Everyone loves a Cinderella story, and as it turns out, Sam Ficken has a pretty nice one.
The start of his career at Penn State was shaky to say the least. Originally hailed as only a backup to former kicker Anthony Fera (who transferred to University of Texas in the wake of the sanctions against the university), Ficken was ripped from his comfort zone and dropped into a starter’s role. Many argued he wasn’t ready.
They fought back even harder when Ficken struggled in the 2012 season, having missed four field goal attempts, and an extra-point opportunity that led to a one-point loss in Virginia. He would later receive death threats through more than 100 emails and various social media attacks. He later called it “a low point in my life… A very tough time.”
The former soccer-player-turned-football-star set the record for longest field goal (52 yards) at his high school in Valapraiso, Indiana, before signing his National Letter of Intent with Penn State in February of 2011. Though he saw limited action as one of four true freshman to play in 2011, he tallied a successful extra point attempt and kicked off once in his collegiate debut against Indiana State. He scored his first field goal shortly after that in the Eastern Michigan game, but saw no conference play that year.
His sophomore season saw the tumultuous change in his starter status. Though he ended the season with six statistically perfect games, the poor performance and aftermath of the ugly Virginia game sent his confidence plummeting, the effects of which carried him through the next few weeks as he didn’t leave his apartment and missed an extra point opportunity in the next game.
Ficken’s confidence returned with a vengeance after Robbie Gould, a former Penn State player who is now the most accurate kicker in the Chicago Bears franchise history, called him up and offered him support. Gould helped Ficken strengthen his kick and get rid of harmful little habits, leading Ficken to become a more accurate and powerful kicker. He finished the 2012 season by making 10 field goals, a streak that would extend into the next season. He would go on to break the school’s record of 13 consecutive field goals by making five more, missing only on a 57-yard attempt.
Ficken’s roller coaster ride at Penn State has been gritty and emotional, but it’s probably safe to say that he is on quite the upswing. For the first time since 2008, the Nittany Lions are off to a 4-0 start, and they owe a large part of that success to Ficken.
It was Ficken’s 36-yard field goal that pushed the Nittany Lions ahead of University of Central Florida for a final score of 26-24 as time expired in their season opener. It is Ficken who ignites the team with consistent scoring game after game. As head coach James Franklin put it, “They believed in Ficken.”
Ficken’s drive and work ethic have greatly improved over his four years at Penn State. He’s in the gym now more than ever. When Franklin squirts water in his face and blows an airhorn in his ear, he’s still connecting on his kicks, knowing that the team will have to run if he doesn’t. He comes to practice early and stays late. He’s stronger and more accurate now than he’s ever been before, and it’s paying off for him. After being selected to attend the Big Ten Media Day and being named one of seven captains shows not only his leadership skills, but also displays the respect that his teammates and coaches have for him.
In Ficken’s own words, “It’s had its ups and downs. But at the end of the day, I wouldn’t change my experience in any way. I think as a team we’ve gone through a lot and it’s made us more of a cohesive unit. I’m very close with the guys on the team, which I think is the key to success.”
