Two goals left for Forbath

For all of Kai Forbath's accomplishments, the 2009 Lou Groza Award, the numerous All-American and All-Pac-10 honors, the increasing school records, four major feathers were lacking from his cap entering the 2010 season.
He's gotten two so far - the team's career field goal record, which he tied last Friday in UCLA's 55-34 loss to Arizona State, and a game-winning field goal as time expired, which he kicked in the Bruins' 17-14 win over Oregon State in Week 9 - and two remain.
Both can be accomplished on Saturday at the Rose Bowl against USC.
First, Forbath has never kicked a field goal against the cross-town rival Trojans - never even attempted a field goal against USC. If he gets one and then one more, he'll tie former Georgia kicker Billy Bennett's NCAA career record of 87 field goals.
You can sense which one means more to him.
"I'm hoping all those games with no attempts, I get them back now," Forbath said of his desire to convert a field goal against USC. "We've never been in range. Just PATs so far. That's the only team. Strange."
Forbath didn't expect to be going for the NCAA record against USC, after tying John Lee's UCLA record against the Sun Devils.
He thought he'd have it already.
"I thought I'd have it halfway through the season," Forbath said. "It's been that kind of year with how we're moving it."
For Forbath, his Groza Award follow-up campaign hasn't been quite as memorable. After nailing 28-of-31 attempts last season, the Notre Dame High graduate has made just 13-of-18 field goals in 2010, though all 25 of his extra points.
"I didn't accomplish my goals I set at the beginning of the season, but I don't regret coming back at all," said Forbath, who flirted with leaving for the NFL after his junior year. "I've had a great time with my seniors and the rest of my teammates. Obviously I had a few more misses than I hoped for..."
While an NCAA career record for Forbath would be a highlight in an otherwise down season, head coach Rick Neuheisel would prefer not to give him the chance.
"I hope we score a bunch of touchdowns," Neuheisel said. "I hope he gets a bunch of extra points."

Maintaining Meaning
Though some have called Saturday's matchup meaningless, given that neither team will be headed to the postseason, Neuheisel knows nothing could be further from the truth.
Particularly with several important recruits taking official visits, including highly regarded linebackers Tony Steward out of Florida and Colt Lyerla out of Oregon. Also scheduled to be in attendance are already committed quarterback Brett Hundley, defensive lineman Sam Tai and linebacker Ryan Hofmeister.
"I'm sick to my stomach that we're not going to a postseason game," Neuheisel said. "It's not where I envisioned us being at this time, but it's the reality. The one way to have a positive springboard into recruiting and the development of our program is to find a way to win this game. Obviously it's an important game for us."