Conrad Ukropina finds redemption at Coliseum

The last time Stanford visited the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Conrad Ukropina’s return to his hometown was anything but a triumphant one.

Stepping up for an injured Jordan Williamson as Stanford’s starting kicker, the then-sophomore didn’t give Stanford fans much hope for life after Williamson, as Ukropina repeatedly failed to get even close to the end zone on kickoffs and, more importantly, had a critical late 30-yard field goal try blocked in the second half with the game knotted at 17.

USC would go on to win that game 20-17, knocking No. 4 Stanford out of national title contention in heartbreaking fashion after an emotional top-5 bout with Oregon the week before.

After Ukropina’s cameo, Stanford fans welcomed Williamson back with open arms and eagerly anticipated the arrival of freshman Jake Bailey, the Cardinal’s prized punter/kicker recruit who was expected to bring stability to Stanford’s kicking game once and for all.

Fans didn’t believe that Ukropina could be the solution — not after how shaky he looked in 2013 and especially not after he missed all three of his short field-goal attempts in the Cardinal’s 2015 Spring Game.

Look at how much has changed in a few months.

Ukropina is a perfect 5-of-5 as Stanford’s starting kicker in 2015, including made kicks from 42, 46 and 52 (better than Williamson’s career-long). And it’s not just that: When Ukropina steps up to the ball before his kicks, he exudes a quiet confidence that gives Stanford fans — finally — a chance to breathe easy and be sure that their kicks are in good hands — er, feet.

It’s that confidence that has allowed him to carry through the struggles of 2013 and become the reliable force that Stanford fans see today in 2015.

“I had a really good spring camp in general,” he said. “I was hitting over 90 percent in charted field goals, and then spring game came around and I came out a little flat; I missed my first field goal, and it happens, man. Pros miss field goals and that’s the way I’ve looked at it.”

That’s why, behind the scenes, head coach David Shaw and special teams coach Pete Alamar were insistent on Bailey becoming a punter instead of a kicker at Stanford, and that’s why, despite media and fans alike calling for Bailey to handle kicks, the coaches maintained their steadfast commitment to Ukropina being their guy.

And that’s why, last week, when Shaw was naming his players of the game after the victory over UCF, as he always does, he snuck in a pivotal announcement when it came to special teams.

“He says offense, ‘Bryce Love, great job,’ ‘defense, Blake Martinez,’ and then, ‘Newly on scholarship, special teams player of the game Conrad Ukropina.’”

The team exploded. Ukropina said it was probably “the best phone call [he’s] ever made to [his] parents.”

“A big part of it is just, we work really hard here, 345 days out of the year,” he said. “It’s a lot of work during offseason and training camp and spring ball and in season, too. It just makes me feel that my work is really valuable and it’s something tangible I’ve earned from working hard.”

It was a long time coming for the senior. Not only had he been making the vast majority of his kicks in practice, but he had also been making a lot of kicks under an immense amount of pressure to properly prepare for stages like Autzen Stadium or the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Over the summer, the players train together and stay fresh through captain-led practice sessions known as “team techs.” While those are fairly similar to most practices for special teamers, they come with one major difference: At the end of every practice, Ukropina gets one shot to make a field goal with all of his teammates around him and yelling at him.

If he makes the kick, the team’s run the next day is made easier. If he misses, the entire team has to do extra reps.

“So there’s obviously a lot riding on that,” Ukropina said. “So there’s the pressure.”

“I made all of those this summer,” he continued with a grin. “I was 11-for-11.”

So Ukropina knows he can make pressured kicks, and what’s more, he’s gotten really good at tuning out the pressure and not letting even the biggest of moments get to him. That’s exactly what one needs as a kicker — consistency and poise, because at the end of the day, every kick is pretty much exactly the same.

“Building my confidence and building my confidence with my teammates around me, that helped me a lot,” he said. “And now, I just go out there and do it. I just go out there, say ‘let’s ride’ and kick the ball. It’s not too hard.

“It doesn’t even matter if you’re kicking the ball with a buddy, by yourself or if you’re in the Coliseum. It’s always the same thing.”

With a mindset like that, Ukropina never really had any doubt that Stanford was going to emerge victorious at the Coliseum on Saturday. When he was talking about the Trojans, it was never “if we win”; it was always “when we win.” And he didn’t mince his words when he talked about his opportunity for personal redemption in his hometown of Los Angeles.

“This is my second time. It’s going to be a better outcome this time.”

There wasn’t any doubt in his mind that his kick from 46 yards to ice the game on Saturday was going to do anything but split the uprights.

Ukropina’s journey had come full circle, and he’d finally found redemption in the hallowed walls of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

But the journey doesn’t stop here for the Cardinal kicker, and if the past is any indication, he’s ready to put his best foot forward.

Contact Do-Hyoung Park at dhpark ‘at’ stanford.edu.