Matt Szymanski

[CalallenStang]

Y. 5+ easy. So 66 minimum. Not sure about wind conditions.

Wind was pretty calm at the time. I was right there and I'd say he cleared by 5 to 6 yards.

[Stallion]

Not sure if this is accurate but Wikipedia has this list of longest FGs. Apparently, Martin Grammatica has the longest FG w/o a tee and Szymanski's kick traveled probably about the same distance (ha-I noticed somebody already updated to include yesterday's Kick)


69 yards: Ove Johansson, Abilene Christian (W 17–0) v East Texas State, October 16, 1976 (2-inch tee) Shotwell Stadium, Abilene. NAIA.
67 yards: Russell Erxleben, Texas (W 72–15) v Rice, October 1, 1977 (2-inch tee)
67 yards: Steve Little, Arkansas (L 9–13) v Texas, October 15, 1977 (2-inch tee)
67 yards: Joe Williams, Wichita State (W 33–7) v Southern Illinois, October 21, 1978 (2-inch tee)
67 yards: Tom Odle, Fort Hays State (W 22–14) v Washburn, November 5, 1988 (2-inch tee), NCAA Division II.
67 yards: Mike Billengas, Tecnologico de Monterrey Campus Mexico City ([Mexico City, Mexico]) (L 22–14) v UVM (MEX), July 27, 2006[citation needed]
65 yards: John Triplett Haxall, Princeton (L 1g,1s-2g,2t,1s) v Yale, November 30, 1882 (w/out tee) The Polo Grounds, 5th Avenue at 110th Street, New York City.[2]
65 yards: J.P. Ross, Birmingham A.C. (W 5–4) v Alabama, November 12, 1892 (drop-kick)
65 yards: Tony Franklin, Texas A&M (W 24–0) v Baylor, October 16, 1976 (2-inch tee) (after Johansson's 69–yarder)
65 yards: Martin Gramatica, Kansas State (W 73–7) v Northern Illinois September 12, 1998 (longest in NCAA history without a tee)
64 yards: Jose Martinez, UTEP (W 58–13) v UCF, September 27, 2008
64 yards: Tony Franklin, Texas A&M (W 24–0) v Baylor, October 16, 1976 (2-inch tee) (before Johansson's 69–yarder)
64 yards: Russell Erxleben, Texas (W 13–6) v Oklahoma (2-inch tee) October 8, 1977
63 yards: Morten Andersen, Michigan State, at Ohio State, September 19, 1981
63 yards: Joe Duren, Arkansas State (W 22–20) v McNeese State, November 23, 1974 (2-inch tee) NCAA Division II
63 yards: Clark Kemble, Colorado State vs Arizona, November 15, 1975
63 yards: Scott Roper, Arkansas State (W 27–20) v North Texas State, November 7, 1987 (2-inch tee) NCAA Division 1-AA[3]
63 yards: Tim Foley, Ga. Southern (Div. I-AA) vs. James Madison, Nov. 7, 1987 (2 inch Tee)
63 yards: Bill Gramática, South Florida v. Austin Peay, November 18, 2000 (longest field goal at sea level w/o tee in NCAA history)
62 yards: Iseed Khoury, North Texas (W 47-14) v. Richmond Oct 1, 1977
62 yards: Jason Hanson, Washington State University vs. University of Nevada at Las Vegas, September 28, 1991 (w/o tee)
62 yards: Derek Doerfler, Baker University vs. William Jewell College, 2007
61 yards: Matt Szymanski, SMU (L 35-27) vs. Texas Tech, September 5, 2010
61 yards: Dan Eichloff, University of Kansas vs. Ball State, 1992
61 yards: Mark Porter, Kansas State Wildcats vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers, October 22, 1988
61 yards: Ralf Mojsiejenko, Michigan State, at Illinois, September 11, 1982
61 yards: Bill Shear, Cortland State (NY) vs. Hobart, 1966. 1st 60+ yard field goal at any level of organized football
61 yards: Steve Little, Arkansas (L 9–3) v Tulsa, September 25, 1976 (2-inch tee)
60 yards: Bill McClard, Arkansas (W 36–3) v SMU, November 14, 1970 (2-inch tee)
60 yards: Russell Erxleben, Texas (W 26–0) v Texas Tech October 29, 1977
60 yards: Kevin Butler, Georgia (W 26–23) v. Clemson 1984
60 yards: John Hall, Wisconsin (W 34-27) v. Minnesota November 11, 1995
60 yards: Pete Garces, Idaho State v Cal State Northridge, 1998
60 yards: Mason Crosby, Colorado v Iowa State, 2004
60 yards: Gary Cismesia, Florida State University (L 12–45) vs. University of Florida, 2007
59 yards: Carson Wiggs, Purdue (W 52-31) v Toledo, September 5, 2009
59 yards: Jan Stenerud, Montana State v Montana, 1965
59 yards: Joe Petrone, Idaho State (W 53–32)v Portland state, 1968
59 yards: Ralf Mojsiejenko, Michigan State, at Purdue, October 1, 1983
59 yards: Cloyce Hinton, Ole Miss v Georgia, October 11, 1969
59 yards: Jared Siegel, Oregon v UCLA , 2002
58 yards: Bill Sinovic, Kansas State v. Brigham Young September 11, 1976
58 yards: Alexis Serna, Oregon State (L 41-13) v. California September 30, 2006
58 yards: Jon Bacon, University of Cincinnati (T 17–17) @ Miami, Ohio 1994
58 yards: Mason Crosby, Colorado (L 23–3) @ Miami, 2005
58 yards: Óscar Silva Reta, UANL v UNAM (W 37–34), 2009. This was the winner field goal.[4]
58 yards: Brandon Coutu, Georgia (W 44-7) v. Louisiana-Monroe, September 15, 2005
57 yards: Tom Wilson, Emory & Henry (W 24-6) v. Mars-Hill, Nov. 13, 1971
57 yards: Morten Andersen, Michigan State, at Michigan, October 1, 1980
57 yards: Gene Branum, Austin College (T 24–24) v Concordia College, December 12, 81 (NAIA Division II National Championship Game)
57 yards: Ryan Harrison, Air Force (W 20–17) v Texas Christian, September 13, 2007
57 yards: Derek Doerfler, Baker University vs. Culver-Stockton College, 2007
57 yards: Alex Henery #90, Nebraska Cornhuskers (W 40-31) vs. Colorado Buffaloes November 28, 2008
57 yards: Jacob Branstetter #14, Kansas Jayhawks vs Oklahoma Sooners October 24, 2009
57 yards: Philip Welch #18, Wisconsin Badgers v Fresno State Bulldogs, September 12, 2009
56 yards: Caleb Sturgis #19 Florida Gators W(41-17) v Georgia Bulldogs, October 31, 2009

[Stallion]

some of these kicks aren't fully documented but it looks like that the kick was the 5th or 6th longest without a tee in NCAA Division 1-A History

[PonyPride]

I'd be interested to know the specifics about your list, Stallion. When Gramatica hit that 65-yarder, he was hailed as the NCAA's new record-holder (and, in its infinite wisdom, the NCAA wouldn't let Kansas State give him the football with which he broke the record — he had to buy it from the school).
Thanks for posting that list. Interesting stuff.

[PonyPride]

70? Was he serious?

I assume so.
I asked him if he was stretching it, and he insisted it was true. After watching that shot yesterday, I believe him.

[Treadway21]

Not sure if this is accurate but Wikipedia has this list of longest FGs. Apparently, Martin Grammatica has the longest FG w/o a tee and Szymanski's kick traveled probably about the same distance (ha-I noticed somebody already updated to include yesterday's Kick)

Stallion, Brownlee's 57 yarder against Tech isn't on the list. Do you remember if that was with or without a tee? I am thinking it was without, but can't remember for sure.

[Stallion]

here's the Wikipedia page- then for some reason you need to click on Did You Mean again then scroll down

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_goal_(football

Other important relevant rule changes-I'm pretty sure Brandy Brownlee's kick was with a tee

In 1988 the NCAA banned the kicking tee, requiring kicks from the ground.
In 1991 the college goalposts were reduced in width to 18 feet 6 inches, the width of NFL goal posts. In 1991 and 1992, this meant severe angles for short field goal attempts, since the hashmarks were still located 53 feet 4 inches apart. In 1993, the NCAA narrowed the distance between the hashmarks to 40 feet (which was the width of hashmarks in the NFL until 1972, when they were narrowed to 18 feet 6 inches).

[Stallion]

actually here is a picture of Brownlee kicking for SMU and I don't see a tee-he may not have used one-now that you mention it I seem to remember one SMU kicker who didn't use a tee back then

http://smumustangs.cstv.com/sports/m-fo ... ts-86.html

[EastStang]

It certainly was a school record.

[ontheedgeofmyseat]

GSP...THANKS for sharing what you said after the FG...very cool.

[Alysa]

Yeah that one really hit the spot!

[lwjr]

When many of us in the stands saw Matt go onto the field we thought the heat had finally got to JJ. You miss and Tech has the ball on the SMU 49. We were going nuts over this decision. I think most folks in the stadium were in shock at the decision to kick a FG. WOW. After i picked my jaw off the ground could not stop cheering loud enough for Matt and the Stangs. The Tech fans were dumbfounded. Helluva kick. Congratulations Matt.

[Pweesey]

another thing to remember about the Erxleben days is that if you missed, the other team got the ball at their 20. There was a lot less to lose from missing a long field goal back then.

[PonyPride]

WOW. What a shot that was.

C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week material.

You called it!

From SMUMustangs.com:

Szymanski Named C-USA Special Teams Player Of The Week
SMU Senior Hit 61-Yard FG In Season Opener

Sept. 6, 2010

IRVING (C-USA/SMU) - SMU senior kicker/punter Matt Szymanski has been named Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking a school-record 61-yard field goal in the season opener at Texas Tech.

Szymanski hit his career-best and SMU record 61-yard FG with 12:00 left in the fourth quarter at Texas Tech. The 61-yarder is the second-longest in C-USA history. He was two-for-two on field goal attempts and three-for-three on PATs on the day and also boasted a 49.3-yard punt average, which is the second-highest single-game average of his career.

Szymanski and his SMU teammates host their home opener Saturday, Sept. 11, when UAB visits Gerald J. Ford Stadium at 7 p.m. Season tickets for the 2010 season start at as little as $72, and can be purchased through SMU Ticket Sales representatives at 214-768-4263 or by logging on to SMUMustangs.com.

[PoconoPony]

One thing to remember about NCAA kicking records. In the 70s and 80s when Erksleben, Tony Franklin and Steve Little were hitting all those 65-69 yard FGs they were kicking off a tee and were kicking their own personal baloon balls. They ought to keep separate records since the rules outlawed them

Franklin cheated and kicked bare footed.