SPORTS CAMPUS Ex -Cougar plays Super singles: a SATURDAY WEATHER with Belgian balls living success? Slight chance of rain Highs in the 70s See page 6 See page 7 Lows in the 50s ver een Vol. 96, No. 19 Confident kicker Hanson a 'true All-American' by Mark McKenna Hanson, who was selected to The Sporting News freshman AII- Evergr'eell Staff America first team last year, is a Stanford's loss is perfect six for six in the field State's gain. goal department this season. He Cougar place-kicker Jason holds the WSU record of 54 con- Hanson originally planned on secutive point after touchdowns, attending Stanford University. breaking the old mark of 50 set The Cardinal coaches expressed by Kevin Adams. an interest in the Mead High His goal for this season is to School product following a stel- remain perfect. Some might con- lar high school career. sider this a bit cocky, but Han- However, the Stanford deal son is simply confident. And fell through and Hanson found with his ability, he might not himself 70 miles from home miss an attempt all season. sporting the Crimson and Gray. "My goal is to make every "(Former WSU coach Dennis) kick under my control," Hanson Erickson really seemed like he said. "Sometimes there might be wanted me," Hanson said. "I severe weather or a bad snap and knew 1 was going to get a fair I can't do anything about that. shot at WSU." But I shouldn't miss any kicks." And with Erickson off at Another area where Hanson is Miami, new WSU coach Mike almost perfect is in the class- Price has the luxury of having room. one of the best kickers in the He holds down a 3.75 grade nation to call upon in tight situa- point average-while juggling tions. classes with football-and is pur- "Jason is a talent," WSU suing a degree in pre-med. Han- head coach Mike Price said. son intends to enter medical "I've been saying all along he is school at the University of Wash- just as good at his position as ington. anyone on this football team. He But medical school might have is just as talented as a kicker as to be delayed if Hanson keeps up Brad Gossen is a and his kicking prowess. The profes- Steve Broussard is a running sional scouts no longer have to back. Jason is a true AII- worry about college booters American. " adapting to kicking without a tee. Hanson conducted a kicking Hanson may already have clinic in WSU's 46-41 win at caught the eyes of pro scouts. Brigham Young last Saturday. "I would definitely be inter- The 6-foot, 170-pounder booted ested in playing pro football in four field goals, including a three years," Hanson said. "But school record 58-yarder. He also right now I'm just taking it one connected from 51 yards, 46 and game at a time." . DailyEvergreenlfile photo 22 to keep BYU at bay. Hanson, who is also the Cou- Place-kicker Jason Hanson, who has connected on six-of-six long range field goals What makes Hanson's feats gars' back-up , is no lon- this season, is almost perfect in the classroom. The pre-med major sports a 3.75 grade more impressive is that he is ger one of the nation's best kept kicking without a tee. The secrets. point average. NCAA outlawed kicking tees on Following his performance at in his success as a place-kicker. attempts this season so football games." The colleges also came for BYU on national television, he It also played a part in his amaz- kickers must kick the ball off the Football is not the only sport Hanson's soccer services. He was named the Pacific-lO confer- ing ability to kick long field ground. in which Hanson excels. During was recruited by the University ence special teams player of the of Puget Sound, Seattle Pacific goals either foot. "Kicking without a tee helps his senior year at Mead, he was week. and Notre Dame just to name a me on the long attempts," Han- "I'm glad to get the recogni- chosen the Most Valuable Player few. Last season in practice, Han- son said. "When you have a tee. tion," Hanson said. '.'But I can't of the soccer team and named to Hanson said his soccer back- son connected on a 50-yard field yOUtend to get under the ball so worry about those honors. I need the All-Greater Spokane League ground has been a major factor goal-left footed. you lose distance." to concentrate on our next nine team. Collegiate place-kickers flourishing despite tee ban I through Sept. 9, kickers hit successfully attempt. the offense will have the option ted at the place of the fumble. by Doreen Dupuis The NCAA also eliminated touchbacks on over 70 percent - a pace to that equals to move the ball half the distance to the COlltributillg W,.ite,. the third highest percent in NCAA history. goal or to keep it at the three yard line. after fumbles. If Cougar running back Today's contest against Oregon State The season record is 68.2 percent set in In the past, any penalty by the defense Steve Broussard fumbles on the one yard line and the ball rolls into the end zone might look slightly ditTerent from past 1984. on the PAT was assessed on the kickoff. games due to several new rules enacted by "The committee has batted around ideas and out of bounds, WSU fans need not Deep in the heart of enemy territory, to balance out the scoring-including worry. Instead of a touchback, the ball the NCAA this season. when the crowd gets too noisy for the vis- One of the major new rules prohibits making field goals worth more points the will be spotted at the point of the fumble. iting team' s offense. the defense will pay the use of tees for point after touchdown longer the distance- but they finally set- "The idea behind this rule was that the in 1989. An altered crowd noise ruling attempts and field goals. But so far the offense should be entitled to the yardage tled on eliminating the tee," Earle said. says the defense gets one time out sub- rule has had an unintended effect. they gain," Earle said. "If a team drives The NCAA football rules committee tracted on the first infraction, with 5 yard 98 yards and fumbles into the end zone on .'The rationale behind this ruling was to each year sends a survey to the American penalties assessed for subsequent infrac- the two, they should be entitled to those balance out the scoring," said Mike Earle, Football Coaches Association, trainers, tions. 98 yards." . NCAA director of publishing. "However, and other football officials to consider Last year the three time outs would first Two rules were passed to keep players thus far in the season it has done just the new rule proposals. The committee is be assessed, then the five yard penalties. from fudging the rules. opposite. " chaired by ath- Another rule that might help offenses is ., Apparently a couple of Instead of limiting their influence in the letic director Mike Luud. one currently used in the National Football (last year) pretended to run out the clock game, field goal kickers are on a record Another rule Luud and II other athletic League. When a football is fumbled for- pace for accuracy this season, Earle said. directors approved also involves PATs. ward and either goes out of bounds or is See Rules on page 6 In games involving Division I teams Should the defense be penalized on a PAT recovered by the offense, the ball is spot-