Murray State University Athletics
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Andrus Hoping To Help Others Live Out Dream
7/17/2006 5:00:00 AM | Football
The following article appeared in the July 13, 2006 edition of the Murray Ledger & Times
By Scott Nanney
Sports Editor
www.murrayledger.com
Shane Andrus is hoping to bring a little NFL expertise back to his hometown.
The former Murray High School and Murray State standout place-kicker, who signed a free agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts earlier this year, is spending part of his summer in Murray with the intention of helping prospective kickers live out their dreams just like he is.
“There's not too many guys around here who offer this type of thing,” said Andrus, who is offering his assistance to area kickers in the form of individual clinics through July 25. “If I had had somebody in my backyard that was a kicker in the NFL, that would have been a big advantage for me. Hopefully, some of the kickers around here will take advantage of that.”
With the aid of facilities at both Murray High and MSU, Andrus looks to tutor any prospective kickers on an individual basis.
“I prefer to do the one-on-one stuff,” he explained. “I don't really want to get into doing group sessions. I think there's an opportunity to learn better in a one-on-one setting.”
Andrus drew inspiration for his clinics from former “I've been to those kinds of camps before, and I even wound up being a counselor at Doug Pelfrey's camp,” noted Andrus, who is offering his clinics for $60 per hour or in
special multi-hour packages. “I want to be able to come home and help the kids around here in that way.
“I haven't really sent out any letters or done any advertising yet. I'm not expecting a lot of response right now. I'm just looking to get my name out there and have some (clients) set up for the future,” he added.
After a standout career as both a kicker and a wide receiver at Murray High, Andrus went on to a stellar two-year career with his hometown Racers, where he made good on 26-of-36 field goal attempts and connected on 61-of-62 extra-point tries as an All-OVC selection during both the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
His 52-yard field goal at home against Eastern Illinois lifted the Racers to a share of the 2002 OVC championship and a spot in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.
Those accomplishments helped Andrus land a tryout with the Colts, where he impressed the team's management enough to earn a free agent contract in early February. Andrus has participated in some offseason workouts with the Colts and will try to earn a spot on the team's 53-man roster when NFL
training camps open at the end of the month.
“The (Colts) general manager is really excited about me,” said Andrus, who expects to see some action in the team's first two exhibition games against
In the meantime, Andrus hopes to continue to hone his skills while also assisting others.
“The thing about these (clinics) is that they will help me as well as others,” he said. “It will help keep me sharp with fundamentals. There are a few things I need to keep focused on.”
For more information about the clinics, contact Andrus by phone at 293-5055 or by e-mail at shanea655@aol.com.
