With brains to boot

They've had their own "Saturday Night Live" sketch. They've even been featured in a song by Adam Sandler.

But when it comes to respect on the football field, the kicker isn't always at the top of the list.

Southeast Missouri State University's special teams coach Tony Joe White said the kicker is simply a different breed of player.

"A lot of times they are looked at as the outcast," he said.

Their teammates often work to get themselves fired up and wait for their next chance to put a hit on an opponent. The kicker has to stay cool and reserved.

Central High School kicker Colin Schermann said a kicker has to be able to keep emotions under control so he can perform when the time comes.

"It takes more of a laid-back guy," he said. "You can't be overanxious."

It's not hard for a kicker to stand out. They may wear different shoes on each feet -- one designed to better kick a football. They may venture to one end of the sideline alone when they're not on the field. They may spend much of their downtime kicking a football into a net.

Southeast kicker Derek Kutz said he makes it a point to remain separate from his teammates during a game. It helps him focus.

"During a game I'm in my own world," he said.

And yet a game easily can rest on his shoulders. A team's season can end or continue depending on how their kicker's foot connects with a grounded football.

Despite some of the ribbing, Schermann said his teammates are supportive.

"They know what I do, and they respect what I do," he said. "It's not all bad."

The role of a kicker is filled with pressure and expectations. A kicker may play only a couple of downs in a game but has to be ready to come onto the field and kick a game-winning field goal.

Kutz said it can be tough coming into the game after a long drive and facing the possibility of letting the team down with a miss.

"It's not like you can redeem yourself right away," he said. "If I miss a kick I might not get another chance."

Schermann said to deal with the pressure of kicking, he focuses on his feet and trusts the mechanics he works on every day in practice.

"I focus on steps," he said. "Technique is important."

Central coach Lawrence Brookins said that having a strong leg is a must, but a kicker also must have a strong work ethic, which Schermann has shown since last year.

"They were out here kicking every night in the summer," Brookins said.

For plenty of small-school high-school kickers, their time in practice is spent on their primary position. Kicking may come second. St. Vincent High School kicker Kyle Kline has to learn plays on defense along with kicking.

Kline, who was used solely as a kicker last season, said making the switch to playing on the field has not hurt his kicking game.

"I'm more pumped during the games now," he said.

Although kickers may have limited interaction with teammates, they understand their role on the team.

"You just have to have a different mindset," Kutz said. "It's kind of like you're the team nerd."

jjoffray@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 171