New Cal Kicker Mateen Bhaghani is a San Diego Kid, But Also Proud of Pakistani Heritage
Growing up in his hometown of San Diego, Mateen Bhaghani surfed and skated. He played soccer in high school and was a defensive back and wide receiver on the football team until his junior year when he switched to placekicker.
"I did it all,” Bhaghani said. “A typical San Diego boy.”
He’s added one more item to his resume — Bhaghani is Cal’s new placekicker.
“Everything has been working super-well together,” the freshman said. “I have trust in what I can do and what our (kicking) unit can produce. I’m confident.”
Bhaghani replaces sophomore Michael Luckhurst, who made just three of nine field-goal attempts through four games and missed a pair of PATs at Washington last week. Bhaghani came on for the last extra point of the night and converted it.
There will be a cultural footnote to Bhaghani’s appearance on Saturday at Memorial Stadium when he takes the field for either a field goal or PAT against Arizona State.
Bhaghani’s parents were born in Toronto but his heritage is Pakistani, and he’s fairly certain he is the first Pac-12 kicker with his ancestral roots.
He’s not sure if there are others with his heritage playing major-college football, but Bhaghani says he was something of an anomaly in San Diego.
“There weren’t many kids like me playing football, even in high school. It was definitely different,” he said. “I feel like that kind of inspired me to be like, I can be the first and little kids that look like me can be like, `Oh, I can kick.’ “
Mateen Bhaghani
Photo by Al Sermeno, KLC fotos
His mother and father will make the trip to Berkeley for Saturday’s game, and Bhaghani knows they are excited.
“Obviously, it’s an amazing opportunity for my name and my culture in general, just shedding light on it,” he said. “I didn’t grow up in Pakistan but I still feel a connection my heritage.”
Wilcox expressed confidence that Bhaghani is ready for the assignment.
“He has earned the right since he’s been here and earned the opportunity to go out there and kick PATs and field goals, and I feel good about him,” Wilcox said during his weekly media session on Tuesday. “He really had a good day (in practice) and I would expect that to continue.”
Bhaghani made 15 of 18 field-goal attempts in two seasons on the Del Norte High School team and converted 100 of 101 PAT tries. His longest field goal was a 53-yarder in the school’s homecoming game.
“That was an amazing feeling to display what you’ve practiced behind closed doors in front of your whole community,” he recalled.
Bhaghani actually shared the placekicker job with teammate Trey Coleman, currently a senior at Del Norte, who has drawn recruiting attention from BYU and San Diego State.
“Me and Trey are also very close so I’m kind of used to keeping the football and friend thing as kickers, just keeping the relationship good,” he said. “We both made each other better.”
He also got coaching help from Nick Novak, a former 10-year pro, who made 182 field goals for five NFL teams, including the Chargers.
“We started kicking for a while and he told me, `You really have potential to do this,’ ” Bhaghani said. “He taught me how to kick and I felt like I was good it. That’s what inspired me to keep going.”
Bhaghani has empathy for his current teammate, Luckhurst, all the disappoint he’s faced.
“It makes you take a step back because that can happen to any kicker. Nobody’s perfect,” Bhaghani said. “You’ve got to feel for him, and we both support each other. We still have a great relationship.”
Wilcox said Luckhurt hasn’t been able to find a consistent rhythm.
“There is so much rhythm involved and being in rhythm is key,” Wilcox said, “and being able to replicate that leg swing and that stroke regardless of the circumstance is everything.”
All kickers understand that reality. “I’ve missed a kick before and I can tell you it’s not the best feeling just because it’s such an expected job,” Bhaghani said. “People see it on TV and it’s always a make.
“It’s definitely a pressure position but the more pressure you think about it and put on yourself, the more pressure there’s going to be. You just have to stay neutral on your lows and your highs.”
Bhaghani gets his chance Saturday at noon.
Cover photo of Mateen Bhaghani kicking a PAT at Washington by Aaron Brewer, KLC fotos
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo
