One more extra point

Kicker Art Carmody had modest goals when his locker rested in the University of Louisville's walk-on alley.

Certainly the senior from Shreveport, La., didn't think he'd be one point shy of tying the highest-scoring kicker in major-college history. While the Cardinals (5-6, 2-4 Big East) look for a silver lining to an otherwise disappointing season Thursday night against Rutgers (7-4, 3-3), they can send Carmody out atop the record books.

He has also set the record for career extra points with 248.

That probably would not have happened had he attended the only other college he seriously considered out of high school. The Air Force Academy offered him a chance to be a preferred walk-on just like U of L, but Carmody felt his best fit was with the Cards.

It didn't take long for others to notice. Jason Horton, a walk-on when Carmody arrived, coined what has become a popular and appropriate nickname.

"I was kicking in spring ball and got off to a good start," Carmody said. "He was just sitting back watching the kicks and was like, 'You're Art-o-matic.' Guys picked it up, and it just kind of stuck."

Carmody won the Lou Groza Award, which recognizes the nation's best kicker, as a junior. He also holds many of the school's kicking records. But as much as he has had success, he remembers the failures.

Carmody has missed only two extra-point tries in four years at U of L, but he can tell you about both of them his sophomore season against Cincinnati and Connecticut.

"The misses always stand out more than the makes," he said. "Usually something didn't feel right, or when you look up and it's not going through you get that sickening feel that you haven't done your job."

Carmody hasn't had that feeling often, although he admits he should already own the career scoring mark. Not because of a failed kick -- but a failed catch.

His sophomore season against Pittsburgh, the Cards ran a fake field goal. Wide receiver Harry Douglas was the holder, and the two ran an option play.

"He flipped it to me, and it went right off my hands and out of bounds," Carmody said. "We looked back on film, and I would have had an easy touchdown if I would have caught it. That's probably my one and only chance, and we didn't get it done."

It still doesn't stop him from plotting. Carmody said he often designs trick plays with junior long-snapper Dane Mattingly, just in case he gets another chance.

With one game left, it's unlikely Carmody will run a trick play. He's shifting to another dream now. Carmody, whose longest field goal is 51 yards, believes he can play in the NFL.

With modest goals, all Carmody wants is an invitation to an NFL team camp.

"Hopefully I get a shot," he said. "That's all you can ask for is to get a shot to show what you can do. Basically that will be my goal -- just get an opportunity just like I got the opportunity here, and hopefully good things will happen."