CCU Football Notebook: Granger moves past heartbreak of blocked extra point, readies for Gardner-Webb

Coastal Carolina kicker Ryan Granger put a lot of blame on himself and had a hard time dealing with his first blocked extra point, which came in double overtime to give Charleston Southern a win over the Chanticleers in Week 5.

The senior has had some time to process it, and has moved on as he focuses on Saturday’s meeting with Gardner-Webb.

“It was tough at first. I was a little upset. But a kicker can’t really be good later in the season if he thinks about his last kicks. That’s a bad habit,” Granger said. “I definitely got over it. This last week that we were off I kind of got to clear my head and move on to Gardner-Webb and the rest of the season.”

Granger’s teammates and coaches consoled him following the block, which he said helped him move past it.

“A lot of the coaches and players I’m close to – even some I’m not close to – were definitely trying to pick me up and make sure I kept my head up,” said Granger, who has made 28 field goals in 36 attempts during his career. “They all made sure I wasn’t upset, especially after it happened. I was pretty shaken up.”

As for the kick?

“Charleston Southern needed to make a play and they made one,” he said. “My kick was a little lower than it needed to be, obviously. Hopefully I can get it up higher next time and work on that for sure.”

It was also the first extra point Granger had ever missed at CCU. He had made 62 consecutive point-after kicks, which is four shy of Josh Hoke’s school record. CCU’s first kicker was unsuccessful on six extra points, but made 66 straight.

“Yeah, it kind of feels like I’m in uncharted territory a little bit,” Granger said.

While it took him a little while to get over it, Granger said the extra time off may have been just what the doctor ordered.

“I definitely think being on a bye week and having some time off after a situation like that helps,” he said. “It allowed me to clear my head and it was nice to relax my legs and they don’t feel as sore given all the kicking we have done this season.”

Chants head coach Joe Moglia said Granger just needs to focus on his job. He plans to do just that.

“I’m just going to stay focused when I’m out there,” Granger said, “and try to be as consistent as possible.”

Said Moglia: “We don’t expect our guys to be perfect. We know that, [Granger] knows that.”

TAKING A BREAK

Coming off its tough 59-58 loss to Charleston Southern on Oct. 1, Coastal Carolina had 10 days to lick its wounds and regroup for the remainder of the season.

Coastal Carolina had its only bye week of the season last week, and due to the effects of Hurricane Matthew, practice was canceled all last week and the team didn’t return to the field until Tuesday.

“I think at this time in the season, having an open date, having a bye week is always a good thing,” CCU head coach Joe Moglia said. “Whether you’re undefeated or you’re really struggling, no matter what’s going on, just to get a break this time of year is a nice thing. It gives our guys too a chance not just to heal up, but it gives them a chance to get on top of their studies, handle their personal business, whatever they need to do.

“I think what we did brilliantly was schedule our open week at the same time as the hurricane was coming,” Moglia jokingly added. “Not everyone can do that, but Coastal Carolina does that.”

‘CLOSED’ TO HOME

While the Coastal Carolina campus was closed to everyone until Wednesday due to the effects of Hurricane Matthew, the Chants had to come up with a plan to get the team back to practice on Tuesday.

And Doug Shaw Stadium at Myrtle Beach High School – just a few miles down U.S. 501 from the CCU campus – seemed to be the best option.

Chanticleers quarterback Tyler Keane played prep football at Myrtle Beach High, and was glad to be back on his home turf Tuesday.

“It was pretty fun,” Keane said. “Being able to go back there – I definitely made some memories there. So, it was pretty cool.”

As for the team, they are now back on campus as usual as they prepare for Gardner-Webb on Saturday.

This story was originally published October 12, 2016 at 7:05 PM with the headline "CCU Football Notebook: Granger moves past heartbreak of blocked extra point, readies for Gardner-Webb."