Bill Capece

William George Capece (born April 1, 1959 in Miami, Florida) is a former professional American football player who played placekicker for three seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He attended Chaminade High School in Hollywood, Florida along with David Shula, and was invited by Shula's father, Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, to attend Dolphin practices and work out with placekicker Garo Yepremian. It was Yepremian who provided Capece with the encouragement to consider a career in professional football. Capece attended Florida State University, where he graduated as the holder of FSU's records for single-season scoring (104 points), most field goals in a game (five, against Pittsburgh), and field goal percentage (100%). His 104 points in 1980 were the most by a kicker in national collegiate history. He was signed to a professional contract with the Buccaneers in 1981, during a week in which the Buccaneers cut both their placekicker and their punter. Ironically, Capece's signing marked the end of his former mentor's career, as Yepremian was the player he was signed to replace.[1][2][3] After a 1983 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the 1983 home finale, in which missed crucial kicks provided the margin of defeat, coach John McKay made his famous announcement that "Capece is kaput".[4] Capece returned as the team's placekicker the following season, but was waived following a poor performance in a preseason game against the Dolphins.[5] His 41 field goals stood as the Buccaneers' career record until broken in 1987 by Donald Igwebuike.[6][7]

Bill Capece
No. 3
Position:Placekicker
Personal information
Born: (1959-04-01) April 1, 1959
Miami, Florida
Height:5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight:170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High school:Chaminade
(Hollywood, Florida)
College:Florida State
NFL Draft:1981 / Round: 12 / Pick: 324
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Field goal attempts/made:70 / 43
FG%:61.4
Extra point attempts/made:72 / 67
Player stats at NFL.com

References
  1. Zier, Patrick. "Bucs' new, young kickers know of the pro pitfalls". The Lakeland Ledger. 23 Sep 1981
  2. Scheiber, Dave. "Indications: Garo out, Capece in". St. Petersburg Times. 23 Sep 1981
  3. "Sports People; Yepremian Booted". The New York Times. 24 Sep 1981
  4. Scheiber, Dave. "Capece is kaput, announces McKay". St. Petersburg Times. 19 Dec 1983
  5. Scheiber, Dave. "Capece again 'kaput' as Bucs' kicker". St. Petersburg Times. 28 Aug 1984
  6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Public Relations Department. "2009 Buccaneers Media Guide"
  7. "Monday Morning Quarterback". St. Petersburg Times. 2 Nov 1987


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