William George Capece (born April 1, 1959) is a former professional American football player who played placekicker for three seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He attended Chaminade High School in Hollywood, Florida along with David Shula, and was invited by Shula's father, Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, to attend Dolphin practices and work out with placekicker Garo Yepremian. It was Yepremian who provided Capece with the encouragement to consider a career in professional football. Capece attended Florida State University, where he graduated as the holder of FSU's records for single-season scoring (104 points), most field goals in a game (five, against Pittsburgh), and field goal percentage (100%). His 104 points in 1980 were the most by a kicker in national collegiate history. He was signed to a professional contract with the Buccaneers in 1981, during a week in which the Buccaneers cut both their placekicker and their punter. Ironically, Capece's signing marked the end of his former mentor's career, as Yepremian was the player he was signed to replace.[1][2][3] Capece missed a field goal and an extra point in a 1983 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the 1983 home finale, and was told to stay home for the season’s final game in Detroit. After that game, a 23-20 loss, coach John McKay made his famous announcement that "Capece is kaput".[4] Capece returned as the team's placekicker the following season, but was waived following a poor performance in a preseason game against the Dolphins.[5] His 41 field goals stood as the Buccaneers' career record until broken in 1987 by Donald Igwebuike.[6][7]
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| Position: | Placekicker | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | April 1, 1959 Miami, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 170 lb (77 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Chaminade (Hollywood, Florida) | ||||||||
| College: | Florida State | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1981 / round: 12 / pick: 324 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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References
edit- ^ Zier, Patrick. "Bucs' new, young kickers know of the pro pitfalls". The Lakeland Ledger. 23 Sep 1981
- ^ Scheiber, Dave. "Indications: Garo out, Capece in". St. Petersburg Times. 23 Sep 1981
- ^ "Sports People; Yepremian Booted". The New York Times. 24 Sep 1981
- ^ Scheiber, Dave. "Capece is kaput, announces McKay". St. Petersburg Times. 19 Dec 1983
- ^ Scheiber, Dave. "Capece again 'kaput' as Bucs' kicker". St. Petersburg Times. 28 Aug 1984
- ^ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Public Relations Department. "2009 Buccaneers Media Guide"
- ^ "Monday Morning Quarterback". St. Petersburg Times. 2 Nov 1987