Tag Archives: Ka’imi Fairbairn

UCLA’s Ka’imi Fairbairn one point away from school scoring record

Posted on by
3

The next time UCLA scores, Ka’imi Fairbairn will the Bruins’ new all-time scoring leader.

An extra point would put him in a tie with John Lee, who scored 390 points from 1982-85, while a field goal would put him in sole possession of first place on the school’s career rankings. The senior, scrutinized in the past for his struggles from long distance, credited his team for helping him close in on the milestone.

“It doesn’t even come into your mind until this part of the season,” Fairbairn said. “A record like this may say my name on it, but I don’t think there’s a record that has more team effort. … Whether it be the offense, how they score points, PATs — even the defense scoring points. Continue reading “UCLA’s Ka’imi Fairbairn one point away from school scoring record” »

UCLA’s Ka’imi Fairbairn named Lou Groza Award semifinalist

Posted on by
Reply
UCLA kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn (15) is one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award. He is 13 of 14 on field goals, and made a career-high 60 yarder against Cal on Oct. 22, 2015. (Keith Birmingham/Staff)

UCLA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn (15) is one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award. He is 13 of 14 on field goals, and made a career-high 60 yarder against Cal on Oct. 22, 2015. (Keith Birmingham/Staff)

UCLA senior Ka’imi Fairbairn was named one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, given each year to the top kicker in college football.

He has hit 13 of 14 field goals, giving him a 92.9 percent conversion rate that ranks the best among kickers with double-digit attempts. UConn’s Bobby Puyol (92.3), Western Kentucky’s Garrett Schwettman (91.7) and Stanford’s Conrad Ukropina are the only others above 90 percent.

Fairbairn has hit two of three tries from at least 50 yards away, including a school-record 60-yarder against Cal on Oct. 22, the longest make in any FBS game since 2012. He is 12 points away from tying John Lee’s all-time UCLA scoring record of 390.

The three finalists for the Lou Groza Award will be named on Nov. 24, while the winner will be announced on Dec. 10 on ESPN. Kai Forbath is the only Bruin to have won the trophy, doing so in 2009.

Ka’imi Fairbairn named Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week

Posted on by
5

UCLA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn has been named the Pac-12’s Special Teams Player of the Week after hitting a school-record 60-yard field goal.

The senior broke Chris Sailer’s 18-year-old mark of 56 yards last Thursday, giving the Bruins a 16-point lead going into halftime of their 40-24 win over then-No. 20 Cal. It was the best moment yet in what has been a surprising final season for Fairbairn, who has turned himself into a Lou Groza Award candidate.

The Hawaii native is 13 of 14 on field goal attempts this season, and ranks seventh in the country with a at 92.9 percent. He is also only 17 points away from tying John Lee’s all-time UCLA scoring record of 390.

Fairbairn was also earned the Pac-12’s weekly honor last November, after he made three field goals in a 44-30 win at Washington.

Quarterback Josh Rosen is the only other Bruin to have been named one of the conference’s top weekly players, doing so after his career debut against Virginia.

UCLA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn having a stellar senior season

Posted on by
10

Jim Mora was ready to try a Hail Mary.

With just three seconds left in the first half against No. 20 Cal on Thursday, UCLA had backed itself up five yards with a false start. The 55-yard field goal that Ka’imi Fairbairn just hit? It didn’t count.

So faced with trying an incredible 60-yard attempt, the fourth-year head coach figured he had a better chance at airing out a 42-yard pass. Backup quarterback and holder Jerry Neuheisel disagreed.

“Jerry said, ‘No, he’s got it. He’s got it. Just kick it again,'” Mora said. “I asked him at halftime, ‘How’d you know?’ He said, ‘I heard the boom of the ball on the 55-yarder. I knew he’d strike it.'”

Indeed. The senior booted the ball through the uprights from 60 yards away, sending it past the band and nearly into the stands. It easily broke the school record of 56 yards, set in 1997 by Chris Sailer.

Sailer is now best known as the preeminent expert in special teams recruiting, running a camp that helps develop kickers and punters hoping to earn scholarships. Fairbairn was one such pupil, traveling to Las Vegas to learn back in 2011. Continue reading “UCLA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn having a stellar senior season” »