By Dan Shriner
Football Correspondent
On a cold, blustery Friday night in the fall of 1999, Dave Rayner stood on the Oxford football field during homecoming festivities as a member of the homecoming court.
It is a tradition at Oxford homecoming games for an announcer to give information about each member of the senior court and also to read a snippet of information about what each student hopes their future may hold.
For then-senior Dave Rayner, who was the kicker and split end for the Wildcats, his future as read to the crowd, included playing in the National Football League as a kicker.
That’s a very long shot considering there are only 32 such positions in the world. But, on Sunday, Dave returned home, filling one of those 32 elite spots as the field goal kicker for the Green Bay Packers as they beat the Detroit Lions, 31-24.
His parents, Larry and Linda, attended the game at Ford Field, along with about 30 other family and friends from Oxford.
On his triumphant return home, playing against the team he grew up rooting for, Dave was perfect on the day, hitting a 24-yard field goal as well as four extra points.
He acknowledged it was special to come home and play on Ford Field for the first time in only his third game as an NFL field goal kicker.
‘A chip shot field goal and some extra points and a W is a W,? Rayner said, following the game. ‘It was a good day.?
Rayner joined Green Bay earlier this year after his release from the Indianapolis Colts, where he played his rookie season as the designated kickoff specialist. The Colts drafted him out of Michigan State and told him he would play initially behind kicker Mike Vanderjagt.
While at Michigan State, Rayner set the Spartans all-time scoring record with 334 career points. He was voted all-Big Ten and tabbed as one of the best kickers in college.
When he was drafted by the Colts, it looked like he would be their kicker of the future.
But, earlier this year, the Colts signed Adam Vinatieri, perhaps one of the top clutch field goal kickers in NFL history to a $14 million contract, and Rayner was released.
Some NFL teams, notably Miami and Atlanta, showed some interest but Green Bay grabbed Rayner off the waiver wire.
The Packers already had an established kicker in Billy Cundiff, who had been successful with the Dallas Cowboys, in prior years.
But, Rayner was given the opportunity to compete for the job and he quickly went to work. First Cundiff was released and then for the next several weeks, other kickers were brought in to compete. All fell by the wayside as Rayner emerged as the top kicker. It was a way for the Packers to determine who could perform for them.
‘I was never given the job from day one,? Rayner said. ‘I was brought in to compete.
They did not cut me any slack. They were brining guys in every week and kickers here and there. It was trying but it was good for me.?
‘He earned the job,? said dad Larry Rayner. ‘He had to beat out five other kickers.?
In hindsight, being drafted by the Colts and spending a season observing the life and pressure on an NFL kicker without having to face the daily pressures was a blessing. Dave said it helped him to prepare for the competition in Green Bay.
‘Absolutely, it helped me,? Rayner said. ‘It got me mentally ready for the NFL this year.?
One of those Dave credits with helping him become an NFL kicker is longtime Lions kicking star Eddie Murray.
The two became friends very early in Dave’s college career and Murray has been one of his primary mentors.
‘He’s helped me a great deal and much of it is mental,? Rayner said. ‘He showed me the ropes about what to expect in the NFL and little things here and there. We talk about kicking styles. It’s been very good.?
When Dave was at MSU his parents attended many of his home and away games. Linda said they are looking forward to going to some games this season and plan to visit Green Bay in a few weeks.
Dave had an interesting trip to the NFL.
Growing up, Dave he was a soccer player and didn’t play football until him junior year when Coach Bud Rowley snatched him from the soccer fields to take advantage of his strong leg.
‘We were always soccer people so we never expected anything like this to ever happen,? she said.
Linda remembered her son’s first game on the Oxford football team as the kicker was his junior year at homecoming. His first college game at MSU, when he was named kicker, was his freshmen year and also was the homecoming game.
‘And this is like a homecoming,? she said, following his return to Michigan on Sunday.
Residents of Oxford would be proud to know that Dave is one of the finest representatives from the community they could ever find.
Following the game he participated in a prayer session at midfield with other Lions and Packer players. The group, known as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, does great work for others.
Dave said he knows that being a kicker in the NFL is a very tough and competitive job. Kicking in a place like Green Bay, where very cold temperatures and wind can play havoc with kicked balls is even more difficult.
‘We’re going to see when it gets really cold how good of a kicker I am,? Rayner said.
The Oxford community already knows how good of a person he is.