Kyle Brotzman has had a season to remember and has quickly become one of the best kickers in the country. And that's good enough for the WAC!
With few special teams options to choose from, The WAC gave Brotzman special teams player of the week honors for one of his least successful outings of the year. Here's how the WAC explained the choice.
Brotzman, a sophomore from Meridian, Idaho (Meridian HS), was successful on a 32-yard field goal and all three of his extra points in a 24-7 win at Southern Mississippi. Brotzman also punted six times for a 39.7-yard average including a long of 63. Two of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line. Brotzman is a perfect 87-of-87 on extra points in his career.
Sounds kind of like a lifetime achievement award to us.
It was pointed out in the comments section today that Brotzman's WAC player of the week breakthrough came after a game in which he had his worst punt of the season, a 12-yard Sally early in the Southern Miss game. Brotzman was outstanding against Oregon and against Louisiana Tech (and Bowling Green and Idaho State, for that matter), so on a night when he scores six total points and punts significantly below his average, we find the WAC's timing a bit odd.
Of course, then we look at his competition for the award and everything makes sense.
Other special teams nominations: junior return specialist Marcus Anderson, New Mexico State.
And that was it. Just one other WAC player was nominated this week besides Brotzman, and Anderson hardly provided much competition. The NMSU returner had one punt return for two yards and four kickoff returns for 106 yards.
No word yet on whether or not Coach Pete will ask Brotzman to give the award back on principle.
Read more: WAC football players of the week [WACSports]