[Husker] A Comment

[Steve Stone]

One element in the Husker game that seems to have received no comment 
is NU's kicking game which seems greatly improved over last season. 
This is important because, as Dr. Tom often pointed out, kicking is 
actually one-third of the game.

Dan Titchener averaged 45.5 yards on his two punts, almost six yard 
farther than his average last year. Because football is a game of 
territory/yardage, six additional yards per punt can make a real 
difference. As far as I could tell from the ABC telecast, his punts 
were also higher and had a longer hang time, too. If Titchener can 
keep last year's accuracy along with this year's improved distance, 
the punting game looks solid.

Ali Kunalic's 46 yard field goal appeared from height and distance 
that it might have cleared the ball from 56 yards out. That fact will 
have a direct bearing on how opponents' defensive coordinators 
prepare their game plans against the Huskers.

Jake Wesch's holding on extra point and the field goal was virtually 
flawless, and the long-snapping left little or nothing to be desired. 
Most casual fans don't appreciate these "fine points," but all 
members of the HuskerList surely do.

Alex Henery's extra-point kicking looked every bit as reliable as any 
previous great Husker kickers in their first year, including those of 
Brown and Brown.       :-)

In brief, the coaching staff has turned a significant vulnerability 
into a potential source of strength.

Steve Stone