At first, the kicker looked like and was an everyman:
Did this man just
A: Kick a field goal?
B: Fix your transmission?
C: Place cans of Dinty Moore Beef Stew on a shelf?
This was the look, and as a majority, the straight-ahead style was the norm. But the"sidewinders" (as they were so derided by old-time jocks) came in...domestically and internationally as well. Coaches seemed to realize that you didn't really need to have much history in the game as long as you could kick, and kick far. What does this really mean: coincidentally or otherwise, we started getting NAMES.
Florian is a Philly guy, and an Ivy leaguer as well. He also split time playing in the NASL!
Zenon's family made it from Germany to Canada, where his excellence in track & field brought a scholarship to UCLA. Injuries led him to football, and becoming a 2-time All-American punter. Then, it was back home to Canada for a lengthy career with the Argos. After a season with Kansas City, it was back to hopping around the CFL. Of course, when the USFL came around, it was perfect for a guy like Zenon, and here he is about to deliver a little Bandit Ball.
(What, you didn't know Topps made USFL cards?)
Starting your career in the USFL is a good move, and success gets you recognition on coast-to-coast TV.
Nowadays, you might get a quick quip or two about a kicker: they're good, they're bad, or the announcer's favorite cliche, they're "head cases." Whatever the fuck that means.
Quite a detour down memory lane...and while the saying may go that "I never forget a face," if you ask anyone who writes (or wrote) on here, our memories for names are even stronger. Kickers names? Right down the middle.
