By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — T.J. McGettigan’s lone miss a season ago came in Hewitt-Trussville’s sixth game.
It wasn’t without controversy.
From 39 yards out, McGettigan’s kick sailed over the right upright. The referee under that side called it good. The referee to the other side disagreed. The dissenting man in white and black stripes won out. No good.
Hewitt-Trussville senior kicker T.J. McGettigan kicks field goals during practice last month.
photo by Ron Burkett
That’s an irritating call for a kicker who made good on his other seven field goal attempts. You can call it McGettigan’s motivation for 2014, a senior who also scored 10 goals and had six assists for the Hewitt-Trussville varsity soccer team in the spring.
“My ultimate goal this year is to achieve scholarships in either football or soccer and to one day play for the college level with a paid education,” McGettigan said. “Some short-term goals are to go perfect on the season for field goals and regularly attain touchbacks, (and) raising my work ethic and strive to continually perform as the best kicker in the area and state.”
McGettigan began playing soccer when he was 3. In eight years with the Vestavia Soccer Club, he won five state championships. Friend and current Hewitt-Trussville football teammate Devin Reed tried since sixth grade to steer McGettigan to the football field. It worked, and McGettigan has kicked for football teams since eighth grade.
McGettigan devotes time to both. He practices once a day every day of the week during the season, and often on Sunday evenings. He kicks 25 to 50 footballs per day, along with drill work, kickoff and onside work.
McGettigan’s longest field goal in a game is 52 yards, and he’s made a 60-yard field goal in practice. He said he plans to achieve his goals as a senior.
“Coach (Josh) Floyd and his coaching staff have completely changed the atmosphere of practice,” McGettigan said. “We want a championship. Opportunities will come often in this new offense, and my job is to take full advantage of those.”
McGettigan worked on the football and soccer fields over the past winter and this summer, a devotion to kicking footballs and striking soccer balls daily.
“Every day I thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me the opportunity to play for him day in and day out,” he said. “My parents have played such a huge role in my life and career thus far and that will take a lifetime to repay.”
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
