OU kicker Tate Sandell delivers an 'MVP' performance against Tennessee: 'He was an absolute animal'
KNOXVILLE — Tate Sandell was aware his football pants were a little short on Saturday night. They had ripped sometime during pregame warmups.
He didn’t realize how short they had become. ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler tee’d off about the length of Sandell’s pants on the broadcast.
But with his performance in the Sooners’ 33-27 win over Tennessee, which included four made field goals, Sandell might keep the pants that length.
“I didn’t know they were that short,” Sandell joked after the game. “But I’m not gonna say I’m gonna change it because it’s working.”
The Sooners are likely just fine with that. Sandell — who has been fantastic for the Sooners all season — was absolutely pivotal against the Volunteers.
Despite facing a crowd of over 100,000 people at Neyland Stadium, the Sooners put Sandell in a tough spot early. He trotted onto the field for a 55-yard field goal early in the second quarter with OU trailing 10-7.
He nailed it, tying the record for the longest made field goal at Neyland Stadium. By halftime, Sandell added two more field goals from 51 and 40 yards, respectively, to give the Sooners a 16-10 lead.
Sandell has never been one to lack confidence. But he embraced the nerves in a tough road environment.
“There are nerves but it doesn’t have to be a double-edged sword,” Sandell said. “You use the sword, point it (at the other team). It’s something you’ve just gotta embrace. It’s gonna happen.
“If you aren’t nervous, you’re lying and you don’t care. I care about my team. It was a good day.”
His biggest kick of the game came in the fourth quarter. With the Sooners leading by six, John Mateer took a seven-yard sack on third down, which again set up Sandell for a long 55-yard attempt.
Sandell made it, squeezing the ball over the cross bar for his second 55-yard make of the game — while giving the Sooners a 26-17 lead. He tied an FBS single-game record for three makes beyond 50 yards.
“You know when your guys got your back, you operate with a little bit less weight on your shoulders and just operate freely,” Sandell said. “I know my guys have my back and they know I’ve got theirs.”
The Sooners have been able to lean on Sandell all season. He’s now made 19 consecutive field goals, tying Gabe Brkic for the longest streak in program history. He’s made all six of his attempts from beyond 50 yards, including four from 55.
He prepares for those type of moments, and he brings a confidence to OU’s practices that has rubbed off on the team. OU coach Brent Venables noted postgame that he yelled at Sandell for a rare missed kick in practice earlier this week, and Sandell immediately responded.
“He’s one of them guys that you can rattle his cage a little bit and he’s going to give it back to you,” Venables said. “He’s great.”
“His confidence, his belief, his readiness — he’s like a middle linebacker on an A-gap blitz. That’s who he is every time he lines up. He is fearless. He doesn’t lack for confidence. I know I’ve bragged on him, just who he is, day in and day out on the practice field. He wants to get in front of the team, he wants to do his thing. ‘Come check me out. ‘Watch this. Get a load of this.’ It’s kind of refreshing, I’ll be honest, because he can back it up.”
In a hostile enviornment, in a game the Sooners needed to win, they put Sandell in several tough spots. And every time, he answered the call, finishing with 14 of the team’s 27 offensive points and one of the best performances by an OU kicker in recent memory.
“Tate Sandell, man, probably the MVP,” Venables said. “He was an absolute animal. Really fantastic.”