ESPN: UND's Myhra made the kick that mattered

[star2city]

Greatest Game Ever Played

You know about Johnny Unitas (middle) and Alan Ameche (right). You probably don't know about

Steve Myhra (left), who also had a prominent role in the magical 1958 NFL title game.

The upcoming 50th anniversary of the fabled Colts-Giants overtime championship game, which welcomed pro football into America's living rooms, will include a roll call of NFL royalty.

Johnny Unitas. Raymond Berry. Alan "The Horse" Ameche. Sam Huff. Frank Gifford. More than a dozen Pro Football Hall of Famers in all.

Steve Myhra? He's not in Canton, but his kicking shoe is. Myhra was a second-year pro from the University of North Dakota on the 1958 Colts, a two-way reserve at guard and linebacker. And, in an era before kicking specialists, he was also the kicker for PATs and short-range field goals.

"We knew he was a good football player, but he never got a chance," Donovan said. "[Colts coach] Weeb Ewbank knew that Steve was a fairly wealthy young man. Weeb didn't like anybody with money."

The Myhras started a family and returned to North Dakota, where Steve's business pursuits ran from starting an insurance company to sportscasting to opening a sporting goods store in Wahpeton. Three sons came along, and the family left cold weather for Phoenix.

But the marriage ended in 1975 and Steve returned north, where people liked to pat him on the back and buy him a beer. In 1976 Myhra was inducted into UND's athletic hall of fame, where his plaque is now displayed alongside the likes of Phil Jackson, Jim LeClair and Dennis Hextall inside the Fighting Sioux's $100 million hockey palace, Ralph Engelstad Arena.

[farce poobah]

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