Ad Disclosure
Alabama called out by MAC coach: ‘Alabama stole our kicker’
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Alabama utilized the transfer portal in April to land kicker Graham Nicholson, the 2023 Lou Groza Award winner. Nicholson’s former coach remains quite salty about his standout specialist leaving for Tuscaloosa.
Nicholson played his first three seasons at Miami (Ohio), a MAC program. When discussing his 2024 squad, Miami (Ohio) coach Chuck Martin went off on Nicholson’s departure being described as the program losing the kicker.
“We didn’t lose him. He’s at Alabama,” Martin said. “We know exactly where he’s at. Again, you media people, it’s all pretend. Alabama stole our kicker. They illegally recruited our kicker and stole him from us. That’s a fact, but we act like… we live in this la-la world… hey, let’s talk reality. Everybody knows what’s going on. Alabama stole our kicker. A couple of other schools tried to steal him…”
Impossible not to love @Martin_Miami_HC. Alabama stole our kicker! Let’s call it what it is! pic.twitter.com/kd64PMXPwk
— Jed DeMuesy (@JedDeMuesy) August 22, 2024
Martin is far from the first coach to accuse other programs of breaking the rules when recruiting transfers out of the portal. The NCAA has also been criticized for the lack of enforcement of alleged tampering rules.
Nicholson was first reported to be a portal entrant in December.
According to @On3sports Miami University kicker Graham Nicholson has entered the transfer portal.
Nicholson tied an FBS record with 25 consecutive made kicks in 2023.
— Jack Schmelzinger (@jackschmelznger) December 5, 2023
Nicholson remained at Miami (Ohio), though, for a few more months. On April 19, he was again reported to be in the portal.
NEWS: Miami (OH) K Graham Nicholson has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, per @PeteNakos_
Nicholson was the 2023 Lou Groza Award winner, awarded to the Best Kicker in College Football.https://t.co/cGFLgOogmL pic.twitter.com/J2cb5guijC
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) April 19, 2024
On April 21, Nicholson announced his commitment to Alabama.
— Graham Nicholson (@gnicholson99) April 22, 2024
Nicholson left Miami (Ohio) as the school’s record-holder for made field goals in a single season, with 27 in the 2023 season. He missed just 1 field goal attempt, finishing 96.43% for the season. Nicholson’s career mark of 84.5% over three seasons (60-of-71) is tops in Miami (Ohio) history.
Last season, Nicholson set an NCAA record by making 25 straight field goals. He was 35-of-37 on extra points, finishing the season with 116 points. Nicholson was named first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Award, Sporting News and Associated Press, along with numerous other publications and websites.
Nicholson was also Miami (Ohio)’s kickoff specialist for the past 3 seasons. He had 52 touchbacks on 73 kickoffs in the 2023 campaign.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
