Catching up with Rodrigo Blankenship at the College Football Awards

Rodrigo Blankenship is up for the Lou Groza Award, and FanSided had a chance to speak with him while he was in Atlanta for the College Football Awards.

Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has achieved celebrity status during his time with the Bulldogs. The senior is a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, presented to the top placekicker in the country.

FanSIded’s Michael Collins caught up with Blankenship at the College Football Awards in Atlanta. Here is what he had to say about the Lou Groza Award and his time as Georgia’s kicker.

Rodrigo, how is the Lou Groza Award, where is it on your radar in terms of has it been a goal for you as a college kicker as you’ve developed?

"Blankenship: “I wouldn’t say its been a goal, I think that if you’re attention and focus is on achieving an individual award then your head is not in the right place. I think that your mindset needs to be that you do whatever it takes to contribute to your team’s success that week when you get on the field on Saturday. If your body of work over a season or over a career earns you an individual accolade that’s just icing on the cake. It’s not something that you set out to accomplish or something that may happen as a result of you going out and doing your job.”"

Did you watch the award shows as a kid, to see who the kicker that would win it would be?

"Blankenship: I haven’t watched the Home Depot Awards as consistently though I always watch the Heisman show every single year. I have watched ESPN awards more recently just to get to see who some of the other winners are. We’ve had some Georgia guys that have been up for awards in recent years so I’ve always wanted to watch and see the Dawgs representing. It was something I look forward to for years to come. Its an honor to be here and to be part of it this season."

A lot of people know your back story and what you’ve been through at the University of Georgia. How fun has this whole experience been for you?

"Blankenship: It’s been a great ride. I think these have been the most fun five years of my life. I know it’s a lot to say for being young, but I’ve had a ton of fun at the University of Georgia. Meeting new people, making new friends, learning, getting an amazing education, and also making some memories on the football field. So it’s been a really great journey so far and I’m looking forward to hopefully finishing it off the right way in the Sugar Bowl."

You’ve had some big kicks, but also just some really cool moments…when you’re looking back 40 years down the road, what one memory is going to stick out to you from this entire experience?

"Blankenship: Hopefully Thursday, that would be really nice, but in all seriousness, I think probably Notre Dame from two years ago. Getting to make the go-ahead field goal and then getting to announce to the team that Coach Smart had put me on scholarship and just having the whole lockerroom kind of erupt in joy. I think that’s probably the one for me."

I know you had to process the tough loss to LSU the past couple of days, but this is also your senior season going into your last game, has it fully hit you that this is about to be it?

"Blankenship: Yeah, I think it, I’m definitely starting to realize it a little bit more. We were hoping that we could’ve gone out and had a little bit better game and maybe had two more games after this to look forward to, but I’m appreciative for everything that I’ve been able to do for this team this season and everything this team has been able to accomplish and we’re definitely looking forward to get to go to a bowl game in New Orleans."

Everybody loves the story of a walk-on who gets a scholarship and then becomes a possible national award winner. What advice would you give to someone who is considering walking on to any big programs such as Georgia who aren’t sure if they’re going be able to make it?

"Blakenship: I would just say follow your dreams. If you have a great team behind you, if you have a great system of support behind you that’s going to love you and care for you and do whatever it takes to help you succeed then I say go for it. Anybody who’s anybody has an opportunity. I think you should grab it by the horns and go out and do whatever it takes to try and do something special."

Is there any one relationship at Georgia you are going to miss the most?

"Blankenship: I think my relationship with Jake Camarda. He’s the first guy that I’ve had for two years since I’ve been here in terms of a holder or a punter. I had a different holder from my redshirt-freshman year to my redshirt-sophomore year. Now I’ve had Jake for the last two years and I’ve roomed with him the last two years going to all of our games and I’ve developed a really great relationship with him. He’s a really great guy. I love getting to hang out with him and I’m going to miss not being able to hang out with him so much when I go on."

It is easy to see why Blankenship is a fan favorite. It would be quite the task to be more humble than this young man. The world could use more men like Hot Rod. The Bulldog Nation should be very proud to call him one of their own. He is a great role model for what young men should strive to be.

In a world full of egos and “what can you do for me”, Blankenship is all about what he can do for others. It is truly a refreshing sight.

Fortunately for us, Blankenship will be kicking in not just the upcoming Sugar Bowl, but also the Senior Bowl in Mobile Alabama.

So Dawg fans you have two more opportunities to catch Blankenship kick the ball through the uprights. Make sure you do not miss Blakenship’s final game in Mobile.

…and always Respect The Specs.

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