Unlikely hero, freshman kicker Chase McGrath, led the Trojans to a 27-24 victory in double overtime against the Longhorns. A pivotal 31-yard field goal kick by McGrath at the end of regulation tied the score and sent the game into overtime.
USC and Texas traded touchdowns in the first overtime. After a forced Texas fumble USC recovered the ball and once again got into field goal position. A miss would send the game into a third overtime but a make would seal a long awaited win against the Longhorns. McGrath took the field once again and sent a 43-yard field goal straight through the yellow posts. I sat down to talk to Chase McGrath about his hero performance and how his life has changed over the last few days.
Sarah: Starting from the beginning, or really the second quarter of the game, can you tell me about that first field goal attempt?
Chase: That was my first field goal kick ever in a college game, so not much was going through my head. It was a learning experience for me. I really rushed that. It was nice just to get one under my belt out in game. Just take a step back, a deep breath, and adjust myself.
At the end of regulation, Texas is ahead. You take the field again to kick a field goal that could send the game into the overtime. What was going through your head as you walked out?
Nothing really. I'm kind of just thinking about doing my job and just trusting in my technique and what I've done so many times before. It was on such a big stage, and it was on national TV, and there's 93,000 people or whatever, and it was to beat Texas. I wasn't thinking about any of that. It was just me going out there, kicking the ball, making the kick, and doing my job.
How were you feeling after that?
Everyone else was really hyped up and excited, but I was like we've still got a game.
In second overtime you go out to kick another field goal. A miss sends the game into the third overtime, but a make seals the win for the Trojans. Were you as calm as you were during the other kicks?
Yeah that's the mindset I've trained myself to be in: every kick is the same kick no matter where you are. When I went out there, I didn't feel any different than all my other kicks. I just knew I had to go out there and do my job. I trusted in my snapper and holder, they've been perfect throughout all of camp, and all of practice, and all the games. I knew they were going to make my job easy, and it was up to me to do my job.
What was it like watching the ball fly through the posts?
I'm trying to remember it… it all kind of just happened. I kicked it and I remember I looked up and I saw it… I knew it was in once I looked up and saw the ball go in straight.
And I remember I looked at the TV broadcast after and my face is like stone cold. Like I have no emotion on my face until even a couple of seconds after. My holder Wyatt is going crazy and I don't think it hit me yet, like what just happened. Then I look over and see everybody, and they're just going crazy. I think I was still like in game mode. It took a minute.
This was the first time the coliseum had been sold out since 2013 and you're a freshman. That seems like a lot of pressure. How do you deal with that?
To me, that adds on to the fact. I feel like I perform better when there's more on the line 'cause it allows me to just lock in more.
How do you develop and maintain such a calm mentality in those high-pressure situations?
It's really just knowing your ability and trusting what you've done for so many years. I started kicking around sixth or seventh grade, so I've been doing this for quite a while.
I knew what I was capable of after that first miss. That didn't really affect me whatsoever cause I know that wasn't really me. I know what I can do, and I'm going to do it the next time I go out.
On Saturday morning a lot of people woke up not knowing your name. By Saturday night people were chanting your name in the streets. What has life been like over the last few days for you?
It's drastically changed quite a bit, Especially on like social media platforms—those have blown up. If you look at my posts from a week or two ago, its a couple hundred likes. Now, I did a post and it was like 1,500 likes. And I'm getting a ton of messages from everybody. I'm still trying to get through them to reply to everybody. I want everyone to feel included. I just want to say thank you to everybody who's reached out to me, 'cause I really do appreciate all the support from everybody.
Still nobody really knows me yet, but the few people that do, they saw congrats and like good stuff. It's pretty funny. I'll be sitting and people will walk by me talking about it [the game] and they have no clue that I'm right there. I don't say anything, but sometimes like if I'm with my friends they'll say something. Then they're like, "oh wait you're Chase?" And I'm like yeah I am.
It's just kind of weird. Like some people want to get pictures and stuff. It's an interesting experience.
What has it been like adjusting to USC?
As a student, I was here over the summer, which was actually a big help to get used to the college life. I took one class with the other freshman football players over the summer, and that was nice to get adjusted, to kind of know what college classes are like.
As a football player, my probably first week or two here it was a major adjustment. From high school to college, just how everything works, and your schedule, and also the game how much more you have to be into it and just knowing your position. It's been a big adjustment.
What is the walk-on culture like at USC?
We definitely have some strong walk-ons here in the program. A lot of our specialists are walk-ons. We have a good walk-on reputation here.
If you just walked in and looked at everybody and how we're treating each other, you'd have no clue who's a walk-on or not. They don't treat any of us any differently. All these guys on the team are truly my brothers, and I'm thankful for that.
You went to Mater Dei, which produces a lot of USC star players like Matt Leinart. Did that legacy influence your choice to play for the Trojans?
I've always wanted to go to USC. Obviously it was nice knowing that Mater Dei had a strong connection to USC, but I knew if USC was ever an option for me then I'd immediately jump on that and take it.
For those who only know you as the hero kicker, what should we know about Chase McGrath?
Geez, I don't know. I guess I'm just like everybody else. There's really no difference between me and the average person, except I don't know, I kicked a couple big field goals in a game of something.
On my social media I told people, like hey if you're trying to contact me or anything, I'm open. I'm open to everybody. It really makes my day sometimes. People are so surprised that I replied and they're like "you just made my day, thank you so much like you're my inspiration" and stuff like that.
It's crazy, 'cause just a couple of days ago I was just a normal dude and now people are calling me their inspiration, it just makes an impact. It's really special.
How do you live up to that?
How do I live up to that? I mean I just got to keep working and doing what I'm doing.