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| Carlos Huerta (Photo Credit: ProCanes.Com) |
Written By: Nathan Skinner
Canes Rising Contributor
When people think of The U, they think of elite athletes. Athletes who have been blessed with physical gifts that a majority of us could only dream of. Athletes that are part of a very selective group, the physical 1%. In football, these athletes train for hundreds, if not thousands of hours, just to be able to perform. Yet, in a ironic twist, some of the most important plays are made by some of the smallest men on the team. The guys who aren't blessed with pumpkins for calves, who can't lift the state of Delaware end up firing the shot that ends the war. These are the placekickers. The loneliest job in football. Carlos Huerta was THE placekicker for The U, and he's today's Forgotten 'Cane.
Carlos Huerta was a soccer player throughout most of his early years, which was spent mostly moving between Miami and Orlando. Huerta, during his formative years, ended up cheering for both Miami, and Florida State. By the time he reached high school, Huerta had become a solid soccer player, and looked forward to playing collegiate soccer. That all changed when Huerta was advised that he lacked the talent to draw attention from colleges. As a result of this unwelcome news, he decided to become a place kicker. Huerta starred at Columbus High School, and received some attention from FBS programs. This attention came with a caveat: Huerta had to walk-on, if he wanted to join any of these programs. In the 80's, teams were very reluctant to give scholarships to kicking specialists, unless the specialist was elite, due to the scarcity of scholarships. Therefore, teams offered spots to players, players who weren't on athletic scholarships, but were encouraged to join the program. These players had to pay their own tuition, and find a way to provide for themselves, despite being members of the football program. This practice continues today, and is how most backup kickers and punters find their way to college campuses.
Huerta decided that if he had to walk-on at any school he chose to attend, he might as well do it at The U, the school he had come to love. He was a redshirt on the 1987 National Championship team, but he stuck with the program, and he prepared himself mentally and physically to succeed All-American kicker Greg Cox. Huerta was a total unknown, he was considered unlikely to succeed Cox. The 'Canes had two scholarship kickers in Sum Kim, and Edgar Benes, two highly touted players. Kim never found his way to the field, due to an injury he suffered playing soccer, and the competition narrowed to Benes and Huerta. Carlos, with the help of the training staff, developed a workout regimen that allowed him to practice more, and to have a stronger leg. This was the difference as Benes bowed out of the competition, due to exhaustion and injury. Edgar ended up being the kickoff specialist, allowing Huerta to be the placekicker. From these humble beginnings, Huerta put together a run that is legendary.
Freshman All-American(1988), Consensus All-American(1991), NCAA record for most PATs made. These are just some of the things Carlos Huerta accomplished while a 'Cane. From 1988-1991, "Iceman" led the 'Canes in scoring, set records for consecutive PATs made, and was a member of two National Championship teams(1989 & 1991). Carlos rewrote the Hurricane record book, and he still holds most Hurricane kicking records. He was also responsible for some great moments. From his game winning field goal against Michigan in 1988, to his record setting kick in the 1991 Mobil Cotton Bowl, Huerta was always a dependable player who was at his best on the biggest stages. Following graduation, Huerta embarked upon a professional career. He saw time in the Canadian Football League(CFL), NFL, and the Arena Football League(AFL), before retiring in 2001. Today, Huerta is a real estate agent in Las Vegas.
Carlos Huerta was a player who came from nothing, and achieved great things through hard work and an iron will. It's not an accident that Huerta's story resonates with Miami fans. Huerta's story is The U. The U came from nothing, and worked its way to the top with nothing but hard work, and an iron will.
* A special thanks to ProCanes for interviewing Carlos Huerta in 2010, the information gathered was crucial to the crafting of this piece. If you are interested in learning more about Huerta, feel free to read this article. http://www.procanes.com/files/eae20feeb6224f6a8a0acbf9ea6c0084-6208.html
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