same, like the first kick — I’m still nervous. I guess it’s pretty mental.”

Glusman said he’s been talking weekly to last year’s kicker, Greg Whibbs, now a law student at Ole Miss.

“He tells me, ‘You’ve got highs and lows as a kicker,’ ” Glusman said. “He says not to get down about missed kicks.”

Troy special teams coach Shayne Wasden hasn’t given up on the junior — not by a long shot.

“I think it’s a confidence thing at this point,” Wasden said. “He started off on fire, couldn’t miss. We’ve just got to get him back to believing.

“He’s done so well, we’re not going to give up on him.”

Glusman feels he has the support from those around him.

“I know the guys are behind me,” Glusman said. “They have faith and the coaches have faith in me.”

Troy head coach Larry Blakeney checked on his kicker just before leaving the media interview room.

“You OK?” Blakeney asked.

Obviously Glusman has seen better days, and he’s eager turn things back around.

“Go back to work, hit it hard,” Glusman said of his plans this week.

Such is the life of a kicker.