Leigh Tiffin

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Kicking out of fathers long shadow.
Sports Writer Cody Whitlock can be reached at
740-5727
or
cody.whitlock@timesdaily.com.

From
The Times Daily
Serving NorthWest Alabama

Van Tiffin has never had to explain to his son, Leigh, why he's the subject of a Daniel Moore paining.

"I've just sort of known the story from the time I was little. It was sort of one of those understood things," Leigh Tiffin said of "The Kick" -- his father's 52-yard field goal that beat Auburn in 1985.

Leigh Tiffin is kicking in his senior season at Muscle Shoals -- and he's still kicking in the shadow of his father.

"You always get recognized for anything that your dad has done. Obviously, everybody wants to talk about him and how great he was. It's been great having him being there teaching me how to kick," he said.

While the younger Tiffin relishes that his dad is part of Alabama folklore, he doesn't want to be known as "Van's son."

"I've just got to try to be better than he was. I've got to do all I can do and be my own person," he said.

He's got a great start.

With a right leg that's one of the strongest in the area, he's garnered interest from several colleges -- and not just on his father's name.

His longest field goal of the year was a 48-yarder against Sheffield that probably would have been good from another 10 yards out. He's consistently sent kickoffs sailing out of the back of the opposing team's end zone, and he averages around 40 yards per punt.

But that wasn't the case two years ago, when Leigh Tiffin was a scrawny 10th-grader who struggled in the kicking game.

A changed man

After spending last season at Tupelo (Miss.) High School, Leigh Tiffin has returned to the Shoals as a totally different kicker.

"I'm just a totally different kicker -- a lot bigger, a lot stronger, a lot better technique. There's just no comparison. I was just going through the learning stages back then," he said.

"Ross (Anderson) didn't kick when we were in the 10th grade. If he had, he would have probably beaten me out. It's just one of those things you have to go through to get there."

Van Tiffin said his son's leg strength is more powerful than it was during this stage in his career.

"I wasn't as powerful as Leigh is right now," said Van Tiffin, who kicked at Red Bay.

"I got stronger when I got to college. Right now, he's probably as strong as I was in college. He does a few things differently, and probably better than I would have."

Family ties

Like many other fathers and sons, the two share a special bond. Without that, Leigh Tiffin said he wouldn't have any desire to kick.

"I wouldn't have any reason to if he weren't my dad. It's been a good experience, and we have a good connection. It's something we both enjoy talking about," he said.

Added his dad, "He's really handled the situation well. He's concerned about living up to expectations, but he's a good boy and that's all the expectations that we have for him."

Sports Writer Cody Whitlock can be reached at 740-5727 or cody.whitlock@timesdaily.com.