Utah's Steve Videtich Is A Model Of Consistency

By Spencer Sorensen
Utah Blaze
SALT LAKE CITY – To have 1,597 points in an Arena Football League career is quite an accomplishment. However, to do so without scoring a single touchdown in a league where wide receivers are the predominant scorers is arguably even more remarkable.

Yet that's exactly what Utah Blaze kicker Steve Videtich has been able to do in his 13-year career. Videtich is first all-time in extra points made (1,048), second all-time in field goals made (182), and fifth all-time in points scored — first among kickers —(1,597). He recognizes his standing among the record books, but what he defines as having a successful career is beyond records. “In order to be around that long you have to have sustained success. That's what I'm most proud of,” he said. Pragmatically, he probably won't end his career as the all-time field goal leader as Remy Hamilton of the Dallas Desperados has a two field goal advantage and plausibly more AFL seasons ahead of him. Still, Videtich believes overall points and extra points are in his favor. “He (Hamilton) and I have a little battle going on with each other, he keeps asking me to retire,” expresses Videtich with an amiable laugh, “I think he wants a lot of those records as well.” Despite his longevity and his well-established name in the record books, his time in the AFL hasn't always been easy. Just last year after the first game of the season, where he missed two field goals in a one-point loss, he was cut from the team. That left him in a state of shock and confusion, but he didn't let that affect him. Instead, he continued to work hard and got the necessary surgery and rehabilitation for an injured left knee. “One game I don't think should have been my chopping block…[but] I think in hindsight everything happens for a reason,” he said. By the ninth game of the season he was back on the team and helped jumpstart the team's surge towards the playoffs. Said Videtich, “With everything in life you just live and learn and grow from it and move on.” There was a lot of learning and growing in Videtich's early AFL career as he made the adjustment of kicking at a smaller target. The goal posts are nine feet wide with a 15 foot high crossbar in the AFL, while at the collegiate and NFL level the goal posts are 18 ½ feet wide with a 10 foot high crossbar. Videtich, who walked-on at North Carolina State University, explains that while attending college he made over 80 percent of his field goals and rarely missed an extra point, but he knew to obtain the same success rate in the AFL was impractical. “In this league the biggest adjustment was mentally accepting that I am going to miss every now and then because it just happens,” said Videtich, a two-time All-ACC First-Team selection. His rookie year with the Florida Bobcats in 1996 proved to be a change as he went 10-for-23 on field goals and 70-for-80 on extra points. Nevertheless, by his second season with the New Jersey Red Dogs, Videtich improved respectably by going 21-for-41 on field goals and 71-for-73 on extra points in earning first team All-Arena honors and the 1997 Kicker of the Year. Success and accolades continued Videtich's way as he earned first team All-Arena honors and Kicker of the Year in 2002 with the New Jersey Gladiators. Additionally, he earned Second Team All-Arena honors in 1998, 2000 and 2003, before arriving in Utah in 2006. Videtich acts as if there isn't anything special to his success. However, one thing that would better explain it is his love for golf and the mental aspect he takes from it. “The way a golf swing is (the same) with kicking a football is that it's something that you've practiced,” discusses Videtich, “it's almost like you have grooved your body into making that one same motion every time.” With his age creeping up on him — he will turn 37 on November 4 —Videtich knows his career is coming to an end. Thus, he began working in the Blaze front office during the off-season with the hope to one day become the general manager of an AFL team. “[By] me doing this now makes the transition a little bit easier for when I am done playing, so I am not starting from scratch then,” says Videtich. An idealistic situation for Videtich would be to become a general manager for an expansion AFL team in North Carolina, if that day were to ever come. However, Videtich is happy in Utah with his wife and two kids and would enjoy settling here to continue his work with the Blaze. “We love it out here. I think the weather is awesome and the pace of life is just right for what I wanted. It's not too hectic, it's not to slow,” he said. “I love this organization and I would definitely want to be part of this organization for a long time.” ABOUT THE UTAH BLAZE The Utah Blaze were recipients of the Best Support Staff Award for the 2006 and 2007 seasons as recognized by the Arena Football League. Tickets are available by logging onto www.utahblaze.com or by calling (801) 257-3111. The Blaze are owned and operated by the Ken Garff Automotive Group – www.kengarff.com.