SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Jim Sanson got his first death threat after missing the $8 million kick his freshman year.

The threat was waiting for the Notre Dame kicker after the Southern Cal game, when he missed an extra point attempt that cost the Irish a win -- and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl and big-time postseason money.

Other threats have followed various mishaps -- some serious, some that can be attributed to the angry ranting of Notre Dame fanatics. This week, someone even took the time to send Sanson an animated e-mail greeting card denigrating his efforts.

He just takes it all in stride.

"If they want to spend their time doing that, go ahead, it'll give me a laugh every now and then. But it also hurts, too," said Sanson, now a senior. "I'm at the University of Notre Dame. This is the reason why you come to this kind of school, to face challenges like this."

Sanson's roller coaster career has featured more challenges than he ever thought possible when he came to South Bend from St. Mary's High School in Phoenix.

Now Sanson's job is on the line every time he kicks as coaches have grown weary of holding their breath on field goal attempts.

To add even more pressure, about 40 to 50 friends and family members are coming to South Bend this weekend to see the Irish take on Arizona State.

And Sanson hasn't even had time to think about playing his nemesis Southern Cal next week.

"I'm never going to give up. But in a situation like this I realize if I'm yanked, it's probably the last time I'll kick at Notre Dame," Sanson said. "It's time for me to step up and take my responsibility."

Irish fans thought they'd finally found a stable kicker when Sanson nailed a 39-yarder as time expired to beat No. 6 Texas in 1996. He was solid all year.

Then came the USC game -- and the first threat.

Notre Dame led 21-12 with 3:52 left when Sanson lined up for an extra point attempt that would've forced the Trojans to score twice just to tie the game. But the kick sailed wide left, USC scored a touchdown and tied it up on a two-point conversion before going on to win 27-20 in overtime.

Since then, he's been 25-of-41 on field goal attempts and missed 15 extra point kicks in 117 attempts. There were brief flashes of hope last year when he went 11-for-16 -- including game winners against Purdue and Army.

But he's 3-of-7 this season with two missed extra points, and coach Bob Davie said it's time for his senior kicker to begin producing. Problem is Sanson keeps winning the weekly kicking derby with two freshmen and a sophomore, and no one has proven better than Sanson.

"Jim realizes because of what's happened if he doesn't perform, a change will be made," Davie said. "When we stand out there every day and watch those kickers, if I had the game on the line right now, Jim Sanson is the one I'd want in the game right now."

Despite the kicking problems -- and the threats -- Sanson has never shied away from talking about his failures. He's never hidden in the lockerroom after a bad kick, never sulked in front of the cameras when reporters ask him what's wrong.

"My dad always taught me when I was younger you've got to be a man," Sanson said. "You've got to stand up for yourself first off and then you have to stand up for your own faults. That's the way to get through it.

"If you get it out of the way, get it out in the open and get it over with, you can improve and go forward from there."

That's what he did earlier this year when he was charged with driving under the influence. Sanson pleaded guilty to the charges and entered a pretrial diversion program, receiving one year probation, a $100 fine, a suspended license and community service.

The arrest was embarrassing for Sanson, a volunteer for the local D.A.R.E. program who visited elementary schools to tell students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

But he never shied away from his responsibility.

"You're going to have tough times wherever you go in college," he said.

"I think this place has developed me for the rest of my life. It's not something that I'm ever going to forget about," he said.

"I'm not going to say I hate this place because of all the stress it's caused for me. I love this place because of how it's helped me and how it's going to help me in my future situations."