Remy Hamilton
No. 19 | |||||||||
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Position: | Placekicker | ||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Born: | (1974-08-30) August 30, 1974 (age 49) Wildwood, New Jersey, U.S. | ||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||
Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school: | Spanish River Community (Boca Raton, Florida) | ||||||||
College: | Michigan | ||||||||
Undrafted: | 1997 | ||||||||
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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Career Arena statistics | |||||||||
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Player stats at PFR · ArenaFan.com | |||||||||
Remy Martin Hamilton (born August 30, 1974) is a former American football kicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) and Arena Football League (AFL). In college, he was an All-American for the Michigan Wolverines football team. As a professional, he played for the Detroit Lions of the NFL in addition to exhibition and training camp experience with the Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears. He also played for the Grand Rapids Rampage, Carolina Cobras, Milwaukee Mustangs, Los Angeles Avengers, and Dallas Desperados of the AFL. In the AFL, he holds records for all-time career points and single-season kick points.
At Michigan, he set the current Big Ten Conference record for single-season field goals, which is 25. He ranks both first and second in school history in single-season field goals made and co-holds the school record for consecutive field goals made along with Brendan Gibbons. He is the only All-American placekicker in Michigan history.
Early years
Hamilton attended Spanish River Community High School in Boca Raton, Florida, where he was a three-sport athlete in football, soccer, and tennis. In football, he played as a kicker, punter, defensive back, and quarterback.
As a senior starting quarterback, the Sun-Sentinel named him the Offensive Player of the Year, after completing 74 of 121 passes for 1,147 yards, 11 touchdowns, and rushing for 249 yards and six touchdowns.
Hamilton was named after the Rémy Martin brand of cognac, which his parents once served as owners of the New Jersey Bolero Motel and Bar.[1]
College career
Hamilton attended the University of Michigan, where he played football from 1993 to 1996. During this first season at Michigan, he only made one field goal.[2] After making a 47-yard field goal in his only attempt as a freshman, he lost the kicking job to Erik Lovell in spring practice. Lovell handled the kicking duties in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season opener and Hamilton did not get the starting assignment until immediately before the second game.[3] Lovell missed an extra point in the opener, which gave Hamilton his second chance.[4] Thus, before the second game of his sophomore season, he had not recorded any field goals that season, still had a career total of one and was mostly used for kickoffs. However, during the September 10, 1994 Michigan – Notre Dame rivalry game against third-ranked Notre Dame, he made four field goals and two extra point conversions, including the game-winning 42-yarder with two seconds remaining.[5][6] Notre Dame called a timeout to ice Hamilton, but it inadvertently helped Michigan, which had prematurely packed away the kicking net on its sidelines.[4] The field goal redeemed Hamilton for a missed tackle on a kickoff return, which he felt would have cost his team the game.[4] For his performance, the Big Ten named him the Special Teams Player of the Week.[7] Michigan fans still remember Hamilton for this game, and regularly congratulate him for the kick.[8] Two games later, he had a three-field goal game in the Big Ten Conference opener against Iowa.[9] Hamilton had another four-field goal outing later in the season against Illinois.[10] This earned him another Player of the Week recognition.[7]
He was named to the 1994 College Football All-America and 1994 All-Big Ten teams.[2] Hamilton was a first team All-American selection by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and second team selection by the Associated Press and the Football News.[2][11] Despite NFL alumni that include Jay Feely, Hayden Epstein and Ali Haji-Sheikh, Hamilton remains the school's only All-American placekicker.[2] During the 1994 football season, Hamilton established the current Big Ten single-season record for successful field goals at 25, which has since been tied three times,.[12] The Big Ten was talented at the placekicker position that season, with four of the twenty semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award being from the conference (Hamilton, Illinois' Chris Richardson, Minnesota's Mike Chalberg and Northwestern's Sam Valenzisi).[13] Hamilton won the NCAA statistical championship for field goal kickers that season.[14] He also set Michigan's single season kick point record with 101 in 1994.[15]
During the 1995 season, one of his more important field goals for the Wolverines came in the 5–0 victory over Purdue.[16] However, when Northwestern beat Michigan at Michigan Stadium, 19–13, for its first victory there since 1959, Hamilton missed a key 37-yard field goal.[17] His 1995 total of 19 field goals ranked second in Michigan history, behind only his own 1994 total. Garrett Rivas tied that single-season total twice, but no one has unseated Hamilton from first and second place.[18]
He also helped the 1996 team take a 9–0 halftime lead and converted an extra point to give them a 16–0 lead in what would eventually be a loss to Northwestern, 17–16.[19] His fourth-quarter points contributed to a 27–20 victory over Indiana.[20] He earned his third Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors following a 13–9 victory over Ohio State in the Michigan – Ohio State football rivalry game on November 23, 1996.[7] He put the team ahead, 10–9, on the last play of the third quarter and added a key field goal with 1:19 remaining.[21] A two-time finalist for the Lou Groza Award, Hamilton finished his career as the all-time Wolverine leader in field goals made (63) and field goals attempted (82).[2] Before his career ended, he became the ninth Wolverine to accumulate over 200 points.[22]
Hamilton holds the Michigan record for consecutive field goals made (14) as well as outright or shared school records for single-game (5), single-season (30) and career (82) field goal attempts. His career field goals made record (63) was eclipsed by Garrett Rivas in 2006 by one.[23] Hamilton was a three-time Big Ten All-Academic selection (1993, 1995, 1996).[24] He was also a three-time Big Ten Conference Special Teams Player of the Week (9/12/94, 10/10/94, 11/25/96).[7] His 14 consecutive field goals mark was one short of Vlade Janakievski's Big Ten record, which has since been broken.[12] Hamilton's 63 career field goals were two short of Todd Gregoire's Big Ten record, which has since been broken.[12]
Professional career
Hamilton joined the AFL's Grand Rapids Rampage in 1998, for which he played two seasons.[25] In two seasons, he had modest success as a field goal kicker connecting on 31 of 88 attempts (35.2%).[25] In his first season, he also caught a touchdown pass.[26]
He then played in 2000 with the Carolina Cobras and in 2001 with the Milwaukee Mustangs, where he posted 11 of 42 (26.2%) and 18 of 47 (38.3%) field goal performances.[25] While with the Cobras, Hamilton played against the Los Angeles Avengers in the first AFL game played at the Staples Center on April 20, 2000.[27]
In 2002, he joined the Avengers for which he had his best years as a professional, making at least half of his field goal attempts each season.[25] Hamilton was second among kickers in the AFL in scoring in 2003.[28] Following his strong performance, he signed with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks on August 4,[29][30] where he competed against rookie Josh Brown.[31] After Brown was perfect in both four field goal and seven extra point attempts in the first three preseason games,[32][33][34] Hamilton was released on August 25,[35] and he returned to play for Los Angeles again.[25]
Hamilton was the top-scoring kicker in the AFL in 2004.[36][37] On August 9, 2004, he signed with the Chicago Bears,[38] where he battled Paul Edinger for the kicking duties.[39] Bears head coach Lovie Smith noted Hamilton's skill at onside kicks.[40] In terms of distance, Hamilton had a slight edge with his average kick three yards deep in the end zone compared with Edinger's goal line average.[41] However, Edinger was perfect on six field goals and two extra points in the first three preseason games,[42][43][44] and Hamilton missed his only exhibition game field goal attempt, a 36-yarder on August 27.[45] The team waived him a few days later on August 31.[46]
He was again the top-scoring kicker in the AFL in 2005.[47] That year, he eclipsed Jay Taylor's AFL record for single-season field goal percentage, which had been 72%, with a 74.4% 29 for 39 performance.[27] Hamilton started the season with eleven consecutive field goals, giving him a total of twelve in a row for a league record.[27] He earned a couple of NFL tryouts. Hamilton first signed with the St. Louis Rams on July 27, 2005.[48] He played for them during the 2005 exhibition season.[49] He made the team's final points with a field goal in an August 12, 17–13 preseason victory over the Chicago Bears.[50] For the preseason, he made his only field goal and all six extra points.[51][52][53] He was released on August 30, as the Rams decided to retain Jeff Wilkins who had been their kicker since 1997.[54] Hamilton then signed with the Detroit Lions for their practice squad on September 15, 2005.[55] He appeared in one NFL game for Detroit, but missed his only point after touchdown attempt,[56] which was blocked by Alfonso Boone.[57] He also executed a couple of kickoffs,[56] and he made the tackle on Jerry Azumah's 33-yard return to the 37-yard line on one in the third quarter.[58] He was activated to replace Jason Hanson who suffered a hamstring injury,[59][60] which ended Hanson's consecutive games streak at 209.[61] However, Hamilton was released on September 19 and re-signed the next day to the practice squad.[62] He was cut from the Lions practice squad on October 11.
Hamilton returned to the AFL for Los Angeles,[25] and he led the AFL's kickers in scoring again in 2006.[63] This earned Hamilton his second consecutive AFL's "Kicker of the Year" title and second consecutive First Team All-Arena League selection.[27] His 2006-point total is 2nd in AFL history to his own 2005 total.[27] On June 7, 2006, he signed with the Rams to compete in training camp,[49][64] and he played for them in exhibition games during 2006.[65][66] He made four of six field goals (including a 48-yarder) and four of five extra points during the preseason.[67][68][69] On August 28, he was released, after the Rams kept Wilkins again.[54] Hamilton returned to the AFL for his final season in Los Angeles.[25]
He ranked third in kicker scoring in the AFL for Los Angeles in 2007.[70] He joined the Dallas Desperados for 2008.[25] He spent the 2011 season with the Dallas Vigilantes.[71] In 2012, Hamilton was assigned to the Philadelphia Soul. By the time of his assignment he was the AFL's all-time leader in field goals made (188), extra points made (1,082) and scoring by a kicker (1,646 points).[72]
Personal life
In a May 2009 article, the Los Angeles Times reported that, less than 15 hours after a 53–52 overtime loss to the Georgia Force at Staples Center, Hamilton's wife, Heather, delivered the couple's first child, a boy named Tate.[73] Hamilton has served as a personal trainer for other kickers.[36]
Hamilton and his wife, Heather, also went on to having a beautiful baby girl Elle Jessie Hamilton. Soon after Elle they had another baby boy, Hawk Campbell Hamilton.
References
- ^ "SHOOT-OUT IN SOUTH BEND". Sports Illustrated. September 19, 1994.
- ^ a b c d e "University of Michigan Football All-American: Remy Hamilton: Kicker, 1994". The Regents of the University of Michigan. January 10, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Wolverines' Kicking Hero A Late Starter". Chicago Tribune. September 11, 1994. p. 10.
- ^ a b c Bickley, Dan (September 11, 1994). "Hamilton Sharp as a Razor - Thanks to Gillette". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 3, Sports Sunday section.
- ^ Moran, Malcolm (September 11, 1994). "College Football; Field Goal By Michigan Flattens Irish". The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "College Football; Powlus Who? Michigan Has a Quarterback of Its Own". The New York Times. September 12, 1994. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Big Ten Conference Football Full Media Guide". CBS Interactive/Big Ten Conference. January 5, 2010. p. 87. Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
- ^ Foster, Chris (May 29, 2005). "Kicking Around; Avenger Remy Hamilton's Arena success has gotten the NFL's attention, but no takers". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "College Football: Midwest; Powlus's Passing Prowess Propels Notre Dame to Victory". The New York Times. October 2, 1994. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "College Football: Around The Nation; Colorado Rushes Past Stubborn Kansas State". The New York Times. October 23, 1994. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "All-America Teams". Walter Camp Football Foundation. Archived from the original on December 18, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Big Ten Conference Football Full Media Guide". CBS Interactive/Big Ten Conference. January 5, 2010. p. 40. Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
- ^ Gould, Herb (November 6, 1994). "Turnabout Is Fair Play at Unfriendly Dome". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 5, Sports Sunday section.
- ^ "2009 Division I Football Records Book: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Records" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 61. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Record Book" (PDF). CBS Interactive. January 5, 2009. p. 142. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "College Football: Big Ten;George Enjoys a Heisman-Type Day". The New York Times. November 12, 1995. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ Ziehm, Len (October 8, 1995). "Giant Killers Strike Again - Northwestern Tips Michigan". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 2, Sports Sunday section.
- ^ "Record Book" (PDF). CBS Interactive. January 5, 2009. p. 131. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ Ziehm, Len (October 6, 1996). "Deja NU - Wildcats again are Michigan's worst nightmare". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 1, Sports Sunday section.
- ^ "Michigan 27, Indiana 20 Anything But An Easy Win Michigan Battles Furiously To Hold Off Scrappy Indiana". Chicago Tribune. October 20, 1996.
- ^ "Big Ten / No. 21 Michigan 13, No. 2 Ohio State 9 -- Buckeyes Foiled Again By Nemesis Wolverines -- Upset Dashes Hopes For A National Title". The Seattle Times. November 24, 1996. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ Moran, Malcolm (September 1, 1996). "Michigan Run Sputters, But Wolverines Win". The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "Record Book" (PDF). CBS Interactive. January 5, 2009. p. 131. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Big Ten Conference Football Full Media Guide". CBS Interactive/Big Ten Conference. January 5, 2010. p. 84. Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Remy Hamilton". ArenaFan, Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ Dicker, Ron (June 20, 1998). "Plus: Arena Football; Perez Gets Record In CityHawks' Loss". The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "Remy Hamilton # 19". Arena Football League. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
- ^ "2003 Arena Football League Leaders". ArenaFan, Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. August 5, 2003. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ Romero, José Miguel (August 4, 2003). "Seahawks signed new player today, worked out another at QB". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ Romero, José Miguel (August 19, 2003). "Day 22 highlights". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "San Diego 7, Seattle 20". ESPN. August 9, 2003. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "Seattle 7, Indianapolis 21". ESPN. August 15, 2003. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "Kansas City 31, Seattle 42". ESPN. August 23, 2003. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ Romero, José Miguel (August 26, 2003). "Seahawks cut dozen ahead of deadline". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ a b "Soft net means safe job for Arena football kicker". USA Today. January 27, 2005. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "2004 Arena Football League Leaders". ArenaFan, Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ Mayer, Larry. "Hamilton happy to be in great outdoors". Chicagobears.com.
- ^ Chamberlain, Gene (August 11, 1994). "Day of the un-dreads : Tank sporting new 'do". Daily Southtown.
- ^ Chamberlain, Gene (August 10, 1994). "Grossman says shoulder is fine". Daily Southtown.
- ^ Biggs, Brad (August 10, 1994). "Grossman gets time off to rest arm". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 108.
- ^ "Chicago 13, St. Louis 10". ESPN. August 12, 2004. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "San Francisco 13, Chicago 20". ESPN. August 21, 2004. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "New Orleans 17, Chicago 13". ESPN. August 27, 2004. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ Biggs, Brad (August 28, 1994). "Problems everywhere in Bears' kicking game". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 99.
- ^ Biggs, Brad (August 30, 1994). "Wade punt-return misplay could open door for Berrian, Vasher". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 100.
- ^ "2005 Arena Football League Leaders". ArenaFan, Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. July 24, 2005. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ a b "Notes: Mario Williams has toenails removed; Dawkins plays it safe". USA Today. June 7, 2006. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ Chamberlain, Gene (August 13, 1995). "Bears lose Grossman : Deja doom". Daily Southtown.
- ^ "Chicago 13, St. Louis 17". ESPN. August 12, 2005. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "St. Louis 21, San Diego 36". ESPN. August 21, 2005. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "St. Louis 37, Detroit 13". ESPN. August 29, 2005. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ a b "All-Time Players: Jeff Wilkins". NFL.com. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
- ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. September 18, 2005. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ a b "All-Time Players:Remy Hamilton". NFL.com. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ Johnson, K.C. (September 19, 2005). "Review of Brown's hit on Pollard is expected; BEARS 38, LIONS 6". Chicago Tribune. p. 5.
- ^ "Detroit 6, Chicago 38: Complete Play-By-Play". ESPN. September 18, 2005. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ Weisman, Larry (September 19, 2005). "Four downs: Some not-so-happy returns". USA Today. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "Ravens ready to rock on the field and in survivor pools". USA Today. September 29, 2005. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "Bears score TDs on offense, defense, special teams". ESPN. September 18, 2005. Archived from the original on January 9, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. September 20, 2005. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "2006 Arena Football League Leaders". ArenaFan, Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "Wednesday's Sports Transactions". USA Today. June 8, 2006. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "Preseason roundup: Eagles pluck Browns 20-7, spoiling Winslow's return; Rams win". USA Today. August 11, 2006. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "Roundup: Leinart takes lumps in debut; lumps no problem for Culpepper". USA Today. August 20, 2006. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ "Indianapolis 17, St. Louis 19". ESPN. August 10, 2006. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "Houston 27, St. Louis 20". ESPN. August 19, 2006. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "St. Louis 12, Kansas City 16". ESPN. August 26, 2006. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "2007 Arena Football League Leaders". ArenaFan, Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ Jennings, Chantel (September 23, 2011). "Catching up with ... Remy Hamilton: Kicker sealed place in Michigan lore with game-winning boot against Notre Dame". ESPN. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ "Soul Add Former All-Arena Kicker Remy Hamilton". OurSportsCentral.com. July 10, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Gary Klen (March 5, 2004). "Avenger Report; Hamilton Enjoying Pause in Action". Los Angeles Times.
External links
- Hamilton archive at Los Angeles Times