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Nebraska Football
Weekly Press Conference
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007
Pre-Wake Forest
Adi Kunalic
Freshman, Place-kicker
On the fan reaction to him
“It was amazing. It was definitely exciting. I was definitely loving the fans. I did not know what to do the first time I did it. I kind of came in the game knowing that is what I have been doing in practice. I have been putting them out the end zone. I just did not know how the crowd was going to react to it. It was definitely great how they did.”
On if he feels the fan reaction was strange
“Yes. I had people do it at my high school a lot but I was still kicking off from the 40. Sometimes I would get ovations and stuff but never like this big. It was never people chanting my name and stuff. It was exciting.”
On how much Nebraska has needed a kicker
“It definitely is a good thing to have when you know your defense can start on the 20 every time and not have to worry about the return game of the other team. It definitely helps out the special teams. The coaches loved it, and I am glad I could do it on a consistent basis.”
On his mindset before the field goal
“I did not even think I was going to kick it. I was actually standing all the way on the other side. I was like - they are kicking a field goal. I was going to watch it. Then Coach Callahan starting yelling my name. I went out there and I was not really thinking much of it. It was just like any other kick in practice and it ended up going down the middle.”
On it being the longest field goal in three years
“I did not even know that until you told me that right now. When I went out there, for some reason, it seemed like a really short field goal. When people told me later it was a 46-yard field goal, I really did not know at all. That is one thing I try to do. I do not try to look at the distance when I am kicking a field goal, I just kick it. Later I can find out.”
On continuing the touchbacks
“The coaches are going to expect touchbacks again. I am going to practice this week and try and get better and better. I am going to try and do it again hopefully. Maybe get another shot at some field goals. I will see how that goes this week. I was told by Coach Heckendorf that it is still a competition for the field goal spot. I am pretty sure they are going to base that on some of the stuff I did on Saturday. Hopefully I will get another chance at showing my skills out there. The kickoffs will hopefully be coming and going deep again.”
On splitting the uprights on a kickoff
“That is hard. Hopefully I can. I would definitely have to have some wind behind me. I will try. I did it once this summer. I had a pretty heavy wind behind me. I only did it once and it was kind of funny to see. Hopefully one of these days we will have a strong wind so we can see what happens to the crowd after that one.”
On the few returns versus Nevada
“I was trying to hit it too hard or I was not focusing and I got under the ball. I was getting pretty tired toward the end. I did not think I was going to kick that many kickoffs in the game. I was like why are they still scoring? It is definitely good when you kick the ball and just run 10 yards and you can just walk off the field. You do not have to run all the way down there. On the last kickoff, we were kicking towards the other side and Coach Callahan told me to just put it out the end zone. I still got it to the goal line, but I had to drive it a little more.”
On being prepared to make a tackle
“I am. I might as well put it in the end zone, then I do not have to make a tackle. I have so much confidence in our kickoff coverage team. They do a great job at practice. I see them every day. They always run down there. Coach Bo stresses to run down like it is not going to happen. Be ready for a return. I have a lot of confidence in them, but I will still run down there. Maybe get a tackle a few times this year.”
On Callahan’s extension
“He is awesome. I talked to him on Thursday before the weekend and he just let me know that he was behind me on everything I did. He gave me a few pointers to focus on some stuff. Just to ignore all the fans and just to be relaxed. After talking to him, one thing that did help me, after walking out onto the field, I was not nervous at all. I was actually more nervous at my first practice with the team. I went out there like I have been doing it for years and years. The fan support helped me relax even more. We will see how the away game goes.”