Keeler boots bad memories away

All it takes is the mention of the words "Georgia Southern" to bring a grimace to the face of Citadel kicker Sam Keeler.

The Bulldogs' 44-41 overtime loss to the Eagles last season at Johnson Hagood Stadium was one of the most painful moments in a difficult 4-8 season.

But it is a particularly nightmarish memory for Keeler, who on that day missed two field goals, had a third blocked and was yanked from the game for the 32-yarder that could have won it with 29 seconds left in regulation (The Citadel missed that one, too).

"Yes sir, that was a tough day," Keeler said recently.

So tough that it colors the perception of just how good (or bad) Citadel kicking was last season.

Keeler, a redshirt sophomore from Beaufort, actually made 12 of 19 field goals last season, ranking second in the Southern Conference in field goals made and fourth in percentage (63.2).

But from 30 or more yards, Keeler was just 3 of 9 with three attempts blocked. In SoCon play, Keeler was good on his first five field goals, but made just three of his last eight, and he also missed five extra points for the season.

"Overall, his numbers were not that bad," coach Kevin Higgins said. "But in league play, we were not as good as we needed to be, and that really showed up in the Georgia Southern game.

"We told ourselves, we've got to find a way to get Sam better for next year."

That's what led Keeler to the One on One Kicking Camp led by former Illinois State and World Football League punter Mike McCabe. McCabe was at Illinois State when Florida coach Urban Meyer was an assistant there, and Meyer has sent his kickers and punters to McCabe for instruction.

Keeler spent three weeks at the camp in Prattville, Ala., in July, and it is already paying dividends.

"It has really helped me a lot," Keeler said. "It's helped me most with getting height on my kicks and getting the ball to explode off my foot. I look completely different on film, and it definitely has built my confidence."

Keeler, a solid 5-9 and 185 pounds, was a team captain in baseball and football at Beaufort High School, and has plenty of leg to better his season-long kick of 38 yards from last year. He said he's had to learn to trust that leg.

"I was trying to drive the ball last season, because I didn't completely trust the leg strength," he said. "I was driving the ball, so it was getting hit at the line."

The camp competition with kickers from top programs around the county convinced Keeler he could hang with the best. And Higgins has brought in kickers Thomas Warren and Ryan Sellers to help push Keeler and backup Jordan Panter this fall.

"Some people might take that as a negative," said Keeler, who is one of 12 players voted to the Bulldogs' leadership council. "But we learned at camp that competition only makes you better. And coach Higgins tells us, you can't be afraid to work with other kickers and have them work with you to get better, because in the end it's all about the team."

One night last week, Higgins spoke to the Bulldogs about bouncing back from tough times. And even against Georgia Southern last year, Keeler did come back to make a 19-yard field goal in overtime.

"Everybody knows I had a tough year last year," he said. "So everybody will want to see how I bounce back."

Notes

--The Citadel went through its first day in full pads, working for about three hours Wednesday morning. The veterans practiced about two hours and new players went an extra hour in another split practice.

"We're much further ahead than we were last year," said Higgins, who said his team went through live blitz drills and four-on-four special teams drills. Injured players Mel Capers, Sherrod Croom and Scott Harward were limited to individual drills but should return in a day or two.

The Bulldogs have their first two-a-day practice today, going at 8 a.m. and again at 3:15 p.m.

--The Citadel Sports Network will include 12 radio stations this, making it the third-largest network in the Southern Conference.

ESPN Radio WTMZ 910-AM will again serve as the flagship station. Other stations include WJKB 950 AM in Charleston, 660 AM in Greenville, 95.9 FM and 1470 AM in Columbia, 105.9 FM and 1240 AM in Sumter, 98.9 FM and 1230 AM in Florence, 1260 AM in Lake City and 93.7 FM and 1050 AM in Myrtle Beach/Conway, and on the Internet at www.CitadelSports.com.

Darren Goldwater is back as the "Voice of the Bulldogs," with former Citadel athletic director Walt Nadzak as analyst and Channel 2's Brad Franko on the sidelines. Ted Byrne will host the pre-game show.