Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
Q&A with Kyle Larson
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 - 12:01:15 am CDT
Kyle Larson instructs Patrick Klingforth during a recent football camp. (Teresa Prince)
Last season — his second with the Cincinnati Bengals — former Nebraska punter Kyle Larson averaged 43.2 yards and 35.6 net yards, both ranking as the Bengals’ best marks since 1998. His average per punt last season was a yard better than his rookie season average of 42.2 yards. What’s more, Larson launched a 75-yarder, longest in Bengals’ history, on Oct. 9 at Jacksonville. A 2003 consensus All-Big 12 player, Larson was in Lincoln on Friday and Saturday helping teach at the Big Red Kicking Academy on the NU campus. The Kearney High graduate, who grew up in nearby Funk (pop. 200), took a break from camp to talk with the Journal Star’s Steven M. Sipple.
What is the theme of your message to kids at camp?
“Dream big. Work hard and dream big. That is what’s gotten me as far as I’ve gotten. I’ve been very blessed in my life to have the ability that I do. You have to utilize that talent by working hard. This is a great group of kids here. It’s really fun to watch them develop.”
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Why do you tell kids to dream big?
“Because their whole lives are ahead of them right now. You know, they have a lot of opportunities out there college-wise and who knows beyond that? (In high school), I never was thinking NFL. But to have that dream in your mind makes you work hard for it.”
Your teammate, wideout Chad Johnson, recently said Cincinnati will “dominate” the AFC North this year. Your prediction?
“Chad talks big. He’s a good guy, really, a good guy to be around. He has tremendous talent and really makes things a lot of fun out there during practices and keeps the team going.”
Johnson has become known for his imaginative touchdown celebrations. Do you have a favorite?
“I love the Ohio River Dance. I didn’t expect it from him. That would be one of the last things I’d think of him doing.”
(Editor’s note: Against Chicago last September, Johnson did the Ohio River Dance jig. The jig is a reference to the final scene in “The Last Boy Scout,” in which Bruce Willis does an Irish jig after killing his nemesis among the support beams of a football stadium.)
How would you rate Bengal fans’ level of passion compared to that of Husker fans?
“I could get myself in trouble if this got back to Cincinnati,” he said with a chuckle and a pause. “The fans here (at Nebraska) ... How should I say this? ... Nebraska fans just really know their football. And they’re very, very respectful. I’ve talked to numerous guys in Cincinnati who played here against us, and they said we have the best fans. Respectful and just really, really decent. Nebraska fans, they’re like no other.”
You’re part of an impressive line of standout Nebraska punters. How do you explain the Huskers’ ongoing success in that area?
“We’ve been really fortunate. Over the years, it just seemed like we kept learning from each other. From (Jesse) Kosch to (Bill) Lafleur to (Dan) Hadenfeldt — I mean, I learned a lot from those guys. And then Sam (Koch) punted the ball great last year. It’s been a lot of fun to be part of.”
What kind of role did Nebraska play in preparing you for the NFL?
“A tremendous amount. There’s just a different mind-set around here when you go into games. It kind of is an NFL-level situation here because there are so many fans and so much emotion built into (game) day. It prepared me in a huge way for the NFL.”
Which opposing NFL stadium have you enjoyed the most?
“Pittsburgh was fun to play in. The fans up there were pretty tough. I kind of like that when you get into a hostile environment like that, with a lot of yelling and screaming. It makes it fun.”
What led to your improvement from your rookie season to last year?
“A lot of technique work. Shortening up my steps, working on my drops. There’s always more you can do. The more you can work on your technique, the better you become. The more repetitions you take, the better off you become. It’s a mind-set you have to get into.”
In terms of punting, how severe is the adjustment from college to the NFL?
“For me the biggest change was getting used to kicking (brand-new) balls. We have to use them in games during (special-teams action). In college, you can use broke-in balls so you can get a better hit on it.”
What surprised you most about NFL life?
“It’s kind of like going from high school to college again — just experiencing a new staff and players. That was the biggest thing for me, the transition period.”
What do you enjoy most about playing in the NFL?
“I really like the different experiences I’ve had. Being able to go play in these stadiums you’ve heard about over the years and meeting new people. It’s cool to build relationships with other players. That’s what it’s all about — the camaraderie.”
What do you like least about the NFL?
“I can’t think of anything in particular that really bothers me. The biggest thing for me is the distance from Cincinnati to here. My wife (Lindsay) and I would like to be closer to family.”
What is your vision for life after football?
“Coming back to Nebraska. My wife and I love Nebraska. It’s where we were born and raised.”
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 - 12:01:15 am CDT
Kyle Larson instructs Patrick Klingforth during a recent football camp. (Teresa Prince)
Last season — his second with the Cincinnati Bengals — former Nebraska punter Kyle Larson averaged 43.2 yards and 35.6 net yards, both ranking as the Bengals’ best marks since 1998. His average per punt last season was a yard better than his rookie season average of 42.2 yards. What’s more, Larson launched a 75-yarder, longest in Bengals’ history, on Oct. 9 at Jacksonville. A 2003 consensus All-Big 12 player, Larson was in Lincoln on Friday and Saturday helping teach at the Big Red Kicking Academy on the NU campus. The Kearney High graduate, who grew up in nearby Funk (pop. 200), took a break from camp to talk with the Journal Star’s Steven M. Sipple.
What is the theme of your message to kids at camp?
“Dream big. Work hard and dream big. That is what’s gotten me as far as I’ve gotten. I’ve been very blessed in my life to have the ability that I do. You have to utilize that talent by working hard. This is a great group of kids here. It’s really fun to watch them develop.”
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Why do you tell kids to dream big?
“Because their whole lives are ahead of them right now. You know, they have a lot of opportunities out there college-wise and who knows beyond that? (In high school), I never was thinking NFL. But to have that dream in your mind makes you work hard for it.”
Your teammate, wideout Chad Johnson, recently said Cincinnati will “dominate” the AFC North this year. Your prediction?
“Chad talks big. He’s a good guy, really, a good guy to be around. He has tremendous talent and really makes things a lot of fun out there during practices and keeps the team going.”
Johnson has become known for his imaginative touchdown celebrations. Do you have a favorite?
“I love the Ohio River Dance. I didn’t expect it from him. That would be one of the last things I’d think of him doing.”
(Editor’s note: Against Chicago last September, Johnson did the Ohio River Dance jig. The jig is a reference to the final scene in “The Last Boy Scout,” in which Bruce Willis does an Irish jig after killing his nemesis among the support beams of a football stadium.)
How would you rate Bengal fans’ level of passion compared to that of Husker fans?
“I could get myself in trouble if this got back to Cincinnati,” he said with a chuckle and a pause. “The fans here (at Nebraska) ... How should I say this? ... Nebraska fans just really know their football. And they’re very, very respectful. I’ve talked to numerous guys in Cincinnati who played here against us, and they said we have the best fans. Respectful and just really, really decent. Nebraska fans, they’re like no other.”
You’re part of an impressive line of standout Nebraska punters. How do you explain the Huskers’ ongoing success in that area?
“We’ve been really fortunate. Over the years, it just seemed like we kept learning from each other. From (Jesse) Kosch to (Bill) Lafleur to (Dan) Hadenfeldt — I mean, I learned a lot from those guys. And then Sam (Koch) punted the ball great last year. It’s been a lot of fun to be part of.”
What kind of role did Nebraska play in preparing you for the NFL?
“A tremendous amount. There’s just a different mind-set around here when you go into games. It kind of is an NFL-level situation here because there are so many fans and so much emotion built into (game) day. It prepared me in a huge way for the NFL.”
Which opposing NFL stadium have you enjoyed the most?
“Pittsburgh was fun to play in. The fans up there were pretty tough. I kind of like that when you get into a hostile environment like that, with a lot of yelling and screaming. It makes it fun.”
What led to your improvement from your rookie season to last year?
“A lot of technique work. Shortening up my steps, working on my drops. There’s always more you can do. The more you can work on your technique, the better you become. The more repetitions you take, the better off you become. It’s a mind-set you have to get into.”
In terms of punting, how severe is the adjustment from college to the NFL?
“For me the biggest change was getting used to kicking (brand-new) balls. We have to use them in games during (special-teams action). In college, you can use broke-in balls so you can get a better hit on it.”
What surprised you most about NFL life?
“It’s kind of like going from high school to college again — just experiencing a new staff and players. That was the biggest thing for me, the transition period.”
What do you enjoy most about playing in the NFL?
“I really like the different experiences I’ve had. Being able to go play in these stadiums you’ve heard about over the years and meeting new people. It’s cool to build relationships with other players. That’s what it’s all about — the camaraderie.”
What do you like least about the NFL?
“I can’t think of anything in particular that really bothers me. The biggest thing for me is the distance from Cincinnati to here. My wife (Lindsay) and I would like to be closer to family.”
What is your vision for life after football?
“Coming back to Nebraska. My wife and I love Nebraska. It’s where we were born and raised.”