Senior John Rodin is Cornell's all-time leading place-kicker in field goals made and points by a kicker. Tim McKinney
Senior John Rodin fulfills one of the most pressure-filled roles on the Cornell football team. The Chesterland, Ohio, native is the Big Red place-kicker. While booting a football through two uprights 18 feet, 6 inches away from each other may appear simple, it is quite the opposite.
It is not necessarily the kicking of the football that makes a field goal or extra point difficult; it is the outside factors that affect the actual task at hand.
As a place-kicker, Rodin often finds himself away from team activities and workouts. Initially, it was difficult for him to gain confidence, but eventually he realized that he would have to depend largely upon himself to succeed. However, Rodin also likes to spend time with the team, trying to promote as much team cohesion as possible.
"I think, being a kicker, you have to build your own respect," Rodin said. "I came into the program with very little. I try to lift weights with the team as much as possible. I try to do what I can to be on their level. But you definitely have to build your own respect."
Rodin has been successful at building self-respect but often finds it difficult to separate himself from the team's energy.
"It's definitely hard," said Rodin. "You want to jump into the energy that everybody is creating, but there's really no way to do that. You have to be very calm while everybody else is excited and wants to kill people out there. I just have to be laid back and try to relax as much as possible."
However, waiting and being patient can become nerve-racking. Rodin never knows exactly when he will be needed and, therefore, must remain loose at all times. A defensive interception and touchdown would require Rodin immediately for an extra-point attempt.
"That's the toughest part, just not knowing," Rodin said. "Sometimes when you're not even ready, you get your number called. You just have to be ready at all times."
While the mechanical engineering major tries to remain calm, one can only wonder what goes through the mind of a place-kicker as he prepares to kick a field goal. The pressure to perform, coupled with trash talking from the opposing team, can create an unsettled state of mind.
"I get a little nervous," said Rodin, "but it all has to do with just blocking everything out. I hear noise, but I can't really make it out. If somebody yells something out from the sideline, I can't really make out what they're saying. It's all just noise. That's how much I block it out."
This strategy has obviously been successful, as Rodin's career-high 50-yard field goal against Harvard last year placed him in a tie for third on the Cornell all-time list for longest field goals. Rodin thinks that on a good day, he could break the school record of 54 yards held by John Killian. However, Rodin is more comfortable within a certain range.
"I would say from 45 yards in I'm very confident," Rodin said, "and up to 50 yards, I feel like I should still make it. And then from then on, it's 'I hope it goes in.'"
And running back Chad Levitt isn't the only player to challenge all-time Cornell records this year. Rodin recently surpassed Mike Cochrane's school record for career field goals. Going into the final game of his career, Rodin has 24 three-pointers. This season, he also set a record for most points by a Cornell kicker, and currently he has 140 points. Although he is happy with the records, he still is focused on the season at hand.
"It means something to me, definitely. But the season's not far from over. Later on I'll enjoy it," he said.