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University of Minnesota Athletics
Under the Helmet: Peter Mortell
9/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 26, 2014
GS: Last year you were named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and earned a scholarship. What did that feel like after coming in as a walk-on?
GS: What are some of the things you focused on in the offseason?
GS: As the holder, you've been in a few fake field goal situations. Do you get excited when a fake is called?
GS: How far could you throw if you had to throw a deep ball?
GS: You have a reputation for being funny on Twitter. Michigan State punter Mike Sadler does, too. Who's funnier?
GS: Are you two pretty good friends?
GS: Who on your team has a good sense of humor, on Twitter or otherwise?
GS: The special teams unit spends the shortest amount of time on the field during games and most practice drills. Has your group formed a good bond while you wait to go in?
GopherSports: You have had a handful of 60-yard punts and several 50-yard punts in the last few years. Can you tell the ball is going to go that far when it comes off your foot?
Peter Mortell: You can definitely tell right when it hits your foot if it's going to be a good punt or not. It all comes down to the fundamentals that we practiced all offseason. It's good to see so far that we've had a few good punts that can help our team.
GS: It's not often that good punting is one of the most talk-about facets of a game, but that seemed to be the case in last year's Penn State game. Was it fun to go out there and "pin 'em deep" a few times?
PM: As a punter, it's usually good to stay out of the news, because you're usually only in it if you're doing poorly. But at times last year we showed that we can be weapons out there for our team. The Penn State game was a good example. Anything we can do to help our defense out and bury their offense deep in their own territory is something that can show that we can have a pretty significant impact on the game.
GS: Last year you were named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and earned a scholarship. What did that feel like after coming in as a walk-on?
PM: It was a definitely a year I don't think many people could have predicted. As far as getting the scholarship, as a walk-on you have that chip-on-your-shoulder mentality. Getting the scholarship, I still have that mentality. I actually think I work even harder right now because I want to prove to my coaches, my teammates and the fans that I'm worthy of that scholarship. So I've worked harder this offseason than ever before. I'm definitely pleased with that season last year, but I'm not satisfied. I want to have a better year this year.
GS: What are some of the things you focused on in the offseason?
PM: A lot of the things I worked on were focused towards directional punting and kicking it more at an angle so we can get our punt team down there and limit return yards, and also improving hang time so I can give guys more of a chance to get down there.
GS: As the holder, you've been in a few fake field goal situations. Do you get excited when a fake is called?
PM: I love the fake field goals and punts. It makes me feel like a real football player again. I haven't done that in a long time, since high school. Any time a specialist gets the opportunity to run or throw the ball, we get pretty excited.
GS: How far could you throw if you had to throw a deep ball?
PM: Sixty yards.
GS: You have a reputation for being funny on Twitter. Michigan State punter Mike Sadler does, too. Who's funnier?
PM: That's a good question. I'm going to have to give it to Mike. He's been on Twitter longer than I have. I think he definitely sets the precedent for funny people on Twitter, but I'm gunning for him.
GS: Are you two pretty good friends?
PM: Yeah, we are. We've been to a few camps together and we share some tips on technique. We've helped each other over the years. He's a pretty good friend of mine.
GS: Who on your team has a good sense of humor, on Twitter or otherwise?
PM: I think Drew Goodger's Twitter game is underrated. He's my roommate, too. He's a funny guy so we have a good time.
GS: The special teams unit spends the shortest amount of time on the field during games and most practice drills. Has your group formed a good bond while you wait to go in?
PM: We're a really tight-knit group. We're all pulling for each other's success. It's difficult as a specialist because we can only put out one long snapper, one punter and one kicker for each play. But we're all pulling for each other. We're all helping each other, because at the end of the day, we want special teams to be a very successful unit for us. We're all very good friends and close teammates.
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