Obed Ariri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Obed Ariri | |
|---|---|
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| Date of birth: | April 4, 1956 |
| Place of birth: | Owerri, Nigeria |
| Career information | |
| Position(s): | Kicker |
| Jersey №: | 5 |
| College: | Clemson |
| NFL Draft: | 1981 / Round: 7 |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1983 1984 1987 1994 |
Washington Federals (USFL) Tampa Bay Buccaneers Washington Redskins Miami Hooters (AFL) |
| Stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
Obed Chukwuma Ariri (born April 4, 1956) was an American football placekicker in the National Football League. Ariri was born in Owerri, Nigeria, and his middle name Chukwuma means "God Only Knows". He became a skilled soccer player and was scouted by Clemson University's then soccer coach Dr. I.M. Ibrahim. After watching him play in Nigeria, Ibrahim offered Ariri a soccer scholarship to Clemson on the spot.
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[edit] Early career
Ariri was enrolled at Clemson in 1977 when Clemson football coach Charlie Pell was in dire need of a kicker. Dr. Ibrahim allowed Ariri to try out only if he agreed to continue to play soccer. Pell agreed, and Ariri went on to nail every attempt thus securing his place as the kicker for the Tigers. His scholarship was shifted to football and Pell insisted that Obed forget about soccer. Obed never kicked a football until he was at Clemson.
He was so popular in campus during his Senior year that "Obed Ariri for the Heisman Trophy" bumper stickers were made up even though a kicker couldn't win.
In 1979 Ariri was granted permission to play in the 1979 NCAA Division I National Soccer Championships at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Tigers lost 3-2 to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Obed's performance during the game led to a job offer with the Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League. He declined.
[edit] Pro career
Ariri was drafted in the 7th round of the 1981 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts but was cut from the team days before the season. He was on the initial roster of the USFL's Washington Federals but did not last the entire season due to inconsistency and poor performance. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers acquired Obed in the 1984 pre-season but was waived before final cuts. After kicker Bill Capece flopped in the final Buccaneer pre-season game, Ariri was hired in time for the start of the regular season and he was their regular kicker that season, only to be released during the 1985 traing camp. He was nicknamed the "Automatic African" by his teammates.
- 1984 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 1987 - Washington Redskins (strike replacement player)
- 1994 - Miami Hooters (Arena Indoor League)
[edit] Honors
- Set 6 NCAA kicking records and tied another 3
- First Buccaneer to kick (3) 40 yard-plus field goals in a game
- 1977 Made the longest field goal in Clemson history against Wake Forest (57 yards)
- 1978 Made the longest field goal in Gator Bowl history (47 yards)
- 1980 NCAA 1st Team All-American
- 1998 Inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame
[edit] Legacy
Young Nigerian soccer player Donald Igwebuike had idolized Ariri back in Nigeria. Ariri encouraged Igwebuike to attend Clemson and inspired him to kick a football. The young player attended Clemson and was looked after by Ariri. After graduating Ariri even encouraged Coach Danny Ford to give Igwebuike a chance to kick for the football team. Igwebuike not only made the team, he went on to the NFL and beat out Ariri for the kicking spot at Tampa Bay.
