Leigh Tiffin
Encyclopedia
Van Leigh Tiffin is an American football
kicker
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns
as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football
at Alabama
.
injury to starting kicker Jamie Christensen. Tiffin was a hero, kicking the game-winning 47–yard field goal, in Alabama's 13–10 win over Vanderbilt
on September 9, 2006. However, two weeks later against a very strong Arkansas
team, he would miss three field goals in a 24–23 overtime loss. Christensen returned to the role the following week against Florida
and except for two extra points against Florida International. Tiffin would be benched for the remainder of the season.
In 2007
, he won the starting placekicking role over Christensen. The highlight of his sophomore year was when he went 4–4 in field goal
attempts (39, 51, 29, 50) in a losing effort against Mississippi State
. He was only the second kicker in Alabama football history to make two 50+ yard field goals in a game, the other being his father. His four kicks were Alabama
's only points of the game.
In the 2008 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
, Tiffin kicked a 54–yard field goal, his career long, in a 34–10 victory over #9-ranked Clemson
. He finished the season with 20 of 29 field goals and a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.
For the 2009 season, he was 30 for 35 for 87.9 percent. After kicking a field goal against LSU
, he became Alabama's all-time leading scorer with 350 points. This year, he was named Lou Groza Award
"Star of the Week" three times and was a finalist for the Groza. In mid-December, Tiffin was named to the Associated Press
All-American Team along with five other Crimson Tide players.
as an undrafted free agent and agreed to a rookie free agent deal on May 3, 2010. He was waived/injured on May 18 and reverted to injured reserve
. He was released from injured reserve with an injury settlement on May 26.
, a former Crimson Tide kicker who was the hero of the 1985 Iron Bowl
against rival Auburn
. He graduated from Muscle Shoals High School. Tiffin has a daughter, Ava Bayleigh, with his wife, Baylee Ann Tiffin (nee Ellson).
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
kicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
.
College career
Tiffin, who wore number 99 for the Alabama Crimson Tide, got his chance to kick as a freshman following a groinGroin
In human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles...
injury to starting kicker Jamie Christensen. Tiffin was a hero, kicking the game-winning 47–yard field goal, in Alabama's 13–10 win over Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Commodores football
The Vanderbilt Commodores football program is a college football team that represents Vanderbilt University. The team currently competes in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference...
on September 9, 2006. However, two weeks later against a very strong Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
team, he would miss three field goals in a 24–23 overtime loss. Christensen returned to the role the following week against Florida
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
and except for two extra points against Florida International. Tiffin would be benched for the remainder of the season.
In 2007
2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 30, 2007, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 7, 2008, where the top...
, he won the starting placekicking role over Christensen. The highlight of his sophomore year was when he went 4–4 in field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
attempts (39, 51, 29, 50) in a losing effort against Mississippi State
2007 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team
The 2007 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University during the 2007 college football season. The team's head coach was Sylvester Croom, who served his fourth season in the position...
. He was only the second kicker in Alabama football history to make two 50+ yard field goals in a game, the other being his father. His four kicks were Alabama
2007 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2007 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season trying to improve from a disappointing 6–7 record in the 2006 season. The Tide was led by its new head coach Nick Saban, a former head coach of rival LSU. Despite a...
's only points of the game.
In the 2008 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
2008 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
The 2008 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff took place on August 30, 2008, in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. This was the first game of the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff series. The game featured the No. 9 Clemson Tigers and the No. 24 Alabama Crimson Tide....
, Tiffin kicked a 54–yard field goal, his career long, in a 34–10 victory over #9-ranked Clemson
Clemson Tigers football
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
. He finished the season with 20 of 29 field goals and a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.
For the 2009 season, he was 30 for 35 for 87.9 percent. After kicking a field goal against LSU
2009 LSU Tigers football team
The 2009 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University in the college football season of 2009–2010. The team's head coach was Les Miles who served his fifth year at the helm of LSU football. They played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
, he became Alabama's all-time leading scorer with 350 points. This year, he was named Lou Groza Award
Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The award is named after former Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns player Lou Groza.-Winners:...
"Star of the Week" three times and was a finalist for the Groza. In mid-December, Tiffin was named to the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
All-American Team along with five other Crimson Tide players.
Cleveland Browns
Tiffin was given a tryout with the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent and agreed to a rookie free agent deal on May 3, 2010. He was waived/injured on May 18 and reverted to injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. He was released from injured reserve with an injury settlement on May 26.
Personal
Tiffin, born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, is the son of Van TiffinVan Tiffin
Van Tiffin is a former American football placekicker.- College career :Tiffin was the Alabama Crimson Tide's primary placekicker from 1983-1986. He holds the school record for longest converted field goal, with a successful 57-yard attempt against Texas A&M in 1985...
, a former Crimson Tide kicker who was the hero of the 1985 Iron Bowl
Iron Bowl
The Iron Bowl is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and the Auburn Tigers football team of Auburn University. The series is considered one of the best and most hard-fought rivalries in all of sports...
against rival Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
. He graduated from Muscle Shoals High School. Tiffin has a daughter, Ava Bayleigh, with his wife, Baylee Ann Tiffin (nee Ellson).