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Murray Makes It Count

The Associated Press

Iowa's Daniel Murray celebrates after kicking the game-winning 31-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter against Penn State.

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By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 28, 2008

TAMPA - University of Florida football fans probably have no idea who Daniel Murray is, but they should. After all, without the late-game heroics provided by Iowa's sophomore kicker against Penn State, the Gators might not be playing for the national title.

Murray's 31-yard field goal with one second remaining in that Nov. 8 game lifted the Hawkeyes to a 24-23 victory over the Nittany Lions, the only blemish for the Big Ten champions. Had Murray missed the kick, an undefeated Penn State team that was No. 3 in the BCS rankings at the time likely would have finished in the top two of the final BCS rankings, keeping Florida out of the national title game in Miami.

"I don't know if Florida fans owe me a pat on the back or anything," Murray said with a laugh. "I don't know if it's dawned on me yet just about how big it was.

"I do think it's kind of interesting that one kick can completely change the outcome of the entire season."

The kick certainly changed the outcome of Murray's season. The walk-on from Iowa City now finds himself listed atop the depth chart for the Hawkeyes' Outback Bowl matchup against South Carolina. It's a position he wasn't in before having his number called on that chilly afternoon against Penn State.

Murray began the season splitting time with freshman Trent Mossbrucker, but after missing a crucial kick in a 21-20 loss to Pittsburgh on Sept. 20, Iowa coaches handed the place-kicking duties outright to Mossbrucker. Murray, meanwhile, was relegated to handling kickoffs.

While the demotion was disheartening, Murray chose to continue working hard in practice in an effort to prove he was capable of being Iowa's kicker. That persistence was exactly what Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz had hoped for.

"It just speaks volumes about him," Ferentz said. "It's tough for all guys that aren't in the starting lineup. It's frustrating on one hand and all that, but you just never know when your number is going to be called. It's cliche, but overall we've had a tradition of guys being ready when they get called upon. That's probably as good of an example as I can give you. Daniel was just ready to go."

That wasn't exactly the case. Murray knew going into the game that he would handle field goal attempts from 42 yards or longer, but when Iowa marched inside the Nittany Lions' 25 on the final drive, Murray thought his chance had blown away with those gusting winds inside Kinnick Stadium. Murray, in fact, had stopped warming up.

It wasn't until about 50 seconds remained that Iowa coaches informed Murray he would be the guy regardless of how long the attempt was. Needless to say, Murray cashed in on the opportunity, which was his first field-goal attempt in six games.

Murray handled Iowa's field-goal duties in the final two regular-season games. He made good on each of the three attempts and is 5-for-7 on the season. But that one kick certainly stands out above the rest. It not only made him the big man on Iowa's campus, but it also changed the entire outcome of his season.

"It wasn't too bad," Murray said with a smile. "I'll take it over missing it."

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 259-7616.

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