There have been many Cinderella stories of players who havewalked on to a team and became star athletes. But, the stories thatdo not make news are ones that have been cut short.
LSU held walk-on tryouts this fall and unlike last season placekicker Alex Romero was not among the list of kickers on theTigers’ roster.
Missed field goals and extra points have been a topic ofdiscussion for the Tigers this season. Some have taken the issue asfar as phoning into Nick Saban’s radio show to ask of otherkickers who have not gotten their chance to prove themselves.
“Every time they miss, it bothers me because I know I cankick,” Romero said. “Something inside of me just wantsto kick even harder, work out even harder and run evenfaster.”
Romero’s work ethic and attitude are there, but he saidthe thing that bothers him the most is not getting the opportunitysome others have.
“I’m not going to let them tell me no unless theysee me kick in a game and I can’t do it,” Romero said.”I’m never going to quit until I get a shot in a gameor a shot in practice where I actually bomb it.”
Romero came closer to this opportunity his freshman year when hewas chosen to be apart of the team for the 2003 season. Hepracticed with the team all season and dressed out for the SECChampionship and National Championship game. During practice Romeroworked next to starting kickers Chris Jackson and Ryan Gaudet.
“After sitting there and watching at practice I know I cankick just as consistently or maybe more consistent than theycan,” Romero said. “I will say that both have a littlestronger leg than me, but when it comes to the game it’s moreabout being consistent than who can kick the furthest.”
Romero played football and soccer for Hahnville High School inBoutte, Louisiana. He said competing on a 5A level helped him tobecome more immune to pressure and other outside factors.
“My junior year of high school we played at West MonroeHigh School and I had never seen someone in front of my face beforeand I didn’t miss anything,” Romero said. “I havenot been in front of 92,000 people but every time I’ve hadpressure or had people surrounding me it makes me perform betterthan my ability. It makes me just pull something out from somewhereand just get everything I have inside of me and just do the best Ican.”
Hahnville High School head football coach Lou Valdin said he sawRomero’s talent first hand and continues to see his hard workwhen he returns home to Luling.
“Alex is a great kid and a team leader,” Valdinsaid. “He is a hard worker and he strives to getbetter.”
During his senior year in high school, Romero caught theinterest of Northwestern State University who offered him ascholarship and a spot as a place kicker. The challenge of gaininga spot on the team would not be as tough at Northwestern, butRomero said it would not fit the sort of person he is.
“I set goals for myself tremendously higher than anyoneelse and I did not feel like [Northwestern] was the best I coulddo,” Romero said. “I would not be as happy and wouldnot feel like I filled all my goals or my potential.”
The past two summers Romero has spent his free time working forthe New Orleans Saints. The job opportunity has also given him achance to work with Saints kicker John Carney and he said he hasimproved his kicking performance.
“He was one of the big reason I got to try out forLSU,” Romero said. “I would always ask him little nitpicking things on how to kick, and the little things made thebiggest difference.”
Carney was not aware that Romero had been cut until recently.After observing Romero’s talent, Carney said he was capableof keeping his spot on the team.
“He has the ability and he is very talented,” Carneysaid. “I think he would do a fine job [for LSU].”
Romero said he also attributes a lot more to Carney, who was notonly a teacher to him but was an idol as well.
“He was a motivator like he would just sit there and talkto me about anything,” Romero said. “Just watching himat practice and talking to him made me re-think everything —like I can do this.”
Before the cut, Carney helped Romero in many ways. After thenews of Romero, Carney still has advice to give.
“If you are a kicker you’ll experience success andfailure,” Carney said. “There are factors that are outof your control and you have to have the mentality and perform upto your ability.”
With that advice, Romero still is dedicated to gaining hisopportunity on the team and on the field. He said talent is not theonly thing that he brings to a team.
“There’s one thing I wish they could see,”Romero said. “I wish they could see how colorful andexpressive I am when I am on the field. I am probably one of thesmallest guys out there but it’s not like that when I am onthe field.”
Romero said the rejection he felt has made him want to work thatmuch harder. He said he does not plan on giving up until he is putinto a live situation.
“When someone tells me no I want to prove themwrong,” Romero said. “I work as hard as I can to beable to tell them no, you’re wrong because I can doit.”