Brent Cimaglia, Sr., PK
On if there w
as a specific kick that made him realize he’d be a successful collegiate kicker…
“Not really, no. I go out there, even if it’s an extra point or a 50-plus-yard field goal, I have the same mentality with each field goal. I just want to make it and put my team above the other team. I kick each ball with one mentality – like this is my first kick and I’m going to make it. I don’t think about any other kick at all.”
On team morale through the pandemic…
“The team overall, we’re all really close. For us the morale really didn’t change. We have a goal and that’s for us to get set for South Carolina and we’re going to do that each and every day. The senior class, we stepped us as leaders. We pushed everybody. So I’d say the morale never changed.”
On communicating with players that have been quarantined…
“We’re all a close bunch and talk every day, even if it’s to check up on them like, ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ We’re always on a Zoom call or texting or calling each other.”
On the special teams unit…
“I think overall the specialist unit, it’s going to be a good year for us. We have Paxton Brooks returning – he’s a great punter and kick off specialist. We have Joe (Doyle) who brings a good morale to the group. We also have Brett Graham that transferred in and he’s a good character to have. It’s going to be very competitive in each position, even with long snappers. We’re all kind of an older bunch, but with the long snappers, there are a bunch of young guys stepping in and I’m very confident that they’re going to get their job done. I’m excited to what this unit holds for us.”
On if he’s expanded his range during the offseason…
“I tell Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt every game day, ‘ ‘Cross the 50 and I’m good.’ I want to attempt it. For me, each year I want to improve on something in distance and accuracy and being very consistent is one of them. I’m very confident in the field goal unit from snap to hold, that we’ll get it down and wherever we attempt it, we’ll make it. I did hit one from 60 at Neyland last week.”
On how many more players need to be ready to step in because of COVID…
“I don’t pay attention to stuff. I focus on what I can control. As you can tell, there’s a lot of uncertainty with this COVID stuff and the season. But, funny story, I was talking to my dad yesterday and he said, ‘We can only control the controllables. We have to stand firm in our face and trust God because everything that is happening now is happening for a purpose and a reason.’ I truly believe that so right now I’m just going to control the controllables and get ready for South Carolina.”
On the nickname ‘Automaglia Cimaglia’…
“It’s a cool name, but I want to be something for than just a nickname or a saying. I want to go out there for a bigger reason and a bigger purpose. I don’t dive into all of that. It’s more about the Power T on the jersey than the last name. So I never really dove into all that.”
On if Joe Doyle returning was a surprise…
“Yeah, it was a surprise. Joe’s a great athlete and obviously a great friend. I’ve been with him every year I’ve been here. It’s just great to have him back. The personality and character he brings to the unit – he comes in every day with a smile. I love his work mentality. He doesn’t take a day off. It’s always a work day for him. Honestly, it’s good to have that around. It builds up confidence, not only in me, but all of the other specialists.”
On if kickers are less affected by not scrimmaging…
“Scrimmages are nice for us because it gets us ready for what game-day scenarios will be like, but personally for me, I’m game day ready every day. I don’t go out there just to kick to kick. I go out there to be game ready. So the scrimmages are helpful, but practices are also helpful because they hone it what I’m doing in trying to prepare for South Carolina.”
On if he worked with anyone back home…
“I didn’t have a field to kick on when I went back home. I was kicking, basically in a ditch in an open field and I was kicking toward the light post. My dad helped me out a lot – he was out there every day I kicked. I also sent film to Dan Orner a few days, just getting a recap of what I need help with. That time home and that time sitting in a ditch brought me back to my roots. It made football fun again. It’s honestly not about where you are, it’s doing what you love. Honestly, I had fun with it every day. In Florida, they have these big ditches. You couldn’t put a football field out there, but it was funny we went into Home Depot and we bought a little handheld grass cutter. We cut little squares where I can kick the ball without getting too much grass. But yeah, a ditch.”
-UT Athletics
