|
Vanderbilt’s Real-life `Rudy’
11/28/2003
|
| Abtin Iranmanesh is a 21-year-old native of Iran who grew up in Alabama |
|
Vanderbilt’s Real-life `Rudy’
By Phil Sweetland
Notre Dame’s Rudy Ruettiger and Vanderbilt senior Abtin `Ponch’ Iranmanesh have more in common than names that are constantly misspelled. Ruettiger was a walk-on at college football’s most revered program in the late 1970’s. He was immortalized as a determined kid who beat the odds in the 1993 movie `Rudy.’
Iranmanesh, a 21-year-old native of Iran who grew up in Alabama, is the longest of long shots for the Dores. He walked on as a freshman place-kicker, earned his first varsity letter last year, and just may be the struggling Commodores’ most valuable and consistent player this fall.
His nickname came when junior high classmates realized he bore a strong resemblance to Erik Estrada, “Ponch” in the cop show CHIPs. Ponch is far easier for Americans to pronounce than Abtin. By any name, Dores coach Bobby Johnson knows what this kid has meant to Vanderbilt this season.
“It’s been a godsend, to tell you the truth, because we didn’t have anybody who had ever punted in a game,” Johnson said as Vanderbilt prepared to face Kentucky. “Ponch has really done extremely well.”
Fact is, at times he’s been brilliant, especially in that magical first half against Georgia, when he boomed an 80-yard punt – longest in the SEC this year – and nailed another kick that squirted out of bounds on about the Bulldogs’ 2. Moments later, sophomore defensive tackle Ralph McKenzie sacked UGA quarterback David Greene in the end zone for a safety, and upset-minded Vanderbilt led Georgia 2-0 at halftime.
“That was unbelievable, a dream come true,” Ponch said.
“A punt like that’s a very dangerous weapon, because it can provide a momentum shift,” sophomore linebacker Otis Washington said. “If the other team has the momentum and we get a great kick like that it’s a confidence builder for the defense. I really appreciate Ponch a lot, because Greg Johnson had transferred and he was an amazing kicker as well. We players were like, we don’t know what’s going to happen. Then Ponch came in, he stepped up, and he’s done an amazing job.”
One of the reasons Vanderbilt has been in so many close games this year is that Ponch has so often nailed opponents deep in their own territory. At Florida on Nov. 8, he added kickoff duties to his punting. All four of his kicks sailed into the Gators’ end zone. Few NFL kickers deliver so consistently.
“I chose Vanderbilt for its academic reputation, and because it’s close to home,” Ponch said. “It means a lot to me to do what I’ve done in football. You don’t really expect to do it because you don’t want to be disappointed, but it’s something you aspire to do. It’s a great thing, a great accomplishment.”
Like Rudy, Ponch has beaten the odds and Vanderbilt fans are enjoying every minute of his real-life Hollywood story.
|
