Though placekickers can be a crucial part of a football game, they don’t often mix it up with the other players on the field unless it’s to celebrate or if there’s a pile-up after a block attempt.
But as broadcaster John Schriffen said during ESPN2's Wednesday night telecast of UTEP at FIU, "Kickers are athletes too." More specifically, kickers are football players as Miners kicker Buzz Flabiano demonstrated when drawing an unsportsmanlike penalty late in the second quarter for taunting an opposing player.
Yes, that's correct. Flabiano converted a 37-yard field goal attempt to give UTEP a 24–7 lead just before halftime. FIU defensive back Brian Blades tried to block the kick, diving toward Flabiano's legs. The collision made the kicker stumble, which apparently inspired him to get in Blades's face and yell in retaliation.
