By Luke Maguire ’19
“I feel like Assumption taught me how to work hard when no one was looking,” said Cole Tracy ’18. When he graduated last May, Tracy was already one of the most accomplished kickers in the history of Assumption football. He broke every field goal record, including most field goals made in a game (six), single-season (27), and career (68), among those the longest field goal made (53 yards).
While conquering Division II football was one feat, his transfer to Division I Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, LA, proved he could successfully compete at the highest levels of collegiate football. Tracy, a graduate student with one year of eligibility left after redshirting a year at Assumption, helped upset
three nationally-ranked conference rivals to open the Tigers’ season. Most notable was – in his first game-tying an LSU record for the longest field goal and then his 42-yard field goal as time expired to lift LSU over rival Auburn 22-21 on September 15. In October, Tracy helped the Tigers upset No. 2 Georgia with his 18 points kicking, the most for an LSU player since 1949, including five field goals, which tied an LSU record set in 2010. Through his first eight games as a Tiger, Tracy was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week four times — the most one player has won the award in a single season.
In November, Tracy was one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award as the top placekicker in college football. The LSU Tigers remained a top contender in the country, no doubt thanks to Tracy, and LSU fans have demonstrated their gratitude in an unprecedented way: Assumption has received more than $16,000 in donations from LSU fans across the country in Tracy’s name, often thanking Assumption for “sending us Cole.”
“I love the fact that I am able to bring attention to and raise money for the school that made me,” said Tracy. “My time at Assumption was the best four years of my life. I am just grateful to be able to repay Assumption.”
As Tracy becomes a household name for LSU and other college football fans, the Assumption community remembers where he got his start. “The LSU fans have been amazing and have welcomed me with open arms,” he added. “LSU fans have now converted to being Greyhounds.”
