Rob Houghtlin (January 4, 1965) is a former kicker for the University of Iowa's football team from 1985 to 1987. He made four game-winning field goals in his career, the most memorable of which led Iowa to a victory over Michigan in 1985.
Houghtlin success with dramatic, game-winning kicks began at an early age. With less than a minute to play, his Winnetka Chiefs 8th grade football team marched 92 yard to tie Antioch in the Northern Illinois championship. Forgoing the traditional one point run, Winnetka chose to kick for two points; Houghtlin nailed the game-winner as time expired.
By 1982, his senior year in high school, Houghtlin was considered one of the best kickers in the state of Illinois. Facing fierce rival Evanston High School in the state quarterfinals, Houghtlin kicked a 50-yard field goal with 3 seconds left to end Evanston's playoff run. In addition to kicking, he also played defensive back throughout his high school career.
College career
On October 19, 1985, the Iowa Hawkeyes were ranked #1 in the nation, while the Michigan Wolverines were ranked #2. Michigan came to Iowa City for a rare matchup of the top two teams in the nation. Iowa trailed, 10–9, with two seconds to play in the game. Houghtlin kicked a 29-yard field goal from the right hash mark as time expired to give Iowa a 12–10 win.[2] Later that season, he made a 25-yard field goal as time ran out to beat Purdue, 27–24.[3] Houghtlin was an all-Big Ten selection after his sophomore season.
As a junior in 1986, he missed a 52-yard field goal at the end of a 27–27 tie game against Minnesota; however, a Minnesota penalty gave Houghtlin another opportunity, and he made a 37-yard field goal as time expired to defeat the Gophers, 30–27.[4] Iowa's final game that year was the 1986 Holiday Bowl against San Diego State, where Iowa trailed, 38–36, with four seconds remaining. Chuck Hartlieb caught a high snap, and Houghtlin booted a 41-yard field goal as time expired to give Iowa a 39–38 victory.[5] Houghtlin was again an all-Big Ten selection as a senior in 1987, eventually leaving Iowa as the school's all-time leader in field goals and points.[6]
Professional career
Houghtlin was not drafted by the NFL, but in 1988 was invited to training camp with both the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears; he did not make the final roster for either club. The following spring, he signed with the Chicago Bruisers of the Arena Football League. There would be no thrilling, last-second kicks for Houghtlin with the Bruisers; in fact, he missed all twelve attempts in the 1989 regular season, still an AFL record for most field goal attempts without success. (Houghtlin did kick one field goal in four attempts in what would be his last pro game, a 43-10 playoff loss to the Detroit Drive.)
That same year, Iowa fans selected an all-time University of Iowa football team during the 100th anniversary celebration of Iowa football, with Houghtlin as the team's kicker.[7]
houghtlin, january, 1965, former, kicker, university, iowa, football, team, from, 1985, 1987, made, four, game, winning, field, goals, career, most, memorable, which, iowa, victory, over, michigan, 1985, personal, informationborn, 1965, january, 1965, winnetka. Rob Houghtlin January 4 1965 is a former kicker for the University of Iowa s football team from 1985 to 1987 He made four game winning field goals in his career the most memorable of which led Iowa to a victory over Michigan in 1985 Rob HoughtlinPersonal informationBorn 1965 01 04 January 4 1965 age 58 Winnetka Illinois U S Height 5 ft 11 in 1 80 m Weight 180 lb 82 kg Career informationHigh school New Trier IL College IowaPosition KickerUndrafted 1988Career historyAtlanta Falcons 1988 Chicago Bears 1988 Chicago Bruisers 1989 Offseason and or practice squad member onlyCareer Arena statisticsFG Made 0FG Att 12PAT Made 15PAT Att 23Player stats at ArenaFan com Contents 1 Early life 2 College career 3 Professional career 4 ReferencesEarly life EditRob Houghtlin attended New Trier High School in Winnetka Illinois He played for one season at Miami University before transferring to the University of Iowa 1 walking on as a sophomore before the 1985 season Houghtlin success with dramatic game winning kicks began at an early age With less than a minute to play his Winnetka Chiefs 8th grade football team marched 92 yard to tie Antioch in the Northern Illinois championship Forgoing the traditional one point run Winnetka chose to kick for two points Houghtlin nailed the game winner as time expired By 1982 his senior year in high school Houghtlin was considered one of the best kickers in the state of Illinois Facing fierce rival Evanston High School in the state quarterfinals Houghtlin kicked a 50 yard field goal with 3 seconds left to end Evanston s playoff run In addition to kicking he also played defensive back throughout his high school career College career EditOn October 19 1985 the Iowa Hawkeyes were ranked 1 in the nation while the Michigan Wolverines were ranked 2 Michigan came to Iowa City for a rare matchup of the top two teams in the nation Iowa trailed 10 9 with two seconds to play in the game Houghtlin kicked a 29 yard field goal from the right hash mark as time expired to give Iowa a 12 10 win 2 Later that season he made a 25 yard field goal as time ran out to beat Purdue 27 24 3 Houghtlin was an all Big Ten selection after his sophomore season As a junior in 1986 he missed a 52 yard field goal at the end of a 27 27 tie game against Minnesota however a Minnesota penalty gave Houghtlin another opportunity and he made a 37 yard field goal as time expired to defeat the Gophers 30 27 4 Iowa s final game that year was the 1986 Holiday Bowl against San Diego State where Iowa trailed 38 36 with four seconds remaining Chuck Hartlieb caught a high snap and Houghtlin booted a 41 yard field goal as time expired to give Iowa a 39 38 victory 5 Houghtlin was again an all Big Ten selection as a senior in 1987 eventually leaving Iowa as the school s all time leader in field goals and points 6 Professional career EditHoughtlin was not drafted by the NFL but in 1988 was invited to training camp with both the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears he did not make the final roster for either club The following spring he signed with the Chicago Bruisers of the Arena Football League There would be no thrilling last second kicks for Houghtlin with the Bruisers in fact he missed all twelve attempts in the 1989 regular season still an AFL record for most field goal attempts without success Houghtlin did kick one field goal in four attempts in what would be his last pro game a 43 10 playoff loss to the Detroit Drive That same year Iowa fans selected an all time University of Iowa football team during the 100th anniversary celebration of Iowa football with Houghtlin as the team s kicker 7 References Edit Silver anniversary of The Kick Hawkeye Legends Lists amp Lore by Mike Finn amp Chad Leistikow Page 174 ISBN 1 57167 178 1 L A Times article Hawkeye Legends Lists amp Lore by Mike Finn amp Chad Leistikow Page 179 ISBN 1 57167 178 1 L A Times article Hawkeye Legends Lists amp Lore by Mike Finn amp Chad Leistikow Page 179 ISBN 1 57167 178 1 Iowa All Time team Archived 2012 03 29 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rob Houghtlin amp oldid 1138106472, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
