Icing the Kicker: Is It Worth It?
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by Kayos
I'm sure everyone on here is familiar with the term 'icing the kicker'. There's really no need for me to explain. However, there's one person raoming around on Armchair that will inevitably ask the question, "What is 'icing the kicker'?" For those who don't know, icing the kicker is a cheap move on behalf of the coach to throw the kicker off his game in the sport of football. The kicker usually sits and waits on the sidelines and when his perspective team gets in kicking position they usually start to warm the leg up for the field goal or the PAT (point after the touchdown). Icing the kicker comes into play when the coach of the opposing team calls a timeout right before the ball holder has a chance to call for the snap. Thus allowing the kicker to kick the ball or not kick it and regardless of it being good or not, a timeout is wasted and the kicker must kick the ball once again. To make a long story short, it's a tactical move to get the kicker unfocused.
Now, that's out of the way. Let's get to the real story at hand. I've heard too many people say they don't like this rule. It's stupid. Well, I would like to ask for who? It's in the guidelines of this being a perfectly legal play. Some people utilize it when they need to. Some people don't. It didn't work for Urban Meyer's team loss to the Auburn Tigers. It didn't work for Dick Jauron's unconscionable loss to Dallas Cowboys last night. The famed loss of the Louisville Cardinals over Rutgers last year used this same tactic and was proved unsuccessful. It has worked for several teams. San Diego Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding was iced for a loss in 2005. . Many kickers in college -where this tactic is usually employed- have missed kicks several times.
The employing of this method however, didn't become commonly used until a decade ago. Coaches have used this ploy in close games to get the edge or the final win over teams to advance their chances in the BCS. Yes, it's used in the pros but not as often nor as an acceptable practice. Yet, they're using them. It's perfectly legal and within the rights of the coaches to use. Why not let them use it? The main reason people watch the football game is to see strategy. To see coaches pull trick plays when the defense is obviously ready for something else. If icing the kicker is used for advantage, then why not use it? If it's unsuccessful, then you can't say the coach wasn't trying to win the game. It happened. I'd rather coaches use everything in their arsenal they possibly can to get the edge. I've heard people say, they lose respect for a coach who uses this "cheap move". Really. I bet you don't say a word when your team uses it and is successful.
It may not be worth it, but I think it's a part of football and people should stop whining.
