Andrew Stein’s heart was pounding as he trotted on the field for Southern Miss’ first extra point attempt in the Golden Eagles’ eventual 40-14 season-opening win against Alcorn State.
For Stein, it was a feeling of both nerves and excitement.
It was the first time since 2019 that Stein had stepped out as Southern Miss’ starting kicker. The first successful PAT was the start of a career night for Stein, who was 4-for-4 in PATs and 4-for-4 in field goals, which included a career-long of 52 yards.
“It didn’t hit me until a couple of hours after the game just how good of a start that was for me,” Stein said. “It was a solid way to come back after these three seasons that I haven’t played.”
Later in that game, Stein’s first field goal, which was a 25-yarder, was his first in 1,341 days.
“It all just happened so quick,” Stein said. “I didn’t really have time to think about it.”
What makes Stein’s game slightly more remarkable is the fact that in the modern age of college football, the fifth-year senior could have transferred. Every member of the Southern Miss program is aware that Stein could have transferred and easily been a starting kicker for another school. Instead, Stein opted to wait for his chance to start again.
WHY DIDN’T HE LEAVE?
The beginning of Stein’s kicking career is a typical story. He was a soccer player who decided to kick in high school so he could be around his friends.
However, it was during Stein’s sophomore year of high school that he first met Briggs Bourgeois, who was Southern Miss’ previous 3-year starting kicker.
The duo first met at the Hammer Kicking Academy and shared the same kicking coach. The relationship blossomed through the years, and just after Bourgeois began his career at Southern Miss, the Golden Eagles’ kicker made sure to alert the coaching staff of Stein, which is how he eventually ended up in Hattiesburg.
But in Stein’s freshman season, Bourgeois, who had won the starting job the year before, tore his groin.
“I called him up and said, ‘Hey man, get ready to play. You are going to be kicking next year,’” Bourgeois said.
“But for me, it’s really awesome to see him be successful for his game back. I was just grinning ear to ear when he had that performance. He’s been working for that for so long.”
The Golden Eagles’ kicking hardly lost a beat as Stein was 18-for-22 in field goals and 44-for-47 in PATs, which led to him being named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team.
The next offseason, Bourgeois and Stein battled for the starting job, but the more experienced kicker prevailed, and so Stein backed up his friend and mentor for the next three years.
“It’s an unspoken thing,” said holder Jake Lange on Stein choosing not to transfer. “You can see it in Stein that he carries that weight with him of knowing that he could have left. He could have gone somewhere else and could’ve played somewhere else. He’s what Southern Miss is all about.
“He stuck it through. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with transferring, but he stuck it out. He did it the hard way. He did one of the hardest things possible, the hardest way possible.”
During that duration of being the team’s backup kicker, Stein says he never once considered leaving Southern Miss. At the same time, Bourgeois helped Stein grow his game, and as they routinely watched film and worked together.
“I think ever since I’ve got here, just our specialists group in general has all we’ve been one big family,” Stein said. “Those are my best friends. We talk to each other all day, every day in football and out of football. And I think that’s just really kept me loving it. I’ve never dreaded coming here to workouts or practice. I’ve always just had a blast. I’ve never thought about leaving. I don’t really want to go anywhere else.”
The duo worked out over this past summer together as Bourgeois is preparing for the XFL combine.
“We kept on training, and then when (fall) camp came around, every day I told him to let me see your field goal film and kickoffs,” Bourgeois said. “We have been working a lot this offseason with his steps...But the biggest thing you can do as a kicker is to overthink everything."
And so Bourgois watched Stein’s success as both his friend and coach. As a testament to their unique relationship, as Stein checked his phone at halftime, there was a text message from Borgeoris correcting his form after the game’s first field goal.
“Over the years, Briggs has helped me out in so many ways,” Stein said. He watches videos I send him. I still send them videos.
“He’s been a really good mentor for me over my time here. And he’s helped me out a lot and made me who I am.”
CAREER LONG
Stein’s big kick came in the third quarter, and Alcorn State partly set up part of the drama surrounding the kick.
As the Golden Eagles stepped on the field to attempt the 52-yard field goal, USM was called for a 5-yard delay of game penalty, which would have forced USM to punt. Instead, Alcorn declined the penalty, hoping that Stein would miss the field goal and give the Braves decent field position.
“That was electric,” Lange said. “We’re all on the field, and then there is a delay penalty. We all kind of took it personally. It was like, ‘Oh, you don’t think we’re going to make this kick…They declined it and were like, okay, watch this.”
For Stein, the moment happened quickly. As the kick had about five yard left before going between the goal post, Stein turned to the sideline and was filled with energy and emotion.
“It all just happened so quick,” Stein said. “As I took my three steps back, I remember looking down at my cleats, and I was telling myself that I didn’t need to kill it. I know I have the distance. It felt great off my foot. I watched it until it got to the five-yard line, and I knew it was good.
“I was just so pumped, and it was a huge moment in the game and for me. I was so happy to be back out there again.”
And as Stein checked his phone after the game, there was a second text message from Bourgeois that simply read:
“You are an (effing) beast.”
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