The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Catching up with: Phil Dawson
06.08.2011 | Football
June 8, 2011
Phil Dawson was an All-American kicker who played for the Longhorns from 1994-1997. He was a four-year starter and letterman who finished his career with 13 Longhorn records, including the all-time marks for scoring (339), field goals (59) and field goal accuracy (59 of 79/ 74.7%). He finished his career ranked 16th on the NCAA all-time scoring list, 12th on the NCAA all-time kick-scoring chart and 31st on the NCAA all-time field goals made list. Dawson set a UT record by hitting 15 straight field goals in 1996-97 and set another UT record by making six straight field goals from 50 or more yards from 1995-97. He connected on 64.3 percent of his field goals from 40 yards and further (27 of 42) during his career. The two-time semi-finalist for the Lou Groza Award is now entering his 13th season as the kicker for the Cleveland Browns.
How does it feel to be back kicking in DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium?
This is very special for me because this is the first year I've been able to do it. I've been gone a long time and been trying to get back. This is a special place full of a lot of great memories and to now finally be back home in Austin and getting the opportunity to come train down here, I'm still like a little kid. I get goose bumps just walking out on the field, and it puts a little extra pep in my step and motivates me to work hard out here.
What do you think of the stadium renovations?
I think it's a kicker's dream. It was so open when I was here, especially the southern end. The wind would come in here and blow pretty hard. Now we've got upper decks everywhere, [and] a big, nice scoreboard down on the south end. It's an absolutely beautiful place. I've played in a lot of stadiums through the years and this is by far the prettiest stadium I've ever been in.
How do you feel about having played for the Cleveland Browns your entire career?
There have definitely been benefits being in one place for so long. The relationships you build with individuals and the benefits for your family being in one place, getting plugged in, feeling part of the community. It's all been great. I'm to the point in my career where I just want to win football games, and I hope that's in Cleveland. If and when I have the right to test the market, I probably would and see what happens, but I have a strong loyalty to the Browns. I'm very grateful for the job they've given me over the last decade, and I'm working hard to help us win games.
What has kept you in Cleveland?
It's always been a place that I felt like I had unfinished business. Whenever contract time rolled around, I just didn't quite feel like it was time to leave. I'm glad it's gone the way it has. I've got a lot of great memories there, I've built a lot of great relationships - we just haven't quite won as many games as I want. I'm just praying before it's all said and done I get to see that part of it.
How did you feel about the Browns drafting Colt McCoy?
I was excited. Obviously I'd watched Colt and followed the Longhorns as much as I can being in Ohio. I respected what he did on the field, respected what he did off the field and anytime you get a chance to have a teammate like that, much less a guy from your alma mater and one you're proud of, it's a plus for the locker room. He didn't disappoint. He got up there, he worked his tail off. It wasn't the best situation for him but he didn't use that as an excuse. He got in there and when he finally got his chance he played great.
Have you had a chance to spend any time with Colt?
We connected and got to spend some time and our wives got together and shared some time together, but those quarterbacks are busy. Us kickers, we get a lot of free time after practice, but he spent more time in the classroom then I think anywhere else and I think that's how it should be.
Are you planning on sticking around the NFL for a long time?
That's the goal. It's funny, when I started out I said I'd be the kind of guy that would get in, get my 10-12 years and go on and do something else. I've come to that point now and first of all, I'm having too much fun. Second of all, I feel like I'm still getting better and where else am I going to find a job that pays this well and I only half to work half the year? I think now I've changed my mind and I'm going to be one of those guys that they're going to have to kick me out the door ,and I'm going to just see how long this ride lasts.
What are your memories of your game-winning kick versus Virginia in 1995?
That's my all-time favorite memory in football because of so many reasons. First of all, it was the University of Texas's 700th all-time win which was a big occasion. We had been a program that had struggled in the early `90s and were just starting to get some momentum. Virginia was a highly ranked opponent coming into Austin. It was our first, true really big game in a while. The thing a lot of people forget, fortunately, is that I had already missed two field goals that game. It was really windy that day, and I just didn't handle the conditions very well. It came down to the last kick and in a way missing those two kicks took the pressure off. I was like, "Good grief, it can't get much worse than it already is." Lining up for that kick, [with] no one expecting me to make it, motivated me. Those are the types of kicks you grow up dreaming about, having the chance. I can still remember hearing the ball come off my foot and I knew right then I hit that one pretty dang good. Fortunately it went right down the middle. Place went nuts. I got to get carried off the field singing "The Eyes of Texas." What more can you ask for?
What do think about the coaches' decision to go for the kick to win?
Obviously the coaches, they were trying to weigh, "where do we have our best odds?" Throwing a "Hail Mary" or kicking the ball? Honestly, the wind was blowing so hard that day we weren't sure we could throw the ball into the end zone. Coach [John Mackovic] looked over at me and I gave him the nod and he sent me out there. I appreciate that opportunity. There's a lot of coaches who don't trust their kicker enough to put them in that position. Coach Mackovic showed confidence in me and that gave me the confidence to come out here and let it rip and the rest is history.
We heard that you played some offensive line in high school. Is that true?
I never wanted to admit it, but I always knew my future was in kicking. I just wanted to play football. As long as they'd let me play another position I was going to. I have some great memories doing that. Honestly, those experiences - being an undersized, under-talented kind of player, the attention to detail and the precision that was required for me to get my job done there - I've applied that same mentality to kicking. The same intensity, the same competitiveness, the same work ethic, the same attention to detail, and I think that's what's allowed me to kick for so long in such a difficult place like Cleveland, Ohio.
Do you still listen to the music from the movie "Patton" before games like you did in college?
I have a routine [now]. Music may have changed just a little bit, but my high school coach, Mike Zoffuto, was a tremendous man. He was a military man. He believed in playing that speech for us over and over and over and the point was, "Guys, it's time to go to work." It actually paid more dividends than just football. I took a speech class here at UT and we had to do a big, memorized speech by someone famous to pass a class. Well I didn't have to study, I didn't have to review. I did General Patton and got an A and it was great.
How do you feel about Coach Brown welcoming back all the former players?
You hear a lot about guys going back to their alma mater and their coach embracing them and that's true. I think the thing that's special to me is I didn't play for Mack, yet he's made it an open-door policy. "We'd love you around and we want you to be a part." I really appreciate that. He doesn't have to do that. I'm not a guy that did anything for him, but he loves this university. I love this university and the fact that he's allowed me to come around, I'm very grateful.
