Mizzou student Patrick Remis kicks a 25 yard field goal worth $120,000 in cash and prizes (Patrick Remis Facebook page)

Mizzou student Patrick Remis kicks a 25 yard field goal worth $120,000 in cash and prizes (Patrick Remis Facebook page)

Patrick Remis is a freshman at Mizzou and he is spending the day in Miami, Florida with his dad getting ready to watch the BCS Championship Game tonight. He won two tickets to the game after winning a field goal competition with one other contestant during a promotion in New Orleans before the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day. Patrick was one out of 35,000 who signed up. How he got there is a remarkable story.

Patrick made the one and only field as time expired beating out the other competitor in blustery conditions. In addition to the BCS tickets, Patrick also won a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado truck, a Tahoe speed boat, a Victory Judge motorcycle and other prizes totaling $120,000. Remis worked on his kicking skills with former Mizzou punter and kicker Trey Barrow.

All Patrick wanted was a free t-shirt when he signed up for the promotion before the Mizzou-Alabama game back in October. When he got a call from an All-State representative telling him he won a trip and they needed his social security number he was leery.

However, after finding out it was legit, he went to work with Barrow,  who helped coach Patrick on how to kick. While Patrick picked up on the skill quickly, hitting field goals of 30 yards at the Mizzou practice facility, that all went out the window in front of 25,000 people watching and taunting him during the contest.  People can be cruel, but it was all in good fun.

As the competition was winding down, Patrick missed a kick to the right and seeing that time was ticking away, he settled down and got one last kick off that just cleared the crossbar.  Tons of prizes, watching two BCS games in person, sightseeing in New Orleans and South Beach…what a way to start the New Year!

The former Helias Catholic High School grad knows who he is cheering for in this game.  He and his dad are pulling for Notre Dame.

Follow Bill Pollock on Twitter @Missourisports