Shawn Jones is in his tenth season as the radio play-by-play voice of Mules football, basketball and baseball. In addition to his radio and television duties as host of Sportspage, he is UCM's Associate Athletic Director for External Relations in charge of marketing, promotions, media relations, fund-raising events and special events. Greg Hassler is in his ninth season as the sideline reporter and pre and post-game host for Mules broadcasts. He is the Sports Director of flagship stations 1450 KOKO and The Bar 98.5 FM. Joe Moore and Bob Jackson will provide color analysis this season and Moore will also contribute to this column. Jackson has been a part of the UCM broadcast team since 1981 and is UCM's Athletics Promotions Coordinator and Web Manager. Moore is a former Mules football player and UCM Athletic Media Relations Director. He is now an instructor in UCM's Department of Communication.

  by Joe Moore
  Mules Radio Analyst
  October 14, 2009
 

Special Teams: Controlled Mayhem

I loved playing special teams. When I was in high school, and actually played offense and defense, I still enjoyed getting on the field and playing special teams. When I played for the Mules, it was about the only way I got on the field, but that was fine. I loved it. There was something about the freedom from the bonds of specific offensive assignments or the read and react style of play on defense. It’s an opportunity to run as fast as you can for 40 or 50 yards with the potential for a major collision at the end. It’s the opportunity to change the complexion of a game in a split second.

That’s why I appreciate Mules head coach Willie Fritz so much. He, more than any coach I’ve ever known, stresses the value of the kicking game. I sat down with him recently and picked his brain in an effort to learn what it is about special teams that makes his temperature rise.

JM: All coaches pay lip service to the importance of special teams, but you follow through. Why do you focus so much on the kicking game?
Willie Fritz: Starting field position is so important. That’s one of the stats we keep. This last game (vs. Fort Hays State) our starting field position was the 38, theirs was the 29. That doesn’t seem like much, only nine yards, but over the course of a game, with 13 or 14 series, that’s over 200 yards in hidden yardage.

JM: How much time do you spend practicing special teams?
WF: We spend quite a bit of time on it. We teach technique and fundamentals. Sometimes I think that is lacking in some people. I don’t spend as much time on it as I used to, but I think we’re smarter with it.
We really work on our punt team. There is no bigger momentum changer than a blocked punt. We kind of rank them punt, punt block, kickoff, and kickoff return, in that order.

JM: How did you get so interested in special teams? Did you play a lot of special teams in college, or was it some other influence?
WF: I did some play some special teams (at Pittsburg State), but when I was coaching at Coffeyville Community College, Dick Foster was big on the kicking game and he turned it over to me. We were killing people on it. In those days not a lot of teams worked on it. Since then I’ve always coached special teams, whether as an assistant or as a head coach.
These days its harder to get an edge because everyone really spends time on it. In our league, everyone’s well coached in the kicking game.

JM: You’ve had so many great special teams players come through the doors. If you had to rank your top three, who would they be?
WF: Kevin Nickerson (editors note: said without hesitation), and not only because he was a great returner, but also on punt and kickoff coverage. If I had it to do over again, I would have played him on defense, too. He was a great tackler.
Shane Meyer had a tremendous year one year. I think he made 18 field goals. He was also a real good kickoff guy. He could put it anywhere you wanted it.
There have been a bunch of guys who’ve been good. Jamison Heiskell is the all-time kick block leader in the MIAA, and he was only here two years.

JM: What are you looking for in special teams players?
WF: We’re trying to find dependable guys who can run and hit, with an emphasis on dependable. The big thing in the kicking game is putting the right guy in the right spot. When Heiskell blocked all those kicks, he moved around a lot. The other team knew who he was, but we moved him around so they couldn’t key on him.

JM: You call your special teams the “Special Forces.” Where does that come from?
WF: I have a great appreciation and admiration in our armed forces. We wanted to put our own mark on our special teams. You have to be disciplined and fearless to play special teams, and that’s what the armed forces teach.

JM: One final question: Lots of teams like to try fake punts and field goals, trick plays in the return game, but you really don’t do a lot of that. Why not?
WF: Our percentage of fake punts and field goals is really high, but I have to feel good about it. I believe, in 13 years, we’ve had right around 15 fake punts against us and only three or four have been successful. That’s a lot like a blocked punt—a real momentum changer.
I believe on fake field goals, we’ve run five or six, and we’ve only not gotten one. We had fourth and nine, and we got eight yards. If you have a good offense, I’d rather have the offense out there and go.

"View From The Press Box" is published every Wednesday throughout the football season.