Håvard Rugland Explained

Håvard Rugland
Number:3
Position:Placekicker
Birth Date:7 October 1984
Birth Place:Ålgård, Norway
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lbs:240
Pastteams:

Håvard Rugland (born October 7, 1984), nicknamed Kickalicious,[1] is a Norwegian placekicker. His trick-shot videos gained him notoriety on YouTube. He competed for a roster position on several National Football League (NFL) teams and played in a pre-season game for the Detroit Lions.[2]

NFL career

On September 16, 2012, Rugland posted a video titled Kickalicious™ onto YouTube, under the name "bighdeluxe".[3] After the video went viral, Rugland traveled to San Diego to train with retired NFL kicker Michael Husted. In December 2012, the New York Jets hosted a tryout for Rugland.[4] [5] In March 2013, Rugland worked out for the Cleveland Browns[6] and the Lions, who later signed him in April.[7] He competed with David Akers for the starting spot.

On August 9, 2013, Rugland made his NFL debut in a preseason game against the New York Jets, going 2-for-2 with a long field goal from 50 yards out.[8] On August 24, 2013, Rugland was cut by the Lions in favor of Akers. He went 3-for-3 in preseason with field goals of 33, 49, and 50 yards.[9] After Rugland cleared waivers, the Lions attempted to sign Rugland to their practice squad, but the league rejected the signing, claiming that the rule that the Lions had used to allow the signing was no longer valid.[10] He then had a workout with the Green Bay Packers, but was not added to the Packers' opening day roster.[11]

On January 28, 2015, Rugland and sponsor Pepsi Max Norway released a video titled Kickalicious™ part 2 on the latter's YouTube channel, in which Rugland showcases more trick-shot skills at famous natural landmarks throughout Norway.[12] The video featured music by Norwegian punk rock band Turbonegro.

Notes and References

  1. News: Detroit Lions sign Norwegian kicking prospect Havard Rugland, who gained fame with his trick-shot video 'Kickalicious'. New York Daily News. April 11, 2013. April 14, 2013.
  2. Web site: Hanzus . Dan . April 11, 2013 . 'Kickalicious' Havard Rugland signs with Detroit Lions . April 14, 2013 . Around the League . National Football League.
  3. Web site: Harvard Rugland. Kickalicious™. YouTube. September 16, 2012. April 14, 2013.
  4. Web site: Jets give Norwegian YouTube kicking sensation a tryout . Brinson . Will . December 21, 2012 . Eye on Football . CBS Sports . December 10, 2019.
  5. News: Havard Rugland, Norwegian Kicker, Dreams Of NFL After Viral Video . Karen . Mattias . January 8, 2013 . Huffington Post . December 10, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130111062350/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/08/havard-rugland-trick-shot-video-nfl-norwegian-kicker_n_2434949.html . January 11, 2013.
  6. Web site: Phil Dawson leaves with goodwill toward Cleveland Browns, despite team opting not to bring him back for 2013 . Cabot . Mary Kay . March 21, 2013 . Cleveland . December 10, 2019.
  7. Web site: YouTube Sensation 'Kickalicious' Gets Signed By NFL Team . Gutelle . Sam . April 12, 2013 . Tubefilter . December 10, 2019.
  8. Web site: Havard Rugland impresses in first career game. Sean Yuille. SB Nation. August 9, 2013. August 27, 2013.
  9. News: Detroit Lions cut Kickalicious (a.k.a. Havard Rugland). Dave Birkett. Detroit Free Press. August 27, 2013. August 27, 2013.
  10. Web site: Kickalicious says league rejected Lions' attempt to keep him on practice squad. Crabtree. Curtis. September 12, 2013. Pro Football Talk. December 10, 2019.
  11. Web site: Green Bay Packers work out former Detroit Lions kicker Havard Rugland . Rogers . Justin . August 30, 2013 . . December 10, 2019.
  12. Web site: Kickalicious™ part 2. YouTube. Pepsi Max Norge. January 29, 2015.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Håvard Rugland".

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