Gators kicker Eddy Pineiro blasted five field goals over the Blazers and through the uprights in Florida's win on Saturday. (Photo: Matt Stamey/UAA Communications)
Pineiro Shines for Gators in Historic Performance
Sunday, November 19, 2017 | Football
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The UF kicker became the first player in school history with two field goals of 50 or more yards in a single game.
By: Tyler Savitsky, Writing Intern
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a season of few bright spots for the University of Florida football team, Eddy Pineiro has quietly been one of the best kickers in the nation.
Pineiro only added to his résumé Saturday.
He made all five of his field goal attempts, including two from 50 yards. He became the first kicker in UF history to kick two 50-yarders in the same game, as the Gators beat UAB, 36-7.
"I think it was a good win for our team. Our locker room is happy, we've been down a lot," Pineiro said. "What I can control is making my field goals."
Pineiro is now 16 of 17 for the season, with his only miss coming in the season opener against Michigan. He has made 15 field goals in a row and 28 of his last 29 attempts.
Punter/holder Johnny Townsend leaps on kicker Eddy Pineiro to celebrate one of Pineiro's five field goals on Saturday. (Photo: Courtney Mims/UAA Communications)
His 94.1 field goal percentage currently tops the nation. Pineiro became the first UF kicker with five field goals in a game since Arden Czyzewski made five against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 1992.?
Since joining the Gators in 2016, Pineiro has been one of the team's fan favorites. Every time he lines up for a kick, the stands erupt with their chant of, "Eddy! Eddy! Eddy!" And when the kick sails through the uprights, the stadium is just as loud as if it were a touchdown, and it is something Pineiro does not take for granted.
"It's an awesome feeling. Just going out there," he said. "I'm never going to forget this, I'm having the best time of my life."
Pineiro is 55 for 56 for on extra points as a Gator, but his one miss has had a huge impact on him.
"That extra point that I missed was the biggest blessing in my life," he said.
The miss was against LSU. The Gators had scored a touchdown to cut the deficit to 17-16 and were an extra point away from tying the game. At the time, he was a perfect 46-for-46 in his career. The snap and hold may not have been perfect, and Pineiro hit the ball as it tilted forward, shanking it wide of the left upright. The Gators did not score after that, and lost 17-16.
"I'm only there for what, 1.4 seconds every field goal or whatever, I just felt that I needed to concentrate more than I kind of was," Pineiro said. "Kicking is 90 percent mental, 10 percent physical. If you're right in the head, you'll make every field goal."
And he has made almost every field goal, which should lead to his name gracing the UF history books.
He is on pace to surpass Jonathan Phillips' 2008 season for best field goal percentage in a single season. Also, Pineiro's career field goal percentage is 88.1 percent, higher than the 87.8 percent current career UF field goal percentage record held by Bobby Raymond.
The redshirt junior can look to add to his accomplishments next year, or he could decide to leave school for the NFL.
"Someone told me the other day I'm draft eligible, so I might look into that," Pineiro said. "Life throws curveballs at you. If I miss the next four field goals, am I going to go pro? No, I'm going to come back. So, it all depends."
