National Championship Sounds Like a Kick for Lawrence, Tiffin

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Leigh Tiffin didn't hesitate. Yes sir, he was pulling for counterpart, Hunter Lawrence, to convert his big kick against Nebraska.

Lawrence obliged, slipping a 46-yard field goal just inside the left upright as time expired -- for the second time -- as Texas escaped with a 13-12 victory over the Cornhuskers in the Big 12 championship game. Lawrence's first game-winning field goal at any level catapulted the Longhorns into the BCS title game against No. 1 Alabama and the senior kicker into celebrity status.

Tiffin, the Crimson Tide's All-American kicker, knows full well that Thursday's BCS title game at the Rose Bowl could come down to a kick. However, though it would be nice, he also doesn't want one play to define his record-setting career.

"It would be great if I got that opportunity and it could happen, but I think you are kind of taking the wrong approach psychologically also if you try to base your career on one play, too," Tiffin said Tuesday.

"You have to look at your body of work and you have to have confidence based on the total picture of what you did."

This picture is worth a thousand words -- Tiffin and Lawrence represent two of the top placekickers in the country.

Tiffin leads the nation in field goals made at 2.23 per game and is first in the SEC and ninth nationally in scoring at 9.62 points per game. Tiffin, who made four field goals in Alabama's 12-10 win over Tennessee in October, has converted 23 of his last 25 field-goal attempts and 12 of 13.

Tiffin's father, Van, is also a big part of Alabama's football legacy. His winning kick -- a 52-yarder with six seconds left to beat Auburn in 1985 -- is still remembered and immortalized 24 years later.

Van Tiffin's kick was the first game-ending, game-winning field goal in the Iron Bowl's history and gave Alabama a 25-23 win over a Bo Jackson-led Auburn team that had been ranked No. 1 for several weeks earlier in the season.

"The Kick" became the subject of a painting that still hangs in some homes and favorite bars of Crimson Tide fans. It's also played before every Crimson Tide home game on the stadium Jumbotron, prompting the younger Tiffin to smile and say he has seen it "a million times."

The younger Tiffin simply wants to make the most of his opportunities when summoned Thursday. He's not worried about ending his career with a signature moment as long as the Tide wins its first national title since 1992 and 13th overall.

And, for what it's worth, Tiffin's facing a Texas team noted for blocking kicks. The Longhorns have blocked the second-most kicks since 2002 with 46 -- 16 of which are field goals -- behind Fresno State (48).

"I haven't talked to [my father] in about a week but he's excited and we've talked [about this game]," said Tiffin, the NCAA's active leader in in career field goals (82) and total points (378). He owns the top three single-season kick scoring years in school history, including 125 points this season.

"I've played in some big games before," Tiffin continued.

"I don't think I have to approach it any differently really. I am confident. I am prepared well. I just have to go out there and focus and execute."

That's exactly what Lawrence did against Nebraska, even with Cornhuskers' defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh chirping in his ear, "Don't be scared."

After Nebraska took a 12-10 lead, with 1:44 remaining, Lawrence knew the game could come down to his right foot.

"I started thinking about all the possibilities, and I kind of got excited," said Lawrence, who has made 32-of-37 career field goals after serving as the Longhorns' kickoff specialist his first two seasons. Lawrence's 86.5 percentage ranks first on UT's field-goal accuracy list.

"I reminded myself to calm down and be ready," Lawrence said of his game-winning attempt.

Lawrence was calm and ready, despite a frantic few final seconds.

On the previous play, McCoy threw a pass high out of bounds with time winding down. The clock read zeroes and Nebraska players stormed the field, thinking they had won the game without Lawrence ever getting his opportunity.

But after officials reviewed the tape, a final second was put back on the clock.

As Lawrence trotted onto the field, Tiffin was in Tuscaloosa, Ala., pulling for his fellow kicker.

"It was definitely a cool experience," said Lawrence, who also made a 39-yarder and kicked and extra point to score seven of his team's 13 points.

"That was clutch," Tiffin said.