West Virginia kicker Pat McAfee received death threats after two missed kicks in a loss to Pittsburgh that knocked the Mountaineers out of national title contention. By NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Four weeks ago tonight, it might not have seemed possible.
McAfee missed two short field goals in the Mountaineers' 13-9 upset loss to Pittsburgh, a setback that cost West Virginia a shot in the BCS Championship game.
A loss that brought death threats on McAfee and resulted in harsh e-mails sent to his girlfriend and bottles thrown at his Jeep.
"The first week after the Pitt game was miserable,” McAfee said Friday. "After that, I kind of bounced back. The break really helped, to be able to get home and get away from everybody, get away from the situation.
"I've just kind of dealt with it on my own. I'm really hard on myself to begin with, so it was going to suck either way. I'm back, I think. Everything's back in the right spot. I'm confident again.”
A junior from Plum, Pa., McAfee has made 11-of-15 field goal tries this season — hitting on 11 straight at one point — and also averages 41.1 yards as the Mountaineers' punter.
But he was off from 20 and 30 yards away in the first quarter against Pitt, misses that mounted in importance when quarterback Pat White was injured and the West Virginia offense struggled.
After that game, he sat silent in front of his locker for nearly an hour, pulling his jersey up over his face.
"At 12:25 a.m., he hadn't taken off his shoes, pants, jersey – anything,” Bill Stewart, West Virginia's interim head coach and McAfee's special teams coach, told reporters earlier this week.
"I put my arm around him and said, ‘Hey, big guy, I wouldn't trade you for anyone in the country.' I said it then, I said it at the (football) banquet, and I'll say it again.
"He's the best kickoff-punt guy combination in the country today.”
Since his off night, support has flowed in for McAfee.
He's heard from NFL kickers and found notes of encouragement on his Facebook.
"A lot of messages supporting me and telling me to bounce back,” McAfee said. "And I will, hopefully.”
McAfee said he's hoping for a shot early against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.
"Field goal would be the way to go,” he said. "But if we score a touchdown and I kick an extra point, that would be nice. I'll be excited. Even if it is an extra point, it'll be the most excited extra point I'll ever have.
"That was definitely the worst day of kicking I've ever had. I'll be excited to get it over with. I wish there was a game the next day. But I guess waiting a month will build up all the anticipation.”
Time has eased the critics, too.
The threats are gone, or directed elsewhere perhaps, with coach Rich Rodriguez's sudden departure for
