While the Oklahoma Sooners defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs 23-15 on Saturday, not everyone played well. In fact, Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell had a day he likely will want to forget.
Sandell is coming off an outstanding season. He went 24-of-27 on field-goal attempts and 35-of-35 on extra points. Sandell made eight 50-yard or longer field goals last season. His performance helped him win the Lou Groza Award, given to the top kicker in college football.
But this season hasn't gone as well for Sandell. He's 10-of-16 on the season. That includes going 3-of-6 on Saturday against the Bulldogs. While the performance is one to forget, head coach Brent Venables says they still believe in Sandell.
"Tate will be fine," Venables said. "I know that's
pretty perplexing. He'll be fine. Again, that probably should have been a four- or five-score win. It wasn't. I'm just thankful for victory. Our guys have been kind of ravaged with injuries and being sick this week. I thought our guys showed tremendous toughness."
Sandell's recent struggles contrast with the consistency he showed during his award-winning season, but Oklahoma will need him to regain that form as the schedule gets tougher. Field goals can be crucial in close games, and converting those opportunities could separate a comfortable win from a tense finish. Given his track record last season, the Sooners have reason to stay patient as he works through this difficult stretch.
Venables' confidence also signals that Oklahoma is not ready to give up on a kicker who has already proven he can deliver at a high level. Sandell will have an opportunity to respond in the weeks ahead, and a strong performance could help put the Mississippi State outing behind him. For the Sooners, getting their special teams back on track would provide another important boost as they look to build on Saturday's win.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Brent Venables believes Tate Sandell will be 'fine' after struggles
