Ohio State Band Member Earns Football Tryout by Booting 55-Yard Field Goal

A bet with his friends led to an Ohio State band member earning a football tryout.

The stakes were high for junior Austin Brizee. If he converted a 55-yard field goal, his buddies would pay for his Chipotle meal. His successful kick not only snagged him free food, but an opportunity to make the Buckeyes squad.

According to Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch, Buckeyes assistant director of player personnel Eron Hodges offered the trumpet player a walk-on tryout after seeing the video. He is preparing for the opportunity with help from former OSU kicker Kyle Clinton, who said Brizee has the talent to flourish with more reps.

"He has all the ability in the world," Clinton said. "As of right now, he doesn't have the background, the fundamentals. That's what we're working on. It's all about the repetitions and getting the muscle memory and getting everything consistent. That just takes time and practice."

Let's not pretend that Brizee is a bad band-member stereotype who has never seen a football. The four-sport athlete in high school (baseball, soccer, golf and bowling) originally planned on playing baseball at Thiel College before transferring to Ohio State.

Yet making the team would be bittersweet, as he would probably have to leave the band.

"It would be tough. I'm not going to lie," Brizee said. "I've made a lot of good friendships there. But most of (the band members) I've talked to say if I get the opportunity, there's no way I should turn it down."

[OSU Marching Band, Columbus Dispatch]