Desperate times call for desperate measures. We’re not big on cliches here at LBS, but if the shoe fits…oops. Anyway, when last second injuries left Tennessee coach Derek Dooley without anyone to kick field goals last weekend against Middle Tennessee State, he had to place an interesting phone call. Luckily, former high school kicker and All-State soccer player Derrick Brodus wasn’t too busy at the frat house to rush out to the stadium.
“We didn’t have a kicker,” Dooley said according to Go Vols Xtra. “And we had to make a call to the frat house. This is no lie. We called the frat house and had a policeman go get him.”
“Let’s get a call to Brodus,” Dooley told his staff, “and it’s a good thing he wasn’t having too much Saturday afternoon (fun). I told the coaches, ‘Hey, an intoxicated Brodus is better than nobody. Just get him here and we’ll do a Breathalyzer.’ Fortunately, he didn’t have anything bad.”
At UCLA they reach out to soccer managers when in need of kickers. The Vols bring in the frat boy. Brodus has not yet turned 21, so naturally he wasn’t drinking. Despite getting the call a mere 50 minutes before kickoff, he was able to suit up in time to convert all three point-after attempts and nail a 21-yard field goal. Not bad for someone who was lounging around waiting for the game to start — not expecting to be part of the win.
“I was just laying on the couch watching football,” Brodus said. “Honestly, I didn’t know what was going on. “I thought it was a dream. I was just laying down on the couch relaxing. I answered the phone and they just told me to come to the stadium as soon as possible.”
Nothing like a typical Saturday afternoon, right?
Helmet smack to SI Hot Clicks for the story.
