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SLAM! Sports SLAM! CFL SLAM! NFL    COLUMNS 2001 SEASON 2000 RECAP NFL HISTORY CFL FOOTBALL - Standings INTERACTIVE ALSO ON SLAM!  |
Friday, September 4, 1998 "In my mind, it was my job to lose," said Vanderjagt. "It was just a feeling I had when dealing with (Colts' president) Bill Polian and others from the front office. I was kicking against Cary in practice every other day and the newspapers were saying that 'Mike had the advantage because he could do both, punt and place kick'." As well as having the most reliable leg in the CFL for field goals, he also led the CFL in punting average. The Colts were happy with holdover punter Chris Gardocki, so Vanderjagt was able to focus on his kicking. As seems to often happen in football, the three kickers became friends. The Colts travelled to Cincinnati in the second week of preseason, and Vanderjagt trotted onto an NFL field for the first time, to try a 49-yarder late in the first half. No chip shot, but he made it. After being told he would try the first field goal, then alternate with Blanchard for the rest of the game, he was called on to try the next one from 48 yards out late in the half and made that one as well. Blanchard never saw the field. The confidence that Mike had in himself was now shared by the entire coaching staff. In the Colts' last preseason game at home against Barry Standers and the Detroit Lions, Vanderjagt was told he'd take all the field goal attempts, and was again successful on both attempts, from 43 and 27 yards. The final kick provided the margin of victory in a 20-17 win over the Lions. "I was very nervous each kick," he said, "I've always treated each kick like it was my job won or lost". And truth be told, that's what happened. |