**ASU Coach Announces Open Kicking Tryouts Following Loss to Cincinnati**

Following their disappointing 24-14 loss to Cincinnati, Arizona State University (ASU) is looking to shake up their kicking game. Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham, visibly frustrated in his postgame press conference on Saturday, has called for an open competition for kickers within the university.

After the game, Coach Dillingham made a bold statement, expressing his dissatisfaction with the current state of the team's kicking performance. "Our kicking game is atrocious. If you can kick and you're at Arizona State, email me," he said. He further detailed plans for an open tryout to be held on Monday, welcoming any student who believes they have the ability to make field goals.

Kicker Ian Hershey has struggled recently, missing his last four field goal attempts. During the game against Cincinnati, Hershey failed to convert two crucial field goals on back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter. With 6:01 remaining, he missed a 48-yard attempt after Cincinnati had turned the ball over on downs. Later, with just 36 seconds left on the clock, Hershey missed a 41-yard field goal, eliminating any chance of a comeback.

Although Hershey's struggles are not solely to blame for the loss, his performance has raised concerns. He hasn't made a field goal in four consecutive games, with misses documented in the victories over Kansas (35-31) and the defeat to Texas Tech (30-22). This season, Hershey has a 7-of-12 record overall and is 2-of-4 from 40-49 yards out.

ASU’s season record now stands at 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12. With continued aspirations for success, the Sun Devils are keen on finding a reliable kicker. Dillingham's unconventional call for an open tryout aims to tackle this issue head-on and hopefully secure confidence in the kicking game moving forward.