Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Early in the second quarter of last Saturday’s game, Kansas took a 3-0 lead on a 48-yard field goal by Scott Webb. Though the points would go down in the record book as three of many scored by the Jayhawks this season, the kick was phenomenal because of its context.
Senior holder Kyle Tucker somehow plucked the errant snap from the air several feet above its ideal position, rushed the ball to the ground and spun it into the correct position. All the while, Webb waited, and waited, and waited.
KANSAN
The senior kicker shuffled his feet for what seemed like an eternity while Tucker aligned the football and the Colorado rush bore down on the backfield. At the last possible moment, Webb’s foot found the ball. From there, everything worked perfectly. The ball sailed through the uprights as routine as could be, and three points appeared on the scoreboard.
In the press box high above Folsom Field, onlookers craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the television replay, asking themselves, “Did he really do that from 48 yards out?”
It may have alarmed the sportswriters, but it didn’t catch Webb off guard.
“Not really,” Webb said, when asked whether his range on the stutter-step kick surprised him. “I can hit from 60 and in.”
» 11 of 12 field goals made
» 38 of 38 on extra point attempts
» 71 points total
Webb has made 11 of his 12 field goal attempts this season, 16 of his last 17 dating back to last season and eight consecutive field goals, not to mention his stellar 38-for-38 mark on extra point attempts. The kicker has scored 71 points this season – equal to the number Kansas’ opponents have scored combined in 2007.
Webb provided consistency in his first two seasons as Kansas’ main kicker, making more than 70 percent of his field goal attempts in 2005 and 2006. But his performance has skyrocketed this season, something he said could be traced to his work in the weight room.
“Since I’ve been at KU I’ve gotten a lot stronger,” Webb said. “Our coaches and strength and conditioning staff have just done a great job, especially this past summer. “
Thanks to a new NCAA rule that moved kickoffs back five yards to the 30-yard line, leg strength has been placed at a premium for kickers. Webb did not struggle to kick the ball into the end zone on kickoffs before this season, and his production in that area has not wavered. Kansas opponents have started 40 of their 49 drives inside their own 20-yard line in part due to Webb’s ability to plant the ball in the end zone.
If Webb continues kicking at his current pace, some school records could fall in the coming weeks. The Tulsa, Okla., native sits in third place in career field goals made and second place in career field goal percentage. Webb needs 52 points to eclipse Dan Eichloff as Kansas’ all-time leading scorer.
As nice as the numbers look, praise from his coach could be the most telling testament to Webb’s success — and Kansas coach Mark Mangino has had plenty of praise for the kicker.
“Scott Webb is kicking the ball probably as well as anybody in the country,” Mangino said.
— Edited by Luke Morris
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Kicker nears records
Even if it comes down to a field goal win, the Jayhawks will have earned the respect their football team currently lacks. AggieCoach.com has documented the woes of A&M's special teams play. Leave your thoughts on our student web site at TheBatt.com.
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