Fifteen yards - that's the distance between Ohio's Jeremy LaVoie and his target: punter Paul Hershey.
The sophomore from Beavercreek, Ohio, plays one position on the field for the Bobcats - long snapper.
Much can go wrong from the snap to the punter, but LaVoie isn't concerned with making a mistake. He just hits the target.
You have enough (repetitions) outside of practice that by the time the game rolls around
you don't really think about it he said. You just snap the ball kick the ball - you're not really worried about maybe screwing up or missing the kick or snapping the ball low.
I think it comes natural by the time the game rolls around.
While the rest of the team is going through drills
the specialists will go off to the practice field to work on
what LaVoie calls
the little things. Normally
the punters
kickers and LaVoie practice their timing
steps and holding.
I think with any specialist position, you're just kind of there, LaVoie said. (The coaches) are worried about their specific position groups. When our time comes up, as far as the punt period, they'll tell you what you're doing right and what you're doing wrong.
We know what we need to work on
what we need to do
so that's usually what we're doing.
Coach Frank Solich, though, said he has very little reason to point out LaVoie's mistakes. LaVoie had experience before coming to college.
At Beavercreek High School, LaVoie doubled as the middle linebacker and long snapper. He helped lead the team to a 6-4 record, amassing 3.5 sacks and one interception his senior season. He also forced three fumbles.
Before his senior season began, LaVoie participated in Ohio's summer football camp. During a break, some of the coaches asked if anyone had some experience at long snapper. LaVoie volunteered and worked out at the position, and he later landed a spot on the team in Athens, although he originally had a preferred walk-on status at Ohio State.
He was a very smooth guy in terms of his snaps
