Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Goldin, Price Embody 'Be Prepared' Mantra
September 10, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Just a year ago, Josh Goldin was hustling around the Colorado football practice fields, doing whatever he could to help the Buffs.
That meant everything from lugging tackling dummies from one drill to another, moving equipment, hauling pads, shuffling sideline markers — anything to help the team as a student manager.
One year later, Goldin's goal hasn't changed. He's still doing anything he can to help the Buffs.
But the job duties are — to say the least — a bit different.
Saturday afternoon in Lincoln, Neb., the CU sophomore found himself crouching down on the Memorial Stadium turf in front of 90,000 people, preparing to take a long snap from J.T. Bale and hold for placekicker James Stefanou.
He performed his job well. Goldin's first hold helped produce a successful 40-yard field goal from Stefanou just before halftime, and he added another hold on successful a 35-yard kick later in the game that pulled the Buffs to within one, 21-20.
But the best part of the day? At game's end, Goldin — also a backup quarterback — was on the Memorial Stadium turf celebrating a 33-28 win over Nebraska with his teammates and coaches.
"I guess when you think about what I was doing last year and what I'm doing now — yes, it's pretty amazing," Goldin said Monday morning. "It's been my dream to just get into a game."
Goldin was called into action when regular holder Alex Kinney — also CU's punter — suffered a broken collarbone while making a tackle earlier in the game. Up to that point, Goldin's duties on the sidelines consisted of serving as one of two quarterbacks signaling plays to the CU offense when it was on the field.
"Coach (Mike) MacIntyre says everybody always has to be ready, always has to be prepared to go in," Goldin said. "I was locked into doing the signaling and then I heard over the headset that Kinney might have gotten hurt. So I got with J.T. right away and took some snaps. I'd been working on it all fall camp, and felt pretty comfortable — but it was a big moment, no doubt about it."
Goldin, who played high school football at Rock Canyon, tried out for the team as a walking in the spring of 2017, but didn't make the cut. The Buffs had plenty of quarterbacks at the time, and did not need another arm in fall camp.
But his roommate, Ryan Webb — also a member of the equipment staff — told Goldin that if he wanted to stay around the team, he could probably get connected with the equipment staff. Goldin did just that, and spent last fall working in that capacity.
But the urge to play the game wouldn't go away. So he tried once again to earn a spot as a walkon this year in spring ball — and the second time around, managed to be invited back for fall camp.
"Coach MacIntyre luckily gave me another shot," Goldin said. "I've worked really hard with Coach (Kurt) Roper and he's helped me understand my role. I'm truly just here to help the team in any way I can."
Goldin's contribution Saturday was enough to earn a special shoutout from MacIntyre in the post-game locker room celebration. Monday, MacIntyre said Goldin is the perfect example of what MacIntyre stresses on a daily basis — always prepare as if your number will be called in a game.
"That's what we talked about — everybody step up," MacIntyre said. "You never know what's going to happen. I guarantee you, going into the game, he never thought he was going to have to hold, but he was prepared because we practice him every day, too."
Goldin will stay in the role as CU's holder at least until Kinney returns. He spent Monday performing the duties in practice, then stuck around after practice to take a few more extra snaps and holds.
"I'm just really honored to be a part of this," Goldin said. "Coach Mac says it all the time — know your role because you never know when you will be needed. I'm probably just about as close as you can get to a textbook example of that. That's really what I try to embody out here every day."
PRICE IN AT PUNTER: Goldin wasn't the only Buff pressed into extra duty after Kinney's injury. Kicker Davis Price, who handles CU's kickoff duties, is also the Buffs' backup punter. When Kinney went out, Price went in, and he finished with four punts for a 40.8-yard average, including a long of 48.
"I've been punting a lot throughout fall camp," Price said. "The adrenaline kicked in, so once I got on the field I felt pretty comfortable, especially with J.T. He's been snapping to me for a few years now."
The Buffs practice special teams every day, and they make sure to get the first and second units some work in the event that an injury does require a substitution.
"We had confidence in him going in," MacIntyre said. "J.T. made it really good for him. All of his snaps were perfect, which made it a lot easier for Davis. I was really pleased with how he did and fit in that role. That was a gigantic role to fit and he did a great job of it."
Price is a former walkon who was awarded a scholarship in fall camp. While there were some butterflies on his first attempt, he handled his duties well throughout the game — and Colorado ended up with a 43.8-yard net average for the day. NU's longest return of the day was just 2 yards.
"It was a crazy feeling," Price said. "It's so much fun out there. I really enjoyed punting. Kicking, you mainly kick the ball and the play is over — at least that's the goal for me. Punting is more of a football play."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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