Mike McKnight is a junior from Fort Dodge, Iowa. As the place-kicker for the ISU football team, he has made 7-12 field goals this year.

Many of his field goal misses this year have come inside the 35 yards, not to mention botched PAT’s.

He is under fire this year because of his inconsistencies from short yardage.

Paul Kix: How do you think you are playing overall this season?

Mike McKnight: As a whole, recently, not as well as I would have liked. Iowa was just a bad game.

Baylor, from watching tape, I think I kind of got screwed down there. I should have been 2-for-3 rather than 1-for-3 [field goals made].

PK: One field goal was questionable?

MM: It’s good. It’s inside the post. I didn’t think it was at the discretion of the ref. But apparently it is, on a thing like that.

Right now, I am not at the point that I wanted to be at. I’m going to have to suck it up. Do what I need to do. And keep a good head.

PK: The field goals that have been missed inside the 35, is that more of a mental block, or is it technique?

MM: Those were … I couldn’t tell you exactly what happened. Either I lined up wrong, or just hit the ball wrong.

I wasn’t worrying about anything. I was doing what I was supposed to do.

Kicking-wise, I just didn’t make it. Now that I’ve had my bad games-get them out of the way-[it’s time to] have my good games.

PK: How confident are you going into this weekend?

MM: I’m looking forward to this weekend. Last year I only got to get in on PAT’s.

PK: Do you think you can salvage any honors for this season if you go on a streak?

MM: Well, right now, I’ve been attempting three field goals a game. Let’s say if I make 12-15, depending on how the other kickers in the Big 12 did, that would be 19 field goals made. That would be good.

I don’t know if that would be all-Big 12, but it would be pretty close.

PK: Is there anyone right now who is your main competition around the Big 12?

MM: I watch what they do on weekends. But I don’t try to be in direct competition with them.

When I’m out there I just try to do the best I can. And if that does garner honors, then so be it.

PK: Do you feel any pressure right now from redshirt-freshmen Tony Yelk?

MM: I believe that I can do it right now. I don’t have any question about [my ability]. When I am on the field, I don’t feel the pressure.