Need to kick a cavity? We know a guy
It’s the middle of winter and Indiana University football is still playing—and winning—meaningful games. The Hoosiers secured their first bowl win since December 31, 1991, with a blowout win over the vaunted Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl, setting the stage for a Big Ten bash against Oregon in the Peach Bowl.
A successful Hoosier football campaign harkens back to 2007 when IU earned a bowl berth for the first time in 14 years following a winning season that was capped off by a last-minute 49-yard field goal to beat Purdue and secure the Old Oaken Bucket trophy.
And whose leg sent the ball through the uprights that night? None other than Indiana University School of Dentistry’s Austin Starr (DDS ’14). He calls it one of the most adrenaline-filled moments of his life and shared what went through his mind.
“Stay calm, breathe, follow through. Most of the kicking game is mental, and confidence is a big part of that. I honestly was thinking how great it was going to be once it went through,” Starr reminisced. “I don’t think I’ve been under more pressure in my life than that moment in time. There was so much at stake riding on that field goal.”
It wasn’t the first time Starr starred in the spotlight. The year before, his 33-yard game-winning field goal as time expired at Illinois spoiled their homecoming.
“I’ll never forget sprinting to the other end of the field and getting dogpiled by the team,” Starr said. “It was a great moment on the road against a neighboring state rival. I’ll forever be grateful having the opportunity to play football for IU and be a part of memories that will last a lifetime.”
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in December 2008, the Hoosier legend chose to pursue a dental career at the Hoosier state’s only dental school, where he continued his winning ways at the Regatta.
“Helping win the IUPUI Regatta while in dental school was a great feeling,” Starr recalled. “I love being a part of teams that come together with a unified goal to achieve something bigger than oneself. It’s humbling and rewarding at the same time.”
He reunited with his 2012 Regatta Champion Kavity Killers team in September 2025 to secure IUSD’s first win in the alumni category. On a surface level, winning the Regatta and kicking game-winning field goals might not seem to have much common ground, but Starr sees it differently.
“They’re both team achievements, which makes them so much more fulfilling,” Starr explained. “The game-winning field goals had 10 teammates contributing: eight guys blocking, a long snapper slinging the ball back, and my holder getting it down with laces out. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve anything. Teamwork makes a dream work!”
Starr, who still ranks fourth in IU field goal percentage history at just over 78 percent, now owns and operates Starr Oral Surgery in Bloomington, Indiana. He says being able to give back to the community that helped him develop into the person he is today means everything.
“I have such an emotional connection to Bloomington and Indiana University,” Starr shared. “Being a student athlete at IU provided phenomenal resources to excel both in and out of the classroom. My coaches, mentors, and community members helped instill lifelong traits and values that I apply every day. Giving back by using the skills, discipline, and values I gained through my academic and athletic career is a way to honor those who helped shape me. Everything has come full circle, and I’m honored to provide support and care for the Bloomington community and Indiana University.”