Former FSU Kicker Ties NFL Record

JANIKOWSKI (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Former Seminole Sebastian Janikowski, who for many years was more famous for his bad behavior than his accuracy or his range, kicked a 63-yard field goal with five seconds left in the first half of the Raiders game against the Denver Broncos. The Raiders won 23-20.

The kick tied the record set by Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints back in 1970 to give the Saints a last second 19-17 win over the equally hapless Detroit Lions. The record was also equaled on October 25, 1998 when Jason Elam of the Denver Broncos kicked a 63-yarder.

Dempsey was born without toes on his right foot and nofingers on his right arm. He wore a modified shoe with a flattened and enlarged toe surface. This generated some controversy and eventually led to the "Tom Dempsey Rule," in 1977. The new rule said “any shoe that is worn by aplayer with an artificial limb on his kicking leg must have a kicking surface that conforms to that of a normal kicking shoe." We don’t know that the rule has ever been used since…

DEMPSEY

Dempsey played for the New Orleans Saints (1969–1970), the Philadelphia Eagles (1971–1974), the Los Angeles Rams (1975–1976), the Houston Oilers (1977) and the Buffalo Bills (1978–1979). Unlikethe "soccer style" approach used by nearly all place kickers today, Dempsey used a straight approach to kick the ball.

(Editor's Note: The word out in cyberspace and gurgling around talk radio is that the Raiders are going to challege the official spot of the kick claiming it was really a record-breaking 64 yard field goal.  Nice, Al Davis, NICE!)