A missed 36-yard field goal by Andy Pappanastos at the end of regulation denied Alabama the chance to win the National championship game against Georgia, in regulation back in January.
Luckily for the Crimson Tide, Tua Tagovailoa hit DeVonta Smith with a walk-off touchdown pass to seal the title in overtime.
Pappanastos missed three field goals against Georgia and was just 16-for-21 on the season.
Alabama coach Nick Saban is hoping for more consistency from the kicker position this coming season.
At A-Day, Alabama’s spring football game on Saturday, Joseph Bulovas took a step to prove he is ready to be the guy his coach can depend on in the fall.
Bulovas, a sophomore from Mandeville, Louisiana, was responsible for 18 of the 36 points scored on A-Day, as the Crimson team took down the White team 24-12.
“He’s done a nice job all spring long,” Saban said. “I was encouraged by how he did all spring long. He showed good consistency in scrimmages and in practices.”
Bulovas came away as one of the stars from A-Day, co-earning the Dixie Howell Memorial Award for the most valuable player, along with third-string quarterback Mac Jones.
As a freshman, he did not get a chance to see the field often, even as Pappanastos had his struggles.
He was 5-for-7, hitting kicks from 33, 49, 35 and 48 yards. Bulovas was also 3-for-3 on extra points.
“We want to score touchdowns every drive, but it’s definitely nice not to come up empty-handed when we end up in that red zone area,” said offensive tackle Jonah Williams. “It was good to see him making those kicks.”
Saban gave credit to the co-MVP Jones, for making the day easier for Bulovas on his kicks.
“Tua started out as being the holder early on, then Mac took over,” he said. “Mac did a nice job and improved. You have to have a quality hold to have a quality kick. That guy is counting on the ball being in a certain place and at a certain tilt. I thought that the holds were good today.”
The two misses for Bulovas came from 47 and 43-yards out. The 43-yarder could have given the White squad, led by Jalen Hurts, its first lead, late in the fourth quarter.
The two misses are not enough to deter Saban from believing in his new kicker.
“Joe missed two, but he didn’t miss them by much,” Saban said. “The wind blew one out. I think we had good teamwork on field goals. I have been encouraged by that.”
