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University of Minnesota Athletics
Players' Perspective - Justin Kucek
6/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
GopherSports.com had the opportunity to sit down with senior punter Justin Kucek in late June, about a month into the team's off-season conditioning program. Kucek discussed a number of topics, including his take on what the Golden Gophers can accomplish this season. He also tried to dispel some of the myths about punters and kickers.
GopherSports.com: How has your summer been so far?
Justin Kucek: My summer’s been good. I just took my first graduate school class in human resources and development. I’ve been working out on a horse farm. I’ve been weed-whacking a lot, mowing the lawns and just doing some work like that. I’ve been hanging out with friends and going out to the lake when I can. I’ve also been working out.
GS: What do you feel the mindset of the team is heading into fall camp in a few weeks?
JK: I just feel a lot of togetherness. When we have workouts, everyone’s there on time, everyone’s pushing through it and going really hard. Everyone is out practicing extra on their own. Everyone is doing the right things to get where we want to go.
GS: A lot of times, the punters and kickers are portrayed as not really a part of the group. How is the dynamic for you and the rest of the team?
JK: I’m definitely one of the guys. My roommates are Jack Simmons, who is a tight end and Tony Mortenson and Mike Maciejowski (quarterbacks). So, yeah, I get along with everyone. We all hang out. I do all the same workouts they do. So I’m with them in the mornings, working out, running, lifting.
GS: Another stereotype is that punters don’t really do much during practice. Let’s put that one to rest. Talk about what a typical day for you is like when practice gets started.
JK: We actually have our own little schedule. We go out there before anyone else even goes out and we punt for a half-hour, before the team is out even doing anything. We get a lot of our work in before practice even starts. Then, we have certain periods where we’ll kick for a while with the team. Once that’s done, we’ll go off with the strength coaches and do lots of abs and push-ups and some plyometric stuff. After that, we are constantly kicking and we just keep working through the rest of practice.
GS: Talk about holding for kicks. How did you get that job?
JK: A lot of the punters hold, because we’re with the kickers most of the time. I love doing it, because it gives me something else to do. I’m not constantly thinking about punting during the game. I’m also thinking about holding. It kind of helps me, doing two things, to keep my mind off just one specific position.
GS: It’s a pretty big responsibility, too. That last-second extra point or field goal could be the difference between winning and losing. You’ve got to make sure you handle the snap and get it down in the right spot for the kicker.
JK: It is a big responsibility. I’m pretty confident in holding. I think I’m pretty good at it.
GS: You seem to have a good knack for putting punts down inside the 20-yard line. To what do you attribute your success in that area?
JK: I think the main thing that helped me was Coach Brewster. He really helped me in that area with this new style of punt that he brought in. He helped me push and push on practicing it. I think he was a big help on downing the ball inside the 20. He just stressing practice, practice, practice. He demanded perfection with it. It got me in a really good habit to practice that.
GS: This is the flop punt, right? Is there a different technique to it?
JK: It’s an Australian punt, where you hold the ball straight up and down and kick a little underneath it, so you get a backspin. When it hits, it comes backwards.
GS: Your numbers were greatly improved last year. What was the difference?
JK: Coach Brewster is just a real positive influence on me. He rewards me when I do well. I think that really helps me. He just helps get myself together and keep pushing forward.
GS: Your number of punts has increased each of the last three seasons. You’re not going to complain if that number goes down this year, right?
JK: No, not at all. If I don’t punt that’s a good thing. We definitely don’t want me on the field. But when I have to go out there, I’m going to do the best I can.
GS: You’re being talked about as an All-America candidate and a possible candidate for the Ray Guy Award. Do you have individual goals for the season?
JK: I’m definitely going to try my hardest. I’m going to go out there with the mindset that I’ve been punting since my sophomore year in high school and I’m going to keep doing the same things. I believe in myself and I just want to go out there and play the best I can play. I’ll worry about all that stuff at the end. If it falls into place, then it does.
GS: What can this team accomplish this season?
JK: I think we can go all the way. The way we’re working in the weight room here in the offseason. I think we can definitely all put it together and just go the distance. We all believe it and we’re all going to get out there and try to do it.
GS: What are some of your interests outside of football?
JK: I love hanging out with my family. If I can be with my family, that’s awesome. I love playing baseball when I can. Baseball is big in my family. I love hanging out with my friends. That’s one of the main things. We all get along so well together, we’ll go out boating and stuff. Just getting together with all them is really great.
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