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We need to include the guy they retired the number for
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Quote from: Ray Zorback on Aug 24, 2026, 05:49 AMIMG_3081.jpeg
Absolutely the best kicker I ever have seen.
Quote from: DirkPiggler on Aug 24, 2026, 08:38 AM[url="https://www.woopig.org/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=13938;type=preview;file"]Staubach_cowboys_qb.jpg[/url]
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Quote from: jdcatty on Aug 24, 2026, 08:54 AMAbsolutely the best kicker I ever have seen.
Cam Little was #29.
Quote from: Zoso on Aug 24, 2026, 02:56 PMCam Little was #29.
You probably never saw Steve. But I admit, Cam was No 2.
Quote from: jdcatty on Aug 24, 2026, 08:54 AMAbsolutely the best kicker I ever have seen.
1977,the year of the kicker in the SWC. Little, Franklin and Erxleben. All 3 were unreal.
Quote from: jdcatty on Aug 24, 2026, 09:29 PMYou probably never saw Steve. But I admit, Cam was No 2.
It's crazy how the position of kicker has changed over the years.
Steve Little was an All-American, deservedly so, but a guy with his stats today wouldn't make it through midseason without being replaced.
1976: 11/23 on field goals (47.8%), 23/26 PATs (88.5%)
1977: 19/30 FG (63.3%) - led nation in attempts, makes, and %, 37/38 PATs.
By comparison Cam Little never missed a PAT in three years (129/129) and was 53/64 on FGs for 82.8% while never leading the country in any of those categories. That's with a narrower goal post and no tee for placement kicks, while Steve had the wider goal and a tee for all of his.
Didn't Little punt also?
Quote from: Ray Zorback on Aug 25, 2026, 08:31 AMDidn't Little punt also?
He could punt and if memory serves, he did some. But I don't think he was full time.
I don't care what the stats are. I saw him kick a bunch of times, but as far as I am concerned, one of his best performances was against TCU in Ft. Worth. Late 70's. I was in law school in Dallas. My brother and I went over to the game, and the wind was blowing a good 20 mph from the north the whole game. Completely open stadium at that time. No stands in either end zone. Seemed like he was kicking into the wind all night, but he put it out of the end zone every time every time on kickoffs. Kicked a couple of field goals also. Damned impressive performance.
Please don't look up the stats and tell me I am wrong. It's a nice memory. Don't spoil it.
Quote from: jdcatty on Aug 25, 2026, 08:58 AMHe could punt and if memory serves, he did some. But I don't think he was full time.
I don't care what the stats are. I saw him kick a bunch of times, but as far as I am concerned, one of his best performances was against TCU in Ft. Worth. Late 70's. I was in law school in Dallas. My brother and I went over to the game, and the wind was blowing a good 20 mph from the north the whole game. Completely open stadium at that time. No stands in either end zone. Seemed like he was kicking into the wind all night, but he put it out of the end zone every time every time on kickoffs. Kicked a couple of field goals also. Damned impressive performance.
Please don't look up the stats and tell me I am wrong. It's a nice memory. Don't spoil it.
I think you misunderstand. I'm not meaning to diminish what Steve did. He was the best in the country at the time, and by that metric alone he's probably the best we've ever had. Not to mention he did it while playing for one of the best teams in the country. Steve still has (tied for) the longest FG in D1 history. That matters a lot in my book.
The position itself has just gotten better over time. If Steve came up at the same time as Cam Little I'm sure his stats would have been equally impressive if not better. Just like Hank Aaron is still a better player to me than Ronald Acuna Jr even though the latter probably wins every physical comparison. If Hank was 30 today he'd have had every advantage that the current players did growing up and developing.
Steve Little was the full time punter his last two years at Arkansas with averages of 44.4 in 1976 and 44.3 in 1977. His 44.4 yard career punting average ranks tied for second All-Time at Arkansas.
Quote from: Ray Zorback on Aug 25, 2026, 08:31 AMDidn't Little punt also?
Ave 44.3 in 1977, the year he was all-American kicker