Hauschka took long road to success for Seahawks

RENTON, Wash. – His Seattle Seahawks teammates say place-kicker Steven Hauschka takes a rather clinical approach to his craft.

Makes sense, considering he spent most of his college years thinking he’d make his living fixing teeth rather than kicking footballs.

His mom and brother are dentists. During his years at Division III Middlebury (Vt.) College, where he also played soccer, Hauschka assumed dentistry was his destiny, as well.

Hauschka’s path began to change when some of his roommates at Middlebury who were on the football team asked him to try out as their kicker.

Hauschka agreed, saying, “I was kind of getting too slow for soccer.”

That was during his sophomore year.

Flash forward a decade, and the 28-year-old Hauschka is among the best kickers in the NFL. This season, he was an alternate for the Pro Bowl and set a Seahawks record for points in a season by a kicker with 143. He was 3 for 3 on field goals in the wind and rain at CenturyLink Field in Seattle’s divisional playoff win over New Orleans last week.

“He’s had just an incredible season, and he’s been so consistent. Under those conditions – look what happened on their side of the ball,” coach Pete Carroll said, referencing Saints kicker Shayne Graham’s two misses Saturday. “It was a great performance.”

“When we say ‘Hausch Money,’ you know what we’re talking about,” Carroll said.

At age 26 and already signed and released by five teams, it all clicked for Hauschka in Seattle. He made 49 of 57 field goals in 2011 and 2012.

“He’s very, very technical in everything that he does,” Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson said.