It wasn't that Caleb Sturgis didn't think he was good enough to win the starting kicker job from Jonathan Phillips.
He just didn't really believe there was a race to be won.
With the year Phillips had in 2008, there was no reason to think Sturgis would have much of a shot. Phillips finished the year 78 for 79 on extra point tries, setting a new school and Southeastern Conference record, and was 12 of 13 on his field goal attempts.
But Sturgis continued to work to improve his kicking with the idea that he would be ready for the 2010 season when Phillips would have used up his eligibility.
Until then, he would just have to be content with his role of handling kickoff duties, which he also did last season as a freshman.
"I wanted to believe I could (win the job), but at the same time, after the season he had last year - all last season he kicked really good - I just focused on my own and getting better," Sturgis said.
But through the first two games of the season, Phillips had already missed an extra point and a field goal - he had only missed one of each in all of 2008.
Coach Urban Meyer said after the Troy game he would be opening up the kicking battle.
Sturgis continued to outperform Phillips, something he had been doing since the beginning of fall practice.
"Caleb actually outkicked him slightly during training camp, but Jon earned the right to play," Meyer said. "Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we will chart all their kicks - we have done it before here - and the best kickers goes and kicks."
Even after having a better week in practice than Phillips, Sturgis was unaware before the Tennesse game that he would be taking the kicks as well as doing kickoffs.
Meyer told him to warm up before the third down just prior to his first kick, meaning he would be taking the field and not Phillips.
His first career field-goal attempt would be a 37-yarder against one of the Gators' biggest conference rivals.
But the short notice didn't allow much time to consider the pressure of the situation.
"That was lucky because I didn't have time to think about it, so I just went out there and did what I do all the time," Sturgis said.
Sturgis easily made the field goal and went on to make his other two attempts (29 yards, 35 yards) as well as both his extra-point attempts.
He wasn't just making them though. He was showing off his big leg by hitting them all as if they were from longer than 50 yards.
"He's really, really improved. You watch those kicks; someone said he hit an extra point in the next (deck)," Meyer said. "He's got a hose."
Although Sturgis' strong showing seemingly proved the coaches made the right choice, Meyer said the kicking battle will be open again this week.
Sturgis will need to continue to outkick Phillips in practice if he is to lock down the starting job.
