Big East honors Cummings for his perfect performance

By RYAN WALKERSports Editor

Through three games, Josh Cummings has proven to be the answer to a Pitt kicking game that was… Through three games, Josh Cummings has proven to be the answer to a Pitt kicking game that was a question mark coming into this season.

The junior placekicker is a perfect 14-for-14 on all kicks this year. Head coach Walt Harris is excited about the success his kicker has had.

“He’s got as good of a start as you can have,” Harris said.

Cumming’s latest kick was a game-winning, 37-yard field goal in overtime to push Pitt past Furman. He also hit a 27-yarder earlier in the game to go along with five extra points, giving him a career-high 11 points.

For his efforts, Cummings has been named Big East Special Teams Player of the Week — an honor that, last week, belonged to teammate Adam Graessle.

This marks the third consecutive week that a Panther has been selected for one of the Big East’s weekly honors. Two weeks ago, linebacker Malcolm Postell was selected for defense.

Cummings was a Junior College All-American last year at College of the Canyons, a junior college in California. In 2003, Cummings connected on 15 of 21 field goal attempts (.714) and 47 of 51 extra points (.922).

Cummings is currently third in the Big East in field goals, but he is the only kicker who has not missed a kick. If his success continues, he could be a candidate for the Lou Groza Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top kicker.

“We’re thrilled about what he’s doing,” Harris said. “He’s a money man.”