Tulsa World: Up close: Mike Knall

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Up close: Mike Knall

Oklahoma punter Mike Knall, running on a fake punt attempt during the Red River Rivalry in Dallas, was about a foot short on the attempt, something he still thinks about with regret. DARYL WILSON/Tulsa World

By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 11/6/2008 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 11/6/2008 3:56 AM

NORMAN — For the 77 punts Mike Knall has uncorked for Oklahoma the past three years, he'll likely be as remembered for one run, the 5-yard dash against Texas Oct. 11 which came up just short of a potentially game-turning first down.

"A foot short," Knall lamented after a recent practice. "We just missed a couple blocks. I'd like to think I'd been out of the gate, but you never know."

The best part of the fake was the first, when Knall cut around a couple of on rushing Longhorns to give his team a chance to convert. It recalled his days as a tailback at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Ariz., and reminded OU fans their punter isn't around just to jog onto the field every now and then and swing his leg into a football.

There's a bit more to it than that.

What's the hardest part of your job?

The pressure. People think it's just 'catch it and kick it.' But there's so much technique involved. I've had two kicking coaches in Arizona and Miami to perfect my technique. Also, hitting it into the wind. In order for it to be a good punt against the wind, it's got to be a perfect spiral. It'll just cut right through it. Every day it's windy, Coach (Bob) Stoops makes sure I'm kicking into the wind the whole time.

What happens when something goes wrong like it did last Saturday against Nebraska?

I just took my eye off (the snap, which Knall dropped before barely getting off a 51-yarder). I never do that. It happened so fast. There was no thought process. Just, 'find it, get it off.' I was lucky. I got taken down pretty hard while I was in midair. I hit the ground and saw the lights and was like, 'Oh yeah. That's where I am.'

What's practice like?

I can't sit there and kick 80 balls a day. Halfway through the season, you'll kick your leg out. We do a lot of drills for our technique and then we'll play directional kicking games that help us out in game situations. We have some fun, but it's not all messing around.

Any wagering during those directional kicking games?

No, nothing like that. Just friendly small talk.

Do you have a snapshot moment at OU to this point?

Last year when we won back-to-back Big 12 championships, making that history. I also broke a record. I have the highest average in a Big 12 championship game (49.5 yards). We beat the number one team in the nation and put a dent in the BCS championship game. I remember I jumped into the stands with my family. I was with my dad, my mom and my girlfriend. I was crying.

It was such a moment. I'm never with them, because I'm always with my team. And then someone came up and told me I broke the record for average.

Guerin Emig 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com

KNALL FACTS

Position: Punter

Class: Sr.

Height: 5-10

Weight: 190

Hometown: Scottsdale, Ariz.

By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer

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