Nov. 9, 1964 - Pete Gogolak of the Buffalo Bills, who kicks soccer style with the inside of his right foot, says his unusual method of kicking field goals presents only one problem — some of the time, he can’t see the uprights.
“When I kick from the left side, I can see and aim because the uprights are somewhat in front of me,” Gogolak explained, “but when I kick from the right side, I’m parallel to the goal posts or further over, and I’m looking in the stands.
“So, I have to set things up before and make sure I put a hook on the ball so it curves in the air.”
That’s one of the refinements Gogolak has made since he fled his native Hungary after the 1956 uprising and eventually became a collegiate sensation at Cornell by consistently putting the ball through the uprights while standing at a 45-degree angle to the end zone.
Gogolak traced his development today after kicking two field goals, including a 47-yarder that snapped a 7-7 tie in a 20-7 victory over the New York Jets that helped keep the Bills undefeated in the AFL.
“We left Budapest in 1956 after the uprising,” said Gogolak, who explained he was 14 and “too young to participate.”
“My brother, parents, and I walked 20 miles to the Austrian border,” he continued. “There were tanks at the border, and it was lit up by flares, but we took a chance.
“I had played soccer from the time I was four, but when we came to the United States, I had never heard of football.”
Gogolak learned his football in high school at Ogdensburg, N.Y., where he played end after a fellow student noticed his size and suggested he try the sport. Shortly before the first game, the coach asked for “kickers,” and Gogolak astonished everyone by kicking soccer style.
“At first, I wasn’t too good,” he admits. “I kicked line drives, and they were too low. But I worked at it six days a week — even during the summer. When I got to Cornell, I played freshman football, but I got hurt, and Ted Thorn suggested I concentrate just on kicking.”
Gogolak did so as he worked under varsity coach Tom Harp, refining his technique and “adding a couple of tricks.”
The tricks and his ability have enabled the rookie kicking specialist to boot 13 field goals in 20 attempts for the Bills. He also has a 57-yarder to his name, but that came in an exhibition game.
Did Gogolak think he could eventually break the record held by Bert Rechicar, who kicked one 56 yards in a regular season game for Baltimore?
“I think I can hit 60 yards,” he said frankly.
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