by FKO! Cub Reporter Danny Wojciehowski

In high school, Robbie Gould, 25, who plays for the Chicago Bears wanted to be a soccer player. But, today he is a professional football player with the Chicago Bears and is the highest paid NFL kicker.
   
His father was a soccer player, and his brother plays football at the University of Virginia. Robbie Gould was born in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, and went to Central Mountain High School in Mill Hall, Pennsylvania. His multi-athletic talents showed when he won letters in soccer, football, basketball and track while still in high school.

Although his father played soccer he told Robbie to follow his own dream, and was very supportive of him.

After graduating high school, he went to Penn State as a freshman-walk on. In 2005, he signed with the New England Patriots. He was released pre-season, and signed with the Baltimore Ravens. He was then released form Baltimore and on October 8, 2005, he signed with the Chicago Bears.

Gould holds the Chicago Bears record for the most consecutive field goals made at 25.

I had the chance to speak with Robbie Gould about his career. The first question I asked him was “Why did you pick football over soccer?”

He mentioned a lot of reasons.

“One of the reasons was going to a Division 1 school. I would get to play under Joe Paterno. Joe Paterno was really a great mentor, and I learned a lot from him. Another reason was the 110,000 fans that sell out the stadium at every Penn State game.

When I asked Robbie Gould who was the player he looked up to he answered Adam Vinatieri. When Gould first joined the team, he was drafted by the New England Patriots. He was then backup to Vinatieri, and they became friends.

My next question was about the “Ice the Kicker” strategy. This is when there is an important field goal to be made. So, the other team calls a time out. This supposedly makes the kicker nervous and will help them miss it.

“This strategy doesn’t really work. It is used in almost every game, and yet it has no use. It is more done for commercial time on tv.

My next question was if the weather affects kickers.  And, it does. According to Robbie, the weather can make a ball go father, less far and even curve. 

 

When I asked him what was going through his mind when he was asked to make his first field goal, he said he was very nervous.

Robbie Gould signed an extension with the Chicago Bears this May 2008 that would make him the highest paid NFL kicker receiving 15.5 million on top of a 4.25 million signing bonus. I could never imagine being in his position.

Talking to Robbie Gould was a pleasure. It was a special because I am starting my Pop Warner season on the first week of August. He is a person I can look up to.  He was a wonderful person to talk to because he was very energetic and up beat. I hope to see one of his games in the future.  Good Luck to Robbie Gould in this season.

And, Good Luck to all of the Chicago Bears!