By David Steinle
Special to LSUsports.net
With a fourth-and-1 at the Miami 24 late in the fourth quarter of LSU’s 33-7 victory over the RedHawks, LSU coach Nick Saban elected to keep the ball on the ground to run out the final two minutes rather than let John Corbello attempt his fifth field goal of the evening.
Had Corbello made the kick, he would have etched his name alone in the LSU record book as becoming the first and only kicker in the 109-year history of Tiger football to successfully convert five field goals in a contest.
That may have been the only thing that didn’t go right for the senior kicker from Lafayette, as Corbello had one of his best games in an LSU uniform against Miami on Saturday night, converting all four of his field goal attempts to tie an LSU school record, hitting all three of his extra points and getting excellent placement on his kickoffs, pinning the RedHawks deep in their own territory and giving the Tigers an edge in the ever important battle for field position.
Corbello became the first LSU player to hit four field goals in a game since Andre Lafleur nailed a quartet of three-pointers in 1994 at Auburn. Mike Conway was the first to hit four field goals in 1978 at Kentucky, while David Browndyke turned the trick four times, most recently at Ohio State in 1988.
“He did a great job on field goals,” LSU coach Nick Saban said. “I think that was good for his confidence, he’s done a good job for us and he continues to improve.”
Add in the three extra points that Corbello nailed, the 15 points by a kicker are the second highest total in LSU history, trailing only the 17 that Browndyke scored in a 47-0 victory over Mississippi State at Jackson in 1986.
Not only was Corbello flawless on his placements and outstanding on his kickoffs, but he also stepped into the breach and launched a 39-yard punt in the fourth quarter in place the injured Donnie Jones, who sprained his knee when he was roughed in the first period.
“He works all the time as a backup punter,” Saban said. “He did a great job tonight and continues to improve on it.”
Corbello was on the field in the second quarter to punt, but Miami was called for illegal participation, giving LSU a first down and nullifying the punt.
When the Tigers recruited Corbello out of St. Thomas More High in the fall of 1998, LSU’s place-kicking left quite a bit to be desired. Some Tiger fans have had recurring nightmares of Wade Richey clanging two field goal attempts off the upright against Notre Dame in 1997, or of the Tigers missing a pair of extra point attempts in the 1998 loss to Alabama.
Like many kickers, Corbello, who handled both punts and placements in high school, has had his share of ups and downs, but the momentum that he established by hitting three field goals in the second half of last year’s SEC Championship Game against Tennessee has carried over into 2002.
“I feel really confident,” Corbello said. “Ever since the SEC Championship Game, my confidence has gone up. Any time I can contribute, it’s a good thing.”
Corbello’s first attempt of the season was a 42 yards, a distance from which Corbello was just 11 of 21 in his career. But the kick sailed through the uprights straight and true, giving LSU a 3-0 lead after with just 2:48 gone in the contest.
LSU’s defense figured to be under pressure thanks to the ability of Miami quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but Corbello immediately swung the edge to the Tigers on the ensuing kickoff, as his high kick pinned RedHawk return man Korey Kirkpatrick near the sideline, and Adrian Mayes and Jason Spadoni combined to drop Kirkpatrick at the 15.
The kickoff coverage unit, which have been the Tigers’ strongest special teams group in this young season, were a big reason why the Tigers had a 20-yard edge in average starting field position, as LSU launched its drives from an average position of its own 42, compared to Miami starting on average from its own 22.
The defense responded with a three-and-out, and LSU started its next drive from the Miami, leading to Corbello’s 29-yarad field goal at the 8:24 mark of the opening period for a 6-0 lead.
Corbello’s third field goal of the first half, from 35 yards out, gave the Tigers a 16-0 lead with 5:34 left in the first half, and his record-tying field goal was a 41-yarder at the 3:59 mark of the third for a 26-7 lead.
“I’m pretty sure of myself when I go out there to kick a field goal, it’s going to go through the uprights,” Corbello said. “I feel good with my leg swing and I want to kick well.”
If he continues to kick as well as he did on Saturday night, Tiger fans might be watching Corbello on Sundays after his LSU career ends this year.