Athlete Tries To Kick Bad Habits Washington Field-Goal Kicker Plans To Go Back To Old Style

To heck with Jeff Jaeger.

John Wales hopes to go back to the good old days this week.

Back to when he made most of his field goals.

Back to last season.

Back to the Chuck Nelson style of approaching the ball.

The Washington Huskies’ junior kicker has missed five field goals in the last two games, but he’s sure his problems are nothing that can’t be cured by a little extra practice and his old approach toward the ball.

“It’s been completely timing problems,” he said, “and we’ve worked on it.”

Center Opu Seminavage, holder Shane Fortney and Wales worked extra this week, getting their timing down, and now Wales is aching for another chance in games. He’s being forced to compete for his job with punter Geoff Prince this week, but coach Jim Lambright is expected to send Wales and his regained timing against UCLA today.

Wales, 7 for 17 this season, says he even hopes the game comes down to another last-chance field goal.

“I’d love it,” he said quickly. “I can’t wait. I want it so bad. I know I have the ability to make that kick.”

After Wales’ miserable Saturday, Nelson, gave him a call. Not to talk kicking. Just to talk. Nelson is a former first-team All-American and national record-setter for the Huskies (1980-82) who now broadcasts the Huskies’ games.

“Obviously he’s in a tough spot,” said Nelson, now a stock broker in Seattle. “It’s not like he’s an offensive linemen, when you’ve got 15 guys who know how you feel.

Last season, Wales watched the snap of the ball and then strode quickly into the kick. The style helped him make 18 for 25 attempts, including a last nanosecond adjustment at Miami, when he stutter-stepped and still chipped in a field goal when a poor snap threw off the timing.

This year, after a summer of working out with his longtime friend Jaeger - they both kicked at Kent-Meridian High, - Wales adopted Jaeger’s style of staring at the point of the kick, and moving toward the ball upon seeing movement from the center through his peripheral vision.

“I’m just going to go back and do it the way I did last year,” he said. “I probably should never have changed.”