COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : USC : Rules Don’t Slow Kicker Hanson

USC will get one last look Saturday in Pullman, Wash., at Washington State senior Jason Hanson, who has been described by his coach as the greatest kicker in college football history.

“He’s breaking everybody’s records, and he’s doing it when the NCAA is making rules to make it very difficult for a kicker,” Cougar Coach Mike Price said. “They took the tee away, and he’s still kicking the ball far. They narrowed the goal posts, yet he’s still making 50-yarders. He’s setting this high standard when it’s very difficult to do that.”

Hanson has established NCAA records with 35 field goals of 40 yards or longer, 18 of 50 yards or longer and a success rate of 64.3% on attempts of 50 yards or longer.

Also the No. 1 punter in the Pacific 10 Conference, Hanson has kicked field goals of 62, 58 and 58 yards, giving him three of the four longest without a tee. His 62-yard field goal against Nevada Las Vegas last month was the longest without a tee.

The record with a tee is 67 yards, first by Russell Erxleben of Texas in 1977 and matched later that year by Steve Little of Arkansas and again by Joe Williams of Wichita State in 1978.

Last Saturday, during a 55-7 victory over Oregon State, Hanson lined up for a 66-yard attempt, but the center-holder exchange was botched and the ball rolled free.

Price asked Hanson if he thought he would have made it.

“Oh, yes, definitely,” he said.