Auburn's Kicker Faces Criticism and Support After Tough Game

Auburn Tigers are off to a rough start in their 2025 SEC season. They've lost their first four games, all against ranked teams. The latest loss was a tough one against Missouri, ending in double overtime with a score of 23-17. Alex McPherson, Auburn's junior kicker, had a tough day. He missed three field goals, making only one out of four attempts. The misses were from 40, 38, and 50 yards. The 50-yard miss happened in the first overtime, a crucial moment in the game. Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, posted a video online criticizing McPherson. He was upset about the kicker pointing his hands to the sky after missing a kick. Portnoy said, \"This bothers me. You shouldn’t be allowed to pretend you hit a Fg when you missed you 19th chip shot of the game. \" Fans quickly defended McPherson. They pointed out that McPherson has been through a lot. In 2024, he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. He had surgery to remove his colon and missed almost the entire last season. Fans said he was thanking God for being able to play football again. One fan wrote, \"He’s thanking God, as he spent most of the last year in the hospital fighting for his life. \" Another fan said, \"This bothers me. You shouldn’t be making comments like this unless you know his full story. \" McPherson has had a tough journey. At one point, he weighed only 110 pounds while battling his illness. Despite this, he has been a reliable kicker. In his four-year career, he is perfect on extra point attempts and has made 26 out of 31 field goals. The misses against Missouri were his first of the season. Fans continued to support McPherson. They said, \"It’s a miracle he’s alive much less kicking in a college game. \" Another fan wrote, \"Respectfully, do literally any research on what the kid has been through, and you might have a different tune. \" McPherson's strength and courage have inspired many. He was one of the best kickers in the country two years ago. Now, he is continuing to get stronger and prove himself on the field.