Angus-born American football star Graham Gano is promising a family homecoming if he can kick his way into the sport’s biggest game of the season, the Super Bowl.
Although virtually unknown in his home town of Arbroath, Gano is a multi-million-dollar NFL hero in a Carolina Panthers side which has enjoyed a highly successful campaign.
Kicker Gano, whose US Navy father was based in Angus when his son was born in Arbroath in April 1987, was hoping to help his side become only the second in NFL history to register a perfect season by winning all of their games on the way to the Super Bowl. The perfect season dream ended last night, however, as the Panthers lost 20-13 to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Super Bowl is still very much in the Panthers’ sights, though, with the team already in the end-of-season play-offs and hoping for a post-season run that takes them all the way to the big game in Santa Clara.
And the Red Lichtie has revealed that if the Panthers can claw their way to the ultimate prize, a homecoming trip would be the perfect celebration.
“Most athletes in America say they’ll go to Disneyland when they win a championship, but I’ll come home to Arbroath,” said Gano. My wife loves Scotland and I want my kids to see my country.
“Most people assume I’m American when they hear my accent, but I’m quick to tell them that I’m Scottish. I have plenty family in Scotland and my sister is always sending me messages.
“We’ve been underdogs all year and that rubbed us up the wrong way. But we’ve shown we can pull through in even the most difficult moments.”
He added: “I wake up every morning, 365 days of the year, thinking about football.”
Angus Provost Helen Oswald has said the county would love to have the sporting star back for a visit, but his achievements may not quite be enough to earn him the keys to his home town.
“The freedom of Angus isn’t something that’s given lightly. He’d certainly get a letter of congratulations, but we usually honour long-term services to the county rather than someone’s own achievement,” she said.
Gano began playing football as his father’s career took him to Germany, Canada and to the US, where he took up American football in high school.
Educated at Florida State University, he played for Baltimore Ravens and Washington Redskins before becoming the kicker for Carolina Panthers in 2012.