Getting his game winner

One of the toughest interviews I had to do since becoming a sports writer was with Iowa State kicker Bret Culbertson. I remember walking up to him on media day. He was standing by himself taking in atmosphere of his final season as a Cyclone. What made the interview so difficult was not the type of person he was or any unwillingness to answer a question but the difficulty to ask such a grounded person a question he's probably been asked thousands of times. How do you possibly bounce back from missing two of arguably the most historic kicks in ISU history?
Standing there introducing myself to a guy that many have considered one of the greatest kickers in school history, Culbertson and I talked about everything from school (he's a journalism major) personal life (he'd just gotten married) to expectations for the upcoming season (they are always high). It didn't take long before he we got to the heart of the matter. Culbertson told me that he doesn't worry about the past. Whats happened has happened. He believed God had a reason for everything happening but hoped Cyclones would remember the kicks he's made, not missed.
"I just hope fans and coaches remember me as the guy that can get the job done when they need to count on it," Culbertson said.
After the Cyclone's 15-13 win over Iowa Saturday, fans seemed to remember only one thing, the 28-yard field goal he nailed as time nearly expired.
A man who many had pointed the finger at for Iowa State never winning a Big 12 North title was now being carried off the field. Fans carried, hugged, and cheered for Culbertson.
Just hours after his game winning kick, I checked his facebook profile. His wall was loaded with messages of congratulations. People who didn't know him took time to thank him.
"Bret I know you don't know me, but me and my family were moved to tears at how happy we were that got a chance to win it for us today after all the ups and downs in your careerl," wrote one individua. "As life-long Iowa State fans, I don't ever remember being this happy for an individual player."
Perhaps the most interesting thing Culbertson said to me when we finished up the interview was one the goals he hoped to have checked off the list by the end of the season.
"I want to hit a game winner this year," he said. "I think the few misses early in my career made me what I am on the field and off the field."
On Saturday he got that wish and took advantage of it.