IRISH INSIDER: Free-spirited Miller carves spot as holder
By HELENA PAYNE
Sports Writer
David Miller grew up minutes away from Irish territory, was recruited in 1998 to kick and never permanently obtained the coveted starter's position.
But things happen for a reason.
"I would obviously love to kick, but I would never change the fact that now I'm playing," said Miller who is finishing his fourth year of eligibility as a holder and backup kicker with the Irish. "All I want to do in my last year is win."
When Miller entered Notre Dame as a freshman, he had grown accustomed to winning. As the kicker and punter for Penn High School in Mishawaka, he contributed to three consecutive state championship teams from 1995 to 1997.
"The thing that sticks out most about David is that the more crucial the situation the better he performed," said Penn football coach Chris Geesman.
But more than Miller's composure caught the Geesman's eye.
"He was a free spirit," Geesman said, adding that Miller would dye his hair different colors and often painted his nails gold.
Even now, Miller describes himself as an independent thinker who is very opinionated.
"It's tough for people to get in an argument with me," he said.
Geesman said it was Miller's self-confidence that made him an outstanding football player.
"He's what I consider the typical kicker," he said. "He was a little eccentric but very, very good."
Early in Miller's Notre Dame career, he sprang into the spotlight at a time when kicker Jim Sanson missed several attempts and the crowd was responding by crossing their fingers in the air.
Against Arizona State in 1999, Miller made 6 of 7 extra-points, with the lone miss coming on a blocked kick. That same year, Miller made field goals at of and 33 yards against USC and totaled 19 points for the season.
Although Miller had his moment to shine, Sanson returned to the starter position, and, in the following season, Miller faced the competition of another teammate, senior Nicholas Setta. That year, Miller kicked off during the Navy and Rutgers games but did not play during 2001.
Now, Miller works as the holder for the Irish. And Despite the kicking games' inconsistencies this season, Miller is proud of his teammates' perseverance.
"We've had some tough times," Miller said. "It'd be easy for a lot of guys to leave, but this whole senior class, we've stuck around and finally fought through it."
He added that playing under coach Tyrone Willingham has revitalized the team's sense of pride.
"Now, you expect the best out of everybody," he said.
The 5-11, 210 pound. kicker graduated with the class of 2002 as a psychology major with a 3.33. In his fifth year, he is taking graduate classes in psychology in preparation for a job or internship, and later, a graduate studies program.
Miller calls music one of his "biggest loves," owns hundreds of CDs and enjoys listening to the lyrics of rock groups like Metallica, Rage Against the Machine and Korn among others.
He gets pumped up before games to the sounds of Korn's "Here to Stay," said he anticipates an emotional last home game against Rutgers.
"It feels like I've been here forever," he said.
All Sports Stories for Friday, November 22, 2002
