The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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to ice him with a timeout before the kick was "kind of pointless" after the game. game for us,' so I went out there and won the game," he said. "I was think- ing about the seniors. That was my main goal, winning it for them." "He was fine before the kick, the "Everyone said, 'Gibby, go win the same as he is kicking at practice," Ferrigno added. "You really don't notice much difference, and that's what you enjoy. He's pretty even- keeled. He doesn't let much bother him, at least since we've been around him. Not a lot of peaks and valleys in his emotions. "I have coached some guys who just can't take it. Or they miss a kick or two and now it's that the holder is bad or the snap is no good or the pro- tection is soft. You'll never hear that from him — ever. He never makes an excuse. He fulfills his job, he takes it very seriously, and he is going to make the kick." Zauner has watched as many Gibbons has connected on 14 of 16 field goal attempts this season, including clutch last- second kicks in victories over Michigan State and Northwestern. I don't think I've seen quite as big a turnaround as this kid," said Fer- rigno, who got his first special teams coaching job at Oregon State in 1987. Gibbons and Ferrigno have built a strong bond, laughing about crows and other inside jokes, sharing a big pregame hug every Saturday in the fall and, of course, working on field goals. That bond has developed into a PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN all of which can vary the length and accuracy of his kicks. After warm-ups in Lincoln, Gib- Michigan games as possible the last few years. Whereas he usually sends his kickers a few pointers af- ter games, he usually just calls Gib- bons to congratulate him after the big ones, nowadays. And he has enjoyed reveling in bons told Ferrigno he was good for much farther out than his normal game range. Ferrigno simply said, "alright," and later that night, Gib- bons booted a 53-yarder against the Cornhuskers, a career long by nine yards. deep trust. Although Hoke has re- peatedly stated that sophomore Matt Wile would take longer field goals — and he has, making a 48-yarder against Michigan State and missing a 53-yarder against Nebraska — when Gibbons is feeling it, Ferrigno lets him rip. "He has a feel, warming up," Fer- rigno said. "It's just, his deal is he is very accurate. When Matt kicks the ball, everyone goes, 'Whoa!' because he has this thunder leg. When Bren- dan kicks it, it's like, 'OK, it's going through.' He doesn't have the wow factor, but it goes through." Before every game, the kicker tests out his leg against the turf, the weather conditions and other factors, instill confidence in me," Gibbons said. "And I want to give them the confidence that I'm going out there to do my job for the team, for the seniors. The year has been good, and I hope it can continue. I just want to keep doing well for the seniors." Although his kick against Virginia "Coach Ferrigno and Coach Hoke Tech was more high profile, Gibbons points to the 38-yard game winner he snuck inside the uprights with five seconds remaining to lift the Wolverines over Michigan State 12- 10 for their first victory in the in- state rivalry since 2007 as his favorite kick. tered over the last two seasons, Gib- bons said Michigan State's attempt Gibbons' newfound cult status amongst Michigan fans. He was watching film on an airplane earlier this season, when a passenger leaned over and asked, "Hey, is that Bren- dan Gibbons from Michigan?" "Yes," Zauner said. "I help him with technique." "Can you tell him he's doing a great job?" the zealous fan asked. "I know he had a tough start, but he has been so good the last few years." Gibbons surely has more big kicks in his future — in Michigan Stadium and beyond. But where he goes, The Crow will always be remembered from sprouting his maize-and-blue wings in Ann Arbor. "Everybody who watches Mich- Oozing the confidence he has fos- igan football, is a fan of Michigan football, can really appreciate what Brendan Gibbons has done for this university and all the ups and downs he's had," redshirt junior offensive tackle Taylor Lewan said. "Overall he's overcome so many things. I'm so proud of him as a friend, as a team- mate. I can't say anything bad about Brendan." ❑ DECEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 35