TicketsOn the eighth floor of Richard E. Lindner Center in Varsity Village, deep in the archives of the University of Cincinnati Athletics Communications office, files and folders bind the victories, trials and legacies of the players and games of the past.
One file in particular, though, holds more than just the official game statistics from a home-opening matchup between UC and Dayton on September 16, 1961. It tells the story of a Bearcats student-athlete whose innovation changed the game.
The folder is weathered and bent in the corners, and filled with black-and-white photos and press releases on yellowed paper. The faded ink is crossed out with thick, black slashes in some areas in true typewriter fashion.
Yet, the aged announcement boasts a University of Cincinnati feat that is still incredibly relevant in modern football today.
"He kicked left-footed, but most strange was the way he lined up, at a right angle to the direction the ball would have to travel to reach the goal posts," the press release states.
The 26-yard attempt, garnered as the first-ever soccer-style kick in college football, was good.
It was completed by Henk Hartong, a native of Eindhoven, Holland, who had recently arrived in the United States to attend college.
After arriving on campus, Hartong noticed QB Jacky Lee, UC's starting quarterback, kicking field-goals by lining up directly behind the ball. After mentioning that a wider, soccer-style kick might deliver better results, the two had a kick-off. Needless to say, Hartong clinched the victory, and the rest is history.
Hartong's initiative transformed the game, as his soccer-style kick took hold and was successfully utilized by another student-athlete at Cornell just two days later, and is still the predominant method of kicking in modern high school, college and professional-level football today.
UCATS was proud to recently play host to Hartong's first return to campus in nearly a decade, honoring him as UC's honorary captain for the 124th Battle for the Victory Bell, a victory over the Bearcats long-time rival, Miami (OH).
However, his impact at UC extends beyond the realm of just football.
A graduate of the University with a degree in economics, Hartong also had the chance to visit Arts & Sciences Hall, home of the College of Arts & Sciences. He reminisced on the many good times and experiences he had while at UC. Hartong enjoyed seeing some of the innovations which have taken place on campus since his time as a student-athlete, including the new Carl H. Lindner College of Business, and had a chance to meet with Dean Marianne Lewis.
After graduation from UC, Hartong went on to receive his MBA from Harvard University, and has created a successful career in business.
Aside from his personal accolades, his dedication to help make UC's tradition of academic and athletic excellence accessible to student-athletes does not go unnoticed.
Hartong, who was awarded an athletic scholarship himself during his time as a football kicker, has continued the legacy of this generosity in his own capacity through sponsoring the Hendrik J. Hartong, Jr. Endowment Fund, which supports a UC student-athlete who is a kicker.
At the end of the day, players should know that he's always looking out for them in more ways than one.
As Hartong joked while on campus, "Anytime a kicker misses, I just know it's because he was up late the night before studying in the library."
One file in particular, though, holds more than just the official game statistics from a home-opening matchup between UC and Dayton on September 16, 1961. It tells the story of a Bearcats student-athlete whose innovation changed the game.
The folder is weathered and bent in the corners, and filled with black-and-white photos and press releases on yellowed paper. The faded ink is crossed out with thick, black slashes in some areas in true typewriter fashion.
Yet, the aged announcement boasts a University of Cincinnati feat that is still incredibly relevant in modern football today.
"He kicked left-footed, but most strange was the way he lined up, at a right angle to the direction the ball would have to travel to reach the goal posts," the press release states.
The 26-yard attempt, garnered as the first-ever soccer-style kick in college football, was good.
It was completed by Henk Hartong, a native of Eindhoven, Holland, who had recently arrived in the United States to attend college.
After arriving on campus, Hartong noticed QB Jacky Lee, UC's starting quarterback, kicking field-goals by lining up directly behind the ball. After mentioning that a wider, soccer-style kick might deliver better results, the two had a kick-off. Needless to say, Hartong clinched the victory, and the rest is history.
Hartong's initiative transformed the game, as his soccer-style kick took hold and was successfully utilized by another student-athlete at Cornell just two days later, and is still the predominant method of kicking in modern high school, college and professional-level football today.
UCATS was proud to recently play host to Hartong's first return to campus in nearly a decade, honoring him as UC's honorary captain for the 124th Battle for the Victory Bell, a victory over the Bearcats long-time rival, Miami (OH).
However, his impact at UC extends beyond the realm of just football.
A graduate of the University with a degree in economics, Hartong also had the chance to visit Arts & Sciences Hall, home of the College of Arts & Sciences. He reminisced on the many good times and experiences he had while at UC. Hartong enjoyed seeing some of the innovations which have taken place on campus since his time as a student-athlete, including the new Carl H. Lindner College of Business, and had a chance to meet with Dean Marianne Lewis.
After graduation from UC, Hartong went on to receive his MBA from Harvard University, and has created a successful career in business.
Aside from his personal accolades, his dedication to help make UC's tradition of academic and athletic excellence accessible to student-athletes does not go unnoticed.
Hartong, who was awarded an athletic scholarship himself during his time as a football kicker, has continued the legacy of this generosity in his own capacity through sponsoring the Hendrik J. Hartong, Jr. Endowment Fund, which supports a UC student-athlete who is a kicker.
At the end of the day, players should know that he's always looking out for them in more ways than one.
As Hartong joked while on campus, "Anytime a kicker misses, I just know it's because he was up late the night before studying in the library."