[NU Sports] B(C)S ratings and attendance ...

[Mike Nolan]

> Since when can't "most" kickers hit a 35-40 yard kick? Though it's not a 
> gimme, any D1 kicker should make that more often than not.  I think that 
> most should hit the 42-43 yard kick that they get with an immediate try 
> from the 25. 

NCAA statistics show that during the 2011 season in Division 1 FBS, 
kickers were 400-710 between 40 and 49 yards.  That's 56.3%.

They were 525-735 from between 30 and 39.  Interesting that there
were almost as many attempts from 40-40 as from 30-39.

Kickers were 55-57 from inside the 20, 587-671 from 20-20,
61-150 from 50-59 and 0-4 from 60+  There were 95 blocked kicks.

Northwestern was 6-10 on field goals for the season.  Only three
teams had fewer attempts:  Army, Boise State and Miami (OH).  The
team with the most attempts was Georgia (37) though Alabama had 36.

I think starting at the 25 came from high school overtime rules, pushing 
it back 5 yards would not be unreasonable for college games, which is why 
the NCAA probably won't do it.  The NFL moved the kickoff line forward 5 
yards this year, to try to reduce the number of injures on kickoffs.  
I don't see much indication that the NCAA plans to follow suit on that.
--
Mike Nolan