Kyle Brotzman was not a household name going into this Thanksgiving weekend. In fact, before No. 4 Boise State’s game against No. 19 in Nevada on Friday, many avid college football fans may not have been able to answer the simple question, “Who is Kyle Brotzman?”

That all may have changed after the young placekicker’s horrific experience in yesterday’s game. 

In the tight battle between these two BCS Top 25 teams, underdog Nevada tied the game 31-31 on a 13-yard pass with just 13 seconds left in regulation time. After the kickoff, Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore got the ball back and desperate for a huge play launched a deep pass that connected with Titus Young for a 53-yard gain and spectacular catch with just two seconds remaining. That play put the ball near the 10 yard line and here’s where Brotzman comes in.

With a chance to extend his Broncos’ 24 game winning streak and chance of a BCS title game, Brotzman, the placekicker, lined up for a chip shot from 26 yards as his team prepared to celebrate. Seconds later, the air was sucked out of their party balloon as Brotzman shanked the kick wide right sending the game into overtime.

With a chance to redeem himself in OT, on Boise’s first drive, Brotzman lined up for another short kick this time from 29 yards and again shanked the short kick wide.

Nevada drove on their first OT possession and iced the game 34-31 on a 34-yard game winning kick deflating the Broncos chance of getting to the BCS title game.

You have to wonder of these missed kicks are a huge relief to many of the BCS voters. With more pressure than ever on voters to recognize Boise State’s accomplishments that would have included two undefeated seasons in a row, they can rest now knowing no one outside of Bronco territory would expect the team to get to that championship game.

As far as Kyle Brotzman goes, with two missed kicks of this magnitude, you have to expect him to join the sports Hall of Shame with other notables like Bill Buckner in Boston.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax and Jocks Behind Bars. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers.

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