Jonathan Weitz hadn’t kicked a football since April. But that changed Monday as Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney put in a call to his former kicker, who agreed to return to the Tigers with a showdown against No. 4 Florida State looming.
Starting kicker Robert Gunn is just 1-4 on field goal attempts this season. Even worse, the one make was a 23-yard chipshot. The misses came from 41, 23, and 31. Gunn also is just 14 for 15 on extra-point attempts.
The interesting part of all of this is that Weitz is a Clemson graduate student who was set to start a non-football job in New York in two weeks. He isn’t graduating until December. So far, Weitz is 3-for-3 on his kicks against the Seminoles. And after making his first career field goal attempt from 30 yards, ESPN’s Sean McDonough offered a look into Weitz’s awesome story.
Clemson grad student kicker Jonathan Weitz — who had a job ready to start in New York — makes his first career FG attempt.
“Dabo said yesterday this is either going to be a great story, or terrible. It’s off to a great start… [Weitz’s] boss is here.”- Sean McDonough 🏈🎙️ pic.twitter.com/8oRP9R8sYT
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 23, 2023
Those in the college football world were quick to react to Clemson’s kicker’s insane story.
What a story
“I’d be mad if you don’t do it” https://t.co/Dc29jtbw2v
— Chase Snyder (@ChasingSnyder) September 23, 2023
Fun story here: https://t.co/ZhAWdM8vUN
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 23, 2023
Nice stroke. Could have been made it from 60 yards with a stroke like that.
— WeirdReport (@BrandonsBrain2) September 23, 2023
This guy can play, dude in his 8th year can play, a 34 year old can play… but not Tez Walker?? NCAA is a joke
— Bryce 🇺🇸 (@Byrddddd) September 23, 2023
Taking I don’t want to go to work to the next level https://t.co/xmaTkrYyDa
— Joe Wagstaff (@Joe_Wagstaff) September 23, 2023
This is why the NFL will never match CFB.. this would never happen in the NFL. What a moment for his family. https://t.co/gJrNOkhONn
— Rafter17-KevinHiatt (@kevin_hiatt) September 23, 2023
A perfect example of the centuries-old dad move of leaning back and looking around at nothing in particular when the anxiety kicks in. https://t.co/QdQadHYiPm
— Mark Ennis (@MarkEnnis) September 23, 2023
— Kelsey Riggs (@kelseyriggs) September 23, 2023
How can you not love college football?
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.