SE PUNTER WITCZAK COLLECTS BIG HONOR

When he suffered a serious knee injury in warmups prior to the opening game of the year, Jason Witczak had all but given up on his goal of earning All-American honors. He figured he'd be lucky to simply make it through the season.

That's why Southeast Missouri State University's standout punter was so excited -- and surprised -- when he found out Tuesday he had been named to the 2000 Football Gazette NCAA Division I-AA All-American second team.

"I didn't expect it, but I'm really excited," said Witczak from his home in Fond du Lac, Wisc., where he is spending winter break. "I feel very honored, especially after all I've gone through."

Witczak, a transfer from Marshall who was down to just one season of eligibility when he came to Southeast, had high hopes entering the 2000 campaign. Those were very nearly dashed prior to the Aug. 31 opener at Marshall when he hurt his left (non-kicking) knee during warmups.

It was not known at the time, but Witczak -- who went on to kick in the first half of that game before sitting out the rest of the contest -- had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, which usually means the end of a season if not a career.

But Witczak was determined that the injury would not put him on the sidelines for good. With the help of a knee brace -- and some exceptional leg strength -- he was able to punt for most of the rest of the season, leading the Ohio Valley Conference with a 41.3-yard average to earn first-team all-OVC honors.

"It (the injury) was disappointing, but I was determined to play the whole year," Witczak said. "Actually, I think it did a whole lot for me as far as making me a stronger person. I learned not to take things for granted. I put so much work into the summer, and for a kicker to blow out a knee, it doesn't happen often.

"At the beginning of the year, my goal was to make All-American, along with helping the team win. But after the injury, I had to make my goals a little more realistic, so I concentrated on becoming the best punter in the OVC. Then to still make All-American, it's really satisfying."

Southeast coach Tim Billings, a former Marshall assistant who recruited Witczak to that school, was almost as thrilled for Witczak as the player was himself.

"I've known Jason for a long time and I'm really excited for him," Billings said. "What he did was an amazing thing, playing the whole season with no ACL. Think what he could have done if he hadn't gotten hurt.

"It's great for Jason and it's also good exposure for our program and the university."

Witczak, also Southeast's place-kicker for most of the season (he hit five of nine field-goal attempts), finally had surgery on Dec. 11 and he has been rehabilitating ever since. The surgery, according to Witczak, was performed by the Green Bay Packers team doctor.

"He was impressed I played the whole year with it (the torn ACL)," said Witczak. "But the surgery went real well and I've just been working hard on my rehab."

The strong-legged Witczak, who will return to Southeast for the second semester that begins next week, hopes to be kicking again by May 1. And he hopes to at least give the National Football League a try.

"I'm looking to get into some camps in June," he said. "It's always been a goal of mine (to play in the NFL) and I definitely want to give it my best shot."

Witczak is the 17th Southeast football player to earn some type of All-American honor and the seventh since the program moved up to the Division I-AA level in 1991. He is the Indians' first All-American since defensive lineman Angel Rubio in 1997.