Buffs freshman James Stefanou kicks a 50-yard field goal in the Buffs’ Indoor Practice Facility (keep your eye on the upper left goalpost).

Aussie Stefanou Brings Big Leg To Buffs

BOULDER — To fully appreciate the power behind James Stefanou’s leg, you have to hear him kick.

Yes, hear.

No doubt, watching the 30-year-old Colorado freshman put a 50-yard field goal try through the uprights is impressive, particularly when you see the ball hit the target and it is much closer to the top of the goalposts than the crossbar. The power in his leg is evident.

But it is the explosion that occurs at the moment when his foot strikes the ball that provides the emphasis. It is a resounding “boom,” almost a detonation.

It is — for CU fans with a little sense of history — reminiscent of the sound that former Buffs standout and current Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby once produced on a regular basis.

Stefanou, a native of Australia, is a former professional soccer player who took up “seriously” kicking a football less than two years ago under the guidance of John Smith and Nathan Chapman at ProKick Australia. The academy has produced the last four Ray Guy Award winners in college football (awarded to the nation’s outstanding punter); Stefanou’s goal is to put a college placekicker in their annals of outstanding students.

What’s already clear is that the leg strength and power is there. Even from 50 yards out, Stefanou’s field goals aren’t line drives. Rather, they get excellent initial height, then soar toward the goalposts.

“I’ve always had that pop and the initial height and the sound when it strikes the ball,” Stefanou said with a grin. “It’s just a matter of technique and connection.”

Of course, there’s a world of difference between kicking a stationary ball with no one in front of you and kicking a ball that’s snapped to a holder and then executing the process under the pressure of a rush — all in the matter of a couple of seconds.

Stefanou has plenty of experience with the former but virtually none with the latter. It’s why his first session of college football fall camp, which began Saturday for the Buffs, will be so important.

“I’m working on that operation time with the snapper and the holder, and that’s coming down,” he said. “By fall camp, that should be ready to go.”

Along with the pure kicking aspect, Stefanou has also been adjusting to strength and conditioning for American football. While he’s no stranger to the process because of his soccer background, the football aspect has provided some new territory in that regard.

“It’s been pretty intense in terms of the short bursts and sprints,” he said. “Soccer was more endurance-based, so this has been a bit of a change — but I’m slowly getting used to it.”

He’s also getting used to seeing much bigger athletes than he ever saw on a soccer field.

“They’re absolute machines,” he marveled. “They train really hard. They’re big boys and they can still run, I’ll tell you that much. It’s been an experience.”

Despite the fact that he is six years older than any other teammate (tackle Jeromy Irwin turned 24 earlier this month) and 10 years older than many of his teammates, he said he’s been welcomed with open arms.

“I feel the boys have really taken me in,” he said. “They’ve been fantastic. They’ve really helped me settle in and have had me over for some Aussie steaks. That’s been good.”

Another adjustment for Stefanou has been the altitude, particularly in terms of conditioning. As far as the difference it makes in his kicking, he said the difference hasn’t been as much as advertised.

“The altitude does play a little bit of a role, but not the huge amount that people talk about,” he said. “You still have to have that sweet technique and that sweet connection. It’s not just going to happen because of the altitude. You still have to be accurate.”

Along with his first football fall camp, August will also be important for Stefanou because he will be joined by his wife, Laura. The two were married in mid-May, and soon thereafter, Stefanou had to leave Australia for Boulder.

Laura has now completed all her travel paperwork and is scheduled to arrive in Boulder in early to mid-August.

“When she gets here, I think that will settle me down a little bit more and we can spend some time together,” he said. “It will be great to have her here.”

In the meantime, he’ll work on every facet of kicking possible. When camp finally opens, his goal will be simple.

“Just not miss,” he said with a laugh. “That’s pretty simple. I just don’t want to miss any kicks.

“I realize you are going to miss some because you might have an off day. But when that happens, you have to identify your mistakes and not do it again. On the good days, you identify what you’ve done right and stick with that. I just want to keep improving to the point that I don’t miss.”

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu