Last season was a challenge for Josh Cherry and he has no problem admitting it.
Kansas State's senior kicker doesn't mind going into detail about just how difficult the first three weeks of the 2009 season were for him.
For the McCook, Neb. native, it was a growing process — one that he is thankful for as he heads into this season.
During those first three weeks of 2009, Cherry was searching desperately, and perhaps too intently, for one kick, one field goal.
That kick he felt, would give him something to build on. But that field goal took some to come — three weeks to be exact.
That stretch of misfiring took a mental toll on him.
"It was terrible for me," Cherry said.
It was a process, a journey, and ultimately a lesson for Cherry. His search, one that took him from Manhattan to Louisiana, and finally ended in Pasadena, Calif., saw Cherry attempt and miss three field goals.
But on that third week, under the lights on a warm still night at the Rose Bowl, Cherry finally connected on a 26-yard try during the first quarter against UCLA.
It was his first career field goal, and an incredible relief.
"Once I made my first field goal and then I made my second one, each kick became a lot easier," Cherry said. "I became a lot more comfortable because it just seemed like I wanted that first field goal so bad."
That first career field goal sparked something within Cherry, despite making only 1-of-6 to start the season. While it may have taken many outside the program some time to notice, he felt it right away.
For him, the confidence gained at UCLA from that 26-yard kick, fueled him for the rest of the season.
"I grew a lot of confidence within myself and just kind of went with a different mentality out on the field," Cherry said. "At the beginning of the season, it was, 'Man I really hope this goes in, I'm nervous.' At the end of the season it was 'This is going in.' I think that was huge mentally."
That mentality allowed Cherry to slowly grow into one of the Big 12's leading kickers as the season progressed. During the second half of the season, Cherry went on a stretch where he connected on 10-of-11 attempts including a season-high 47-yard field goal in the second quarter against Kansas.
"He really grew once conference play hit," senior long-snapper Corey Adams said. "I think everyone on the team saw it too."
Cherry finished the season with 11 good field goals, ranking third in the conference. He was 12-of-20 on the season — making 12-of-15 to end the season. Cherry has since been voted as a player representative by his teammates.
While the three-week stretch to begin 2009 took a mental toll on Cherry, it became clear during the second half of the season that he learned a lesson from the experience.
Now, he just needs to do it again this season.
"I know what to expect," Cherry said. "I know how to feel when I go out onto the field. I know how to calm myself down, how to and when I should be getting ready for field goals, how to keep myself prepared and not always be prepared and over-kick my leg on the sideline. Just a lot of things, small things, but in the end it all pays off."
The Wildcats open the season at home against UCLA at 2:30 p.m.
-File Photo The Manhattan Mercury
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