The Battalion
PORTS
ickin’ for a living
Houston kicker Kyle Bryant just wants a chance to
Show the NFL he is ready to suit up on Sundays
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By Jeff Webb
Sports Editor
IHOUSTON — Nine feet doesn't leave
uch room for error. But nine feet is all for-
ner Texas A&M kicker Kyle Bryant has to
vork with when he lines up to try field goals
md extra points for the Arena Football
ue's Houston Thunderbears.
Bryant kicked for A&M during the 1997
n, helping the team to a Big 12 South
le while breaking school records for scor-
|and field goals made in a career.
I ^ Fd like to stay
as long as they’ll have
e, but I’m always
(oking to get better.”
— Kyle Bryant
louston Thunderbears kicker
Houston signed Bryant after former
jnderbears kicker Rich Fall was placed
[the injured list. Houston coach Steve
3nn said Fall hurt his arm and Bryant
Is signed the next week.
J"We brought Kyle down for a tryout
Jen our kicker had a broken arm," he
|d. "He kicked great in the tryout with
;wind, against the wind and with
try condition out here. We let the guy
with the broken arm kick one more game,
but he couldn't do it. We signed Kyle
right after his tryout."
Now, Bryant practices with the team
on a small field at Alvin High School,
simulating the small arena league goal
posts by kicking field goals on regula
tion-width posts at a severe angle.
"We go from one end of the spectrum to
the other from our practice environment to
where we play," Bryant said. "Indoors is a
kickers' paradise."
Bryant played his first arena league
game against the Iowa Barnstormers in
Des Moines, making his only field goal
attempt in the game and hitting seven of
nine extra points.
"It takes a little bit of getting used to,"
he said. "You have to realize that the suc
cess rate in the AFL is a lot lower for field
goals than in the big game."
The only low point for Bryant was his
fourth game in the AFL against the Mil
waukee Mustangs on ESPN.
Missed field goals and extra points
plagued Bryant, but the Thunderbears beat
the Mustangs to clinch a playoff berth.
"In his first few games, he kicked real
well," Thonn said. "He had one rough
game, but now he's come on strong again.
All arena kickers will have that kind of
game. The arena game is tough on kickers."
Bryant may have had a bad game like
all arena kickers, but said he wants to have
games like NFL kickers in the future.
"I'd like to stay here as long as they'll
have me, but I'm always looking to get bet
ter," he said. "My ultimate goal is to be on
an NFL team as soon as I can.
Photo by Jake Shrickling
"Hopefully, this will give me a little
more exposure than just the phone calls
I've been making and, at the same time, it
will get me more experience than some of
the guys that came out of college at the
same time 1 did."
Some scouts said Bryant's weakness
was just that — a weak leg. However,
Thonn said leg strength was a positive
when Bryant tried out earlier in the year.
"He's got a strong leg and 1 hear that
was his knock coming out last year," he
said. "He's worked on his strength a little
bit more. He's definitely a guy that some
one should get in camp.
"If the NFL calls, we will let him out of
his contract. We'll try to get him to kick one
more game with us, but we want him to go."
Bryant said he has adjusted well to the
arena game and appreciates the support of
his new teammates.
"I came into the season kind of late,"
he said. "I can't help but thank the play
ers that are here because 1 came into a
program that they have established into
a winning season. I just want to do the
best that I can for them."
Bryant said he wants the chance to be
come a NFL kicker, and it is a goal he plans
to pursue for a long time. However, he re
fuses to lose sight of the reason he suits up
to kick for any football team.
"I have the desire more than ever to
keep playing, but when the fuel runs out.
I'll have to stop," he said. "When you get
your chance, though, you have to make
the most of it.
"Right now, I'm just having fun playing
the game of football."
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