-
Kenny Almendares path to becoming the Best Kicker in the Country
Like so many great achievements in sports, the determination responsible for the great news UL kicker Kenny Almendares received this week was stirred by disappointment and heartache.
On Tuesday, Almendares was named as one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award recognizing the top kicker in the country.
Quote:
<!-- The Clute, Texas, native will join Florida State’s Alex Fitzgerald and Kentucky’s Alex Raynor at the Lou Groza Award banquet in Palm Beach, Florida, on Dec. 9 when the winner will be announced.
“I was actually just watching TV, taking a little nap,” Almendares said of getting the call that he was a finalist. “I had just gotten out of class and relaxing, so it was perfect timing.”
To be honest, it’s been his mind for about three years now. Once he became the starting kicker for the Cajuns in 2022, his goal was reaching the level of being a Lou Groza semifinalist.
That season, Almendares led the Sun Belt Conference in makes and attempts going 18 of 23, but no recognition. Last season, he only missed two of 16 tries … and still nothing.
“Last year, I had a decent year,” Almendares said. “You look at stats from some of the other guys — similar stats with the people that were in there — but I was not a semifinalist last year.
“So it kind of rubbed me the wrong way that I wasn’t there because of the field goals that I had made, but at the same time, I was like, ‘I just didn’t do enough’ — just have to take it and do better. And I did do better.”
Deep down, though, Almendares also wasn’t satisfied at how last season ended, so he was extra motivated for his final season of college football.
“I felt a little disappointed how the season ended last year,” he said. “I felt I was in the right place to continue to kick and continue doing what I was doing but I could always get better. Even (Tuesday) at practice, I felt like I got a little bit better.”
This season, Almendares has been just shy of perfect, nailing 25 of 27 attempts.
The 25 makes lead the nation. He’s also the Sun Belt’s all-time leader in made field goals and UL's all-time leading scorer.
"Kenny is great," coach Michael Desormeaux said. "He's happy-go-lucky all the time, smile on his face. Sure, he went through some ups and downs like everybody else, but always the same guy. He just worked through it."
For his career, he’s made 85.7% of his field goal attempts and is 54 of 58 on extra points.
He’s on pace to be only the third kicker since 2008 to lead the nation in field goals while making at last 90% of his kicks.
“Something about this year, the amount of field goals that we’ve made and the amount of field goals that we’ve tried, I know the guys are confident,” Almendares said. ”I know coach Des is confident and I know the defense is confident. I know the offensive line is confident. I always tell the big boys that I do it for them, so they can get a little extra rest there.”
Football is all about teamwork, though, and that doesn’t change for kickers. Almendares knows the role holder Dalen Cambre has played in his success.
That makes me feel good, but I also feel like that makes the team feel good — the fact that we go out there and make our kicks. To me, it’s a momentum change.”
For the record, the nickname is ‘Kennyseetoe' — which he said is “one of my oldest nicknames and he’s kind of the only person that says it.”
Almendares is certainly flying high these days. His parents, two brothers and girlfriend attended Saturday’s senior day activities.
Then his two brothers stayed to visit during the holidays and were there for the announcement.
“That was pretty cool,” he said. “They stayed with me because of the holidays, so I got to stay with them a little bit. They were super happy for me and I was super happy.”
For now, though, Almendares knows there's a lot more work to do.
"We still have two more games and that’s my focus. I told myself that the Lou Groza doesn’t start until Dec. 8 after that championship game on (Dec. 7) once we win that thing," Almendares said.
"Then I can hope and pray and get super excited about it … and hopefully I win it."
-->
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
"For his career, he’s made 85.7% of his field goal attempts and is 54 of 58 on extra points."
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Turbine
"For his career, he’s made 85.7% of his field goal attempts and is 54 of 58 on extra points."
Around these parts, we round up. That’s at least a 99% success rate.
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
Does this award come with a banner?
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
R1Letterman
Does this award come with a banner?
This award brings its own "banter"
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Turbine
This award brings its own "banter"
That answer simply kicked the can down the road
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
R1Letterman
That answer simply kicked the can down the road
But through the uprights.
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
Posting about posts on this post turkey day morning, where is all that is missing is the morning edition of the post, which will never come as its last days have arrived post haste
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
R1Letterman
Posting about posts on this post turkey day morning, where is all that is missing is the morning edition of the post, which will never come as its last days have arrived post haste
Don't forget... the uprights are actually "posts"
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
Might be only post that was ever right
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
R1Letterman
Might be only post that was ever right
But not wide>> right.
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
Banquet happens tonight. Announcement Thursday PM ESPN.
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
I think today is the day. Will it be broadcast live on ESPN or delayed broadcast?
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
HelmutVII
I think today is the day. Will it be broadcast live on ESPN or delayed broadcast?
College football awards show tonight at 8 on espn
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
Kenny is a Walter Camp All American. Got his name on the awards show.
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
Kenny the kicker baby!! MR. LOU GROZA!!
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
Kenny the Kicker. Retire a jersey???
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
60swerethebest
Kenny the Kicker. Retire a jersey???
Think that qualifies.
So happy for that guy.
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The top placekicker in the country is a ����������' ����������<a href="https://twitter.com/kennythekicker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kennythekicker</a> is your 2024 Lou Groza Award Winner!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cULture?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cULture</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GeauxCajuns?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GeauxCajuns</a> <a href="https://t.co/tqO0f242G7">pic.twitter.com/tqO0f242G7</a></p>— Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns® Football (@RaginCajunsFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaginCajunsFB/status/1867412731650781587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
-
Re: Kenny Almendares path to being Lou Groza Award finalist began with dream and disappointment
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">�� Your 2024 <a href="https://twitter.com/LouGrozaAward?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LouGrozaAward</a> winner Kenny Almendares !!<br><br>Congrats on an excellent season and good luck in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl!<a href="https://twitter.com/kennythekicker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kennythekicker</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RaginCajunsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RaginCajunsFB</a> <a href="https://t.co/CvanW3I4W8">pic.twitter.com/CvanW3I4W8</a></p>— Theo Dorsey (@TheoDorseyTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheoDorseyTV/status/1867413603214921819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
