At a broadcast event ahead of the Texas–Ohio State matchup, a kick by a University of Texas student became an even bigger story.
His first attempt in the field-goal contest missed, but his second kick went through the center of the goalposts.
He also pledged to donate half of the prize money to an education-support nonprofit.
3-Line Summary
1. University of Texas student makes a 120-million-dollar kick
2. Succeeds on the second attempt after missing the first
3. His pledge to donate half the prize money also drew attention
The Prize Money Changed After the First Kick Missed
On September 12, ESPN’s college football pregame program ‘College GameDay’ held the ‘Kicking Is Easy’ field-goal contest, hosted by former kicker Pat McAfee. The participant selected for this week was Connor Cazena-Merrell, a University of Texas freshman from Zionsville, Indiana.
According to Longhorns Wire, Cazena-Merrell’s first attempt had sufficient distance but veered slightly to the right of the goalposts. Actor Matthew McConaughey and ESPN host Kirk Herbstreit each then pledged to add 10 thousand dollars to the prize, giving him a second chance.
The second kick went through the center of the goalposts, and Cazena-Merrell was set to receive 120 thousand ten-thousand-dollar units. Yahoo Sports also reported that he sent the crowd into a frenzy immediately after making the kick. The moment occurred at the site of the major Texas–Ohio State matchup, but the contest participant’s success story does not indicate the outcome of the game itself.
A Participant Who Was Not a Football Player
Longhorns Wire reported that Cazena-Merrell did not play football in high school. Instead, he played volleyball at Park Tudor High School and also played soccer as a child. The fact that he was not a player presenting field-goal experience as a professional-level skill made the disappointment of his first attempt and the success of his second attempt even more pronounced.
He said he would donate half of the prize money to Building Tomorrow, a nonprofit based in Indianapolis. The organization was reported to work with communities in East Africa to help children access quality education. Not only the large prize, but also his pledge to say where part of the money would go became central to the moment.
Yahoo Sports reported that his passing by McConaughey amid the commotion after the successful kick also became a topic of attention. However, the confirmed facts in the reports are Cazena-Merrell’s successful kick and his stated intention to donate; the timing and method of the actual donation were not provided.
References
Tags #OhioState #UniversityofTexas #CollegeGameDay #PatMcAfee #FieldGoal #Kicker #ConnorCazenaMerrell #CollegeFootball #120MillionDollars #MatthewMcConaughey #KirkHerbstreit #BuildingTomorrow