Random Thoughts
The best holder in football, part 2
January 29, 2021
In 2003, kicker Mike Vanderjagt of the Indianapolis Colts attempted 37 field goals and 46 extra points. Incredibly, he made all 83 of those kicks – the first time in the history of the National Football League (NFL) that a place kicker had successfully converted 100 percent of his attempts.
Vanderjagt’s holder for those kicks – the player who receives the football from the center and places the point of the ball on the ground so that the kicker can perform his duty – was Hunter Smith.
Smith was a three-sport star in high school in Sherman, Texas, lettering in basketball and track as well as football. In college at the University of Notre Dame, Smith excelled as the football team’s punter, holder and back-up quarterback. He also was a high jumper on the university’s track team.
After college, Smith signed with the Colts where he played for 10 years, from 1999 through 2008. He not only held the ball for the team’s place kickers but handled all of the Colts' punting duties for that decade.
In 2009, Smith was traded to the Washington Redskins, where he became an important part of the squad’s “special teams” – those players who kick, hold the ball for the place kicker, and return punts and kickoffs.
Washington’s special teams coach, Danny Smith (no relation), was excited about his new acquisition. He noted that when Hunter Smith held the ball for Colts place kickers, the kicks were successful over 85% of the time – including, of course, Vanderjagt’s 100% efficiency in 2003.
Thus, Danny Smith told sports reporters that Washington had just acquired the person who might be the “best holder” in the history of football. For his part, Hunter Smith wasn’t sure that he deserved such a designation.
“I don’t think the holder makes the kicker,” Hunter Smith said; “the kicker makes the kicker.” Soon, however, kickers and holders from other teams began poking fun at Smith because of his new notoriety – and he played along, as we will see in part 3 of this story.
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