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SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - December 31, 2012 - Oregon Ducks kicker Eric Solis (48) poses with the Fiesta Bowl trophy during media day in Scottsdale, Ariz., December 31, 2012.

(Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian)

EUGENE -- Eric Solis hasn't played in a game in four years. His last came in 2010, in Oregon's season-opener against New Mexico. It was the first, and only, appearance in the redshirt senior's career. It was 69 degrees and sunny as 59,104 fans packed into Autzen Stadium to watch the Ducks crush the Lobos 72-0.

Solis filled in for starter Rob Beard on that day and found his way into the record books. The Panorama, Calif., native converted three field goals and tied an Oregon record by converting 11 consecutive place kicks (FG or PAT) in a game. His nine extra point conversions also tied an Oregon record.

And he hasn't seen the field since.

Over the last three years, kicking duties have belonged to Beard, Alejandro Maldonado and, more recently, Matt Wogan.

Solis, and now fellow backup Hayden Crook, aren't likely to see much of the field again this season. Wogan has the stronger leg and was an effective 7 for 9 in attempts a year ago.

But as spring practice starts to wind down, the two players who are least likely to see themselves in a game situation are finding ways to help the team on the practice field.

Right now, that means making sure Wogan is as confident as he can be.

"As the older guy, I just try and be there for some of the younger guys," Solis said after Wednesday's practice. "We don't really like to think about pressure. Pressure for Kickers? It's hell."

The trio of legs spent the offseason making three or so trips a week to the Moshofsky Center. While one player kicked, the other held and sometimes the third recorded it all. Oregon special teams coach Tom Osborne called these offseason workouts crucial. In football, there are only so many positions where you can immediately tell if someone is rusty. A rusty kicker can mean missed kicks, which can turn into dropped confidence, which can turn into more missed kicks. It’s a snowball effect, Osborne said.

"That position is confidence and technique. That's really what it all comes down to," Osborne said. "They'll spend all winter and summer long working out. They better spend all summer long."

Just like any competitor, Crook and Solis would love to see the field. They'd like to be the one between the hash marks with the game on the line. But they're also realistic. Wogan has something that they don’t.

"Matt just has a monster leg," Crook said. "That's something we don't have the strength to do. Inside 40 and 45, we're just as consistent. But he can jump out to 55 and sometimes 60."

While Solis is more of a true place and will likely be Wogan's primary backup on the field, Crook has found himself a bit of a niche on the practice field. Osborne said Crook is invaluable for the scout team on kickoffs. He may not be able to launch it like Wogan, but Osborne said Crook can line it up and kick from any location and at any angle.

"Hayden is fantastic for us on the scout team for the kickoff return team," Osborne said. "He's awesome at that. He doesn't have the leg that Matt does, but for us to practice efficiently, that role is huge."

Crook said he's working on his field goal kicking, not wanting to just be labeled as a specialist, which puts him in direct competition with Solis for the backup role.

If things go well for Oregon, though, neither of them should see the field unless it’s for mop up duty – though both know they'll have to be ready in case something happens. Last year, Wogan became the starter after Maldonado faltered midway through the year.

Crook and Solis hope that's something that doesn't happen this fall.

"Being the backup is sometimes difficult," Solis said. "But as long as Wogan is out there doing his thing, that's a reflection on all of us."

On to the links:

and the Ducks are bracing themselves for a hostile environment.

Oregon defensive coordinator Don Pellum spoke with the media yesterday. Here's the video.

push past tragedies.

-- Tyson Alger | @tysonalger