I know, I haven't been blogging much at all lately, please do forgive me. College has been pretty killer lately, but I've gotten through a tougher stretch of studying and projects, and should be good to blog uninterupted for now.
That being said, here is a story I put out yesterday with the Collegiate Times on VT punter Nic Schmitt, whom many Hokie fans have accepted as a fan favorite. Enjoy.
Warning: This article will make you want to eat some turkey sandwiches. Seriously.
Hokie punter makes a meal out of returners
by Andrew Kinney
October 18, 2006
There are typical punters, the marginally effeminate, 5'10" former futból-ers who scurry off the field after they've done their job.
Then there is Nic Schmitt.
With his massive 6'2", 276 lb. frame, Schmitt is the nation's largest punter -- an eye-catching statistic that Virginia Tech Head Coach Frank Beamer considers beneficial to his special teams unit.
"As far as I'm concerned, his size and weight just adds more power," Beamer said. "Typically, guys that big wouldn't have the flexibility to be a good punter, but in Nic's case, he's got it."
Along with his great degree of flexibility, Schmitt has built a reputation in the Tech weight room for his strength. To date, the redshirt senior maintains a 390-pound bench press as well as a 605-pound squat, a Tech kicking specialist record.
"I've always taken a lot of pride in the weight room," Schmitt said. "Just because I'm a punter doesn't mean I have to be weaker than everyone else. I do all the same lifts that the defensive backs, wide receivers and running backs do, so there's really no reason for me not to be as strong as them, if not stronger."
Schmitt's stature has caused many to take notice, including fellow special teams member and place kicker Brandon Pace.
"He's as strong as an ox," Pace said. "He trains and lifts just as hard as anyone I've ever seen, and it's paid off for him. He's used that extra strength to turn into a real good punter. He gets the ball up quick, kicks it high and gets some good distance behind it."
Schmitt's weight gain as a Hokie has been almost unparalleled.
Since arriving to Blacksburg from Salem High School in 2002, a mere 29 miles from home, Schmitt has added over 50 pounds to his already substantial frame through the Hokies' strength training program.
"I wasn't as big back then because I didn't really lift as hard," Schmitt said. "Once I got (to Virginia Tech) though, I just started going at it, lifting and training harder than ever. I also started eating more, and since then it has worked out for the better."
It's hard to argue with that kind of logic. But what do you eat to gain fifty pounds?
"Pretty much everything," Schmitt said. "I try to stay away from fast food, but just about everything else is fair game. During the mornings, I'll grab some fruit or something, maybe a turkey sandwich. Then, later in the day, I'll eat a few more sandwiches, and maybe go and get a foot-long sub or two before practice."
Of course, that's not the end of it.
Following his afternoon workout session, Schmitt typically rounds out the day with a "few more turkey sandwiches," followed by a satisfying supper, courtesy of his girlfriend Kelsey Hoffman, a senior catcher on the Tech softball team.
"At the end of the day, when my girlfriend and I get together, she'll put together a nice dinner," Schmitt said. "Usually she'll throw down something tasty like chicken or steak, plus mashed potatoes and green beans -- all that good stuff."
Last year Schmitt muscled a total of 43.2 yards per punt, giving him the third-best per-punt average in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the second-highest average in school history.
As Virginia Tech navigates through its toughest stretch of games, Schmitt looks to significantly improve upon that mark, not only for his personal satisfaction but for the team's overall well-being.
"Going into the harder stretch of the year, I'm focusing on getting more distance on my kicks and to not miss-hit any balls," Schmitt said. "Against Georgia Tech, I had a slip-up, which was strange for me because I've never hit a punt like that. It was a lack of concentration on my part, but now I've learned from it, (and) I'm going to move on. I want to do all that I can to help this team win."
Schmitt's "slip-up," a 14-yard punt in the first quarter of the Hokies' Sept. 30 game against the Yellow Jackets, was the first miss-kick of his Hokie career, and unfortunately, one of the most memorable.
Despite his recent miscue, Beamer remains adamantly confident in Schmitt's ability to deliver.
"Against Georgia Tech, Nic had a shaky punt, but that was just one kick," Beamer said. "I still have all the faith in the world in him, and everyone else here does too. He's always had power, but recently he's been working on his consistency. I admire the guy for how hard he's worked over the years. He's been great for our program, and I just want him to keep being consistent. That's the deal there, knowing what you're going to get from the kid every time."
Heading into his final semester, Schmitt has maintained a set routine specifically revolving around the three most important aspects of his life: schoolwork, football and Hoffman.
"If I'm not in class or at football practice, I'm spending time with the girlfriend," Schmitt said. "During the day, we barely see each other since we're so busy, but in the evenings, we'll meet up and hang out. We'll go out to eat or go to a movie, you know, ordinary stuff like that. Sometimes, we'll go to the mall out in Roanoke, seeing as she likes to shop, so I'll come out and just walk around with her ... Basically, we just enjoy being around one another."
That said, Schmitt also enjoys staying well-grounded with his family in Salem, who continue to support him as he embarks on his final season as a Hokie.
"With my family living fairly close to campus, we see each other more than often," Schmitt said. "We'll get together every so often and enjoy ourselves, and plus it's always good to have them at the games. I appreciate their company (and) in the end, I just want to make them proud. I just want to make everyone proud."
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