Off on the right foot: New kicker Robert Aguayo embraces pressure of FSU's hit-and-miss legacy

Source: The Palm Beach Post, Fla.mini storageAug. 24--TALLAHASSEE -- Roberto Aguayo is too young to recall the start of Florida State's ignominious Wide Right history. Still, one of his first impressions of the program he grew up following is, yet, another kick gone astray.Aguayo was 9 when Xavier Beitia line up for a 39-yard field goal with about five minutes remaining in the 2004 Orange Bowl and the Seminoles trailing by two points.What happened was almost inconceivable, especially to Aguayo, who watched Beitia miss a potential game-winning 43-yard attempt the previous year wide left and knew of the bizarre Wide Right history of this series."I was at my friend's house for his birthday and I had all my Florida State gear on," Aguayo said. "He missed the field goal and I started crying."Beitia's kick? Wide right.Aguayo, a redshirt freshman who will take over the Seminoles' kicking duties this season, never was deterred. Sure, the names of Gerry Thomas (Wide Right I, 1991), Dan Mowrey (Wide Right II, 1992) and Matt Munyon (Wide Right III, 2000) have been relived throughout history, but Aguayo is ready to follow in the shoes of kickers like Sebastian Janikowski, Graham Gano and the player he sat behind a year ago, Dustin Hopkins.All All-Americans. All Lou Groza Award finalists. Janikowski won the Groza twice and Gano once, making FSU is the only school in which its kickers have the award three times."A lot of people talk about the wide left and wide rights in my hometown," said Aguayo, from Mascotte, a small town about 35 miles west of Orlando. "A lot of people wanted me to go to Miami or Florida. (They said) 'You're going to the wrong school, that's the Wide Right school.'"You can't linger on that stuff and think about that. I know what I can do to become one of those guys who are changing it. ... go self storageown the middle."Aguayo was rated the No. 3 kicker by Rivals after his senior season at South Lake High School. He came to FSU as part of the 2012 signing class but at first it was thought he'd be a gray-shirt and receive his scholarship in January 2013. But coach Jimbo Fisher opened up a scholarship last summer and Aguayo officially joined the program in 2012, taking redshirt as Hopkins was concluding his historical career.Aguayo started to gain attention when Hopkins -- the most prolific kicker in ACC history and the leading scorer in NCAA history among kickers -- declared Aguayo was better than him as a freshman.Aguayo then connected on five field goals during this year's spring game, one each from 51 and 58 yards."He doesn't overthink things," Fisher said. "Keep the main thing the main thing, kick the ball, kick it straight. Don't overanalyze it."He's technical enough but he doesn't dwell on things and he moves on."Aguayo's reputation is as a clutch kicker. He feels his year behind Hopkins was invaluable as he watched the two-time Groza Award finalist make 25 field goals, including 5-of-6 from at least 50 yards. Hopkins held the job for four consecutive seasons."I would always ask him questions, 'what would you do in this situation?' Aguayo said. "From his experience he would tell me this is the best way to go about it. It made it easier for me."But it will not be easy following Hopkins, who along with his predecessor, Gano, changed the perception of Florida State kickers."A lot of people are expecting me to follow their steps," Aguayo said, "and get a shot at the Lou Groza."By going down the middle.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Fla.) Visit The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Fla.) at .palmbeachpost.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉