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Message: [QUOTE="sutomcat, post: 2910676, member: 27"] Regarding the first week of the college football season, I hope the ACC Network is going to show Syracuse play Liberty. Give me Liberty or give death! Also this is a pretty terrific story... [B][URL='https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/vernon-hills/sports/ct-vhr-football-andre-szmyt-lou-groza-syracuse-tl-0221-story.html']Vernon Hills grad Andre Szmyt completes 'wild ride' from walk-on kicker to unanimous All-American[/URL] chicagotribunes.com; Narang)[/B] [I]Andre Szmyt’s improbable rise to notoriety started on a whim.[/I] [I]Less than three years ago, Szmyt was a standout soccer player at Vernon Hills. He had never played football, but on a Sunday during the summer of 2016, some of his friends convinced him to attempt some field goals.[/I] [I]“All my buddies in high school played football and were all at the field one day,” Szmyt said. “I had a strong leg because of soccer. I wound up hitting 50-yard field goals. One of my buddies took a video and sent it to the (football) coach.”[/I] [I]Szmyt went on to join the football team and performed well enough that he was granted a walk-on spot for Syracuse in 2017. This fall, he was an unknown redshirt freshman kicker competing for the starting job.[/I] [I]In December, Szmyt won the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s best kicker and became the ninth unanimous All-American in Syracuse football history.[/I] [I]During his fairy-tale season, Szmyt made 30 of 34 field-goal attempts and earned a full scholarship along the way. He tallied 151 points and even bumped elbows with Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray and Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at the College Football Awards show in Atlanta.[/I] [I]“It’s been a crazy journey and wild ride,” Szmyt said. “It’s been pretty incredible. It’s insane just how the season started to how it ended, and wrapping my mind around this season and then winning the Lou Groza. It’s incredible, and I’m super grateful.”[/I] [I]And it all started with a cell-phone video three years ago.[/I] [I]Vernon Hills football coach Bill Bellecomo said he received that video, which featured Szmyt hitting a 55-yarder. Like most high school coaches, Bellecomo was in dire need of stability in the kicking game.[/I] [I]“I was like, ‘Get him out (to the team),’ ” Bellecomo recalled.[/I] [I]Szmyt quit soccer to play football his senior year. Despite Szmyt’s impressive performance in practices, Bellecomo kept his optimism guarded until the opener against Grayslake Central. Bellecomo said Szmyt booted two field goals in a 39-16 win.[/I] [I]“It’s different when you have a rush coming at you,” Bellecomo said of kicking in a game instead of practice. “The snap has to be perfect, and the hold.”[/I] [I]Bellecomo said he realized Szmyt’s laid-back personality — combined with his unfamiliarity with pressure-packed football situations — made him an ideal kicker. Szmyt made nine of 11 field goals and helped the Cougars place second in Class 5A in their first trip to the state finals.[/I] [I]“I wanted to see how he would handle pressure,” Bellecomo said. “Andre not being a football guy his whole life, he doesn’t get pressure. He’s real loosey-goosey.”[/I] [I][IMG]http://www.trbimg.com/img-5c649df6/turbine/ct-1550097903-k3d52jqvlo-snap-image/250/250x141[/IMG][/I] [I][SIZE=3]Andre Szmyt played only one season of high school football. He helped Vernon Hills reach the Class 5A state final. (Brian O'Mahoney / Pioneer Press)[/SIZE][/I] [I]Szmyt admitted the whirlwind journey of the last six months has been overwhelming at times. He learned that he would be Syracuse’s starting kicker one week before the opener at Western Michigan. He made at least two field goals in each of the first 10 games this season and helped the Orange (10-3) notch their first 10-win season since 2001.[/I] [I]Szmyt said his family also dealt with his unexpected rise to stardom. The Szmyts made numerous last-minute trips, often driving 10 hours one way to Syracuse and shifting their plans to attend his postseason award shows.[/I] [I]“The whole season was crazy in general,” he said. “A crazy journey from playing only one season in high school, redshirting, then winning the job and going to all these awards shows and meeting great athletes like Tua and Kyler and being around famous people like Larry Fitzgerald.”[/I] [I]Szmyt said he understands that the next step might be more difficult. The 20-year-old is preparing to deal with the spotlight that likely will follow him after such an outstanding season.[/I] [I]“I still have a lot of things to work on,” he said. “I know I have to work twice as hard. I have all the confidence in the world now. I just have to continue doing well. I’m just thankful for all my friends, family and teammates for all the support.”[/I] [I]Especially those high school football friends who encouraged him to try out one Sunday in Vernon Hills.[/I] [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?