Sports Watch
JASON Elam's still overwhelmed that he made Sports Illustrated's all-century college football team. Rub them dice,
‘cause Elam needs
a new pair of shoes"Wow! I'm really flattered. There have been so many quality kickers coming through college. That means a lot to me," Elam said from the Denver Broncos' training camp.
While with Hawaii, Elam set a WAC scoring record and kicked 79 career field goals - one shy of the NCAA record. He's not doing badly in the National Football League, either.
He's starting his seventh season with the Broncos with two Pro Bowls and two Super Bowl championship rings in his growing resume.
Last October he tied the NFL record for the longest field goal with a 63-yarder against Jacksonville. And he has converted 259 of 260 regular-season PATs, including his last 235 in a row, for a .996 percentage, the highest in NFL history.
He's Mr. Automatic in field goals from inside the 40 as well, making 115 of 120 for an equally remarkable 91 percent.
You'd think some shoe company would snap Elam up to an endorsement contract.
Not so, and Elam is looking. But he's not as desperate as a recent wire story made it sound. "I said it kind of tongue-in-cheek."
Elam realizes that kicking with just any shoe, even for the money, won't do.
"You've got to be comfortable and have confidence with whatever shoe you use," he said. And be successful.
IT'S analogous, Elam said, to a pro golfer who endorses a new line of clubs and finds he can't play as well with them as he did with his previous clubs.
Switching - shoes or golf clubs - can be a calculated risk. But Elam's looking for that perfect fit, because his favorite - the Nike Tiempo - has been discontinued.
"I've been using that model since high school," Elam said.
He used his last pair kicking that record 63-yarder, later donating them to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
And, yes, Rainbow fans, he used that same model to beat Iowa with a game-winning field goal as a freshman in the 1988 season opener.
But shoes aren't the real concern this season, says Elam. Rather, the new "Special K" football for kickers only.
Another rule put in against kickers, he said.
"It's kind of getting funny now. First they reduce the tee from three inches to one inch. Then the kickoff from the 35 (yard line) to the 30. Now this," Elam said.
"That's kind of a compliment in a way. That means we're getting pretty good."
ELAM says there's a 10-yard difference between the kicking ball and one that's used the rest of the game.
"John (Elway) always liked a new ball, so I had no problems with it," Elam said.
"Now, we're all kicking the same ball. But it's like telling Tiger Woods and Fred Couples they can't use a balata, but a hard ball."
As for the advantage he enjoys kicking in Denver's mile-high altitude, Elam says it all evens out.
"Early in the season maybe. The ball goes four or five yards more. But late October on, with the field and wind conditions, I'd rather be kicking in San Diego or in domed stadiums."
The question everyone's asking, though, is can the Broncos make it a Super Bowl three-peat without Elway?
"Our schedule's a little tougher this year because we play the NFC Central teams," Elam said, adding that coach Mike Shanahan gave his Broncos only one goal this season:
"Get into the playoffs, whether you're 8-8 or 14-2. Then win four straight."