UA FOOTBALL PRACTICE : Tejada thriving on game pressure

BY JOE WEST Northwest Arkansas Times

Posted on Friday, September 7, 2007

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/56922/

College football coaches typically worry about putting true freshmen under too much pressure. Maybe Arkansas coaches should hope for more pressure on rookie kicker Alex Tejada.

In his first college start, Tejada shined with four field goals and four extra points in Arkansas’ win over Troy last Saturday in front of 73, 926 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

So does the true freshman actually kick better under live game pressure ?

“ It definitely seems that way, ” Tejada said. “ I just love being in front of people and showing them what I can do. ”

“ He’s real confident, ” special teams coach James Shibest said. “ Obviously, we haven’t had a [kicker ] be this consistent at this early stage. We’re very excited about it. ”

The former Springdale High star has already made his mark in the UA record books. Tejada’s 16 points scored was the second-highest single-game total ever by an Arkansas kicker. Kend- all Trainor holds the record with 19 points against TCU in 1988.

Only a missed extra point marred Tejada’s day against Troy. The errant PAT came late in the fourth quarter with Arkansas up 46-20 — a low-pressure kick.

“ Late in the game I saw him lose a little focus when he missed the extra point, ” Shibest said. “ You’d better always be in tune to what you’re doing and he knows that. ”

Instead of feeling like he had a great day against Troy, missing the extra point spoiled the game in Tejada’s mind. Shibest likes that perfectionist attitude.

Shibest said Tejada’s been practicing better and his first-game performance was just what the doctor ordered for a beleaguered kicking game.

“ We’re so happy because he’s done it in camp, ” Shibest said. “ He did it at home. Now let’s go on the road and do it. ”

The Hogs now face an SEC opener on the road against Alabama on Sept. 15. How will Tejada handle the pressure of 92, 000 screaming fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium ?

“ You just kind of shut it out, really, ” Tejada said. “ You’ve got to go in with a clear head and just envision the kick going through the uprights. ”

Having a dependable kicker should be a boon for the Razorbacks’ offense.

“ It’s a security factor, ” Shibest said. “ We want seven as much as possible. But once you get across the 30, you feel like you’re going to put points on the board, and that’s momentum. ” Nutt miffed at practice

Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt planned to have to have a short, simple practice Thursday heading into the weekend. His team’s effort, however, caused the workout to be longer and more difficult.

Nutt had the Hogs run “ gassers” to end the practice, and some linemen were still running even after the coach left the practice field.

“ After such a good workout [Wednesday ] with people knowing their assignment and playing hard, it was a big disappointment today, ” Nutt said Thursday. “ I was hoping we’d have enough leadership and maturity right there to say ‘ you know what, we’re going to go hard for 12 periods. ’

“... If I didn’t have to go to the junior college game tonight, we’d still be practicing. ”

Nutt and some assistant coaches jetted away to Little Rock after practice to watch the Northeastern Oklahoma A & M-Arkansas Baptist game at War Memorial Stadium. The Hogs are reportedly interested in NEO cornerback Adryan Adams.

Starting quarterback Casey Dick did not participate in drills Thursday due to a case of the pink-eye. First-team quarterback reps were split between second-stringer Nathan Dick and third-stringer Nathan Emert.

The Hogs will now take off today and Saturday before reconvening for a full-pads workout on Sunday in preparation for the conference opener at Alabama.

“ We’d better buckle up both chin straps and be ready to go because SEC play is here come Sunday [practice ], ” Nutt said.