MORGANTOWN —
Gregg Pugnetti made a dazzling debut as the punter in West Virginia’s season-opening shutout of Coastal Carolina, 31-0.
But he may have set some sort of record for having had to wait four full years for the opportunity. And that obviously required patience and faith.
“I’m not a quitter,” said the 6-foot-1, 208-pound redshirt senior from Fairfax, Va.
Making Pugnetti’s longevity even more remarkable is that he’s still a walk-on.
In other words, he hung in there, “awaiting my turn,” without a scholarship.
Hopefully head coach Bill Stewart, who also is his position coach, will find one for Pugnetti before the 2010 season ends.
He spent two years competing with Pat McAfee and last year with Scott Kozlowski. Both earned All-America status.
The fifth-year Mountaineer punted six times in his first collegiate game for an average of 49.2 yards per attempt. That’s by far the best by a Big East punter this season.
He booted one 71 yards and three landed inside the 20-yard line. Two of his punts were downed by WVU on Coastal Carolina’s 1-yard line.
Pugnetti was named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll for his excellent performance.
“I strive for good field position,” he said. “I go out there and try to do my best. There’s nothing better than that 71-yard punt — I got a great roll off it.”
Pugnetti, whose major academically is athletic coaching education, said he’s kept himself prepared each year. Then when he saw that his time had come, he worked even harder in the spring, summer and now fall.
“There’s still competition and that helps,” he admitted. “I don’t want to fall behind after that pretty good start. Things went well for me.
“I don’t worry about stats. I don’t remember those I had in high school (at W.T. Woodson High). But I did well there, too.”
Coach Stewart said, “Gregg Pugnetti has been waiting in the wings. He’s been a solider and he has just been great. He has earned his spurs, so to speak.
“It’s his job right now. He understands (an opposing) rush and tries to pick it up when he has to. I am very pleased with what Gregg did.”
Pugnetti, who’s a member of the Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll, said he not only learned from McAfee and Kozlowski, but also by watching films of what each did — good and bad.
He added, “I need to become more consistent and make sure I know where the rushes are coming from and change my steps to where the ball needs to go.”
WVU coaches selected Pugnetti as special teams champion for the Coastal Carolina game. Would that be a rare award for a fifth-year walk-on in WVU annals?
In case you’re wondering, All-America punter Todd Sauerbrun holds the records for highest averages in a game (60.1 yards per punt), season (48.6) and career (46.2).
Sauerbrun played in the NFL after being at WVU in 1991-92-93-94.
Mickey Furfari
Fifth-year walk-on has dazzling debut at WVU
- Mickey Furfari
-
-
FURFARI COLUMN - City council to honor Mountaineers
It seems fitting that Morgantown City Council has decided to honor West Virginia University’s 2011 champion football team.
Mayor Jim Manilla will preside at a committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday evening in the council chamber. -
FURFARI COLUMN - Cronin says Kevin Jones is NBA caliber
Kevin Jones, the leader of the surprising West Virginia University men’s basketball team, continues to be No. 1 in the Big East in both scoring (20.7 ppg) and rebounding (11.3).
-
FURFARI COLUMN - Admirers will miss Joe Paterno
I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of Joe Paterno last Sunday at 85 in State College, Pa.
-
FURFARI COLUMN: WVU football captains named for 2011 season
Coach Dana Holgorsen has announced that a junior and three seniors have been named permanent captains of West Virginia University’s 2011 football squad.
They are quarterback Geno Smith, offensive tackle Don Barclay, linebacker Najee Goode and cornerback Keith Tandy. -
FURFARI COLUMN: WVU to receive fourth Lambert Trophy
West Virginia University’s earth-shattering 70-33 victory over favored Clemson was witnessed by football TV viewers from coast to coast.
But the fact that the Mountaineers won another Lambert Trophy in the process hasn’t become as well known. That is symbolic of NCAA Division I supremacy in the East. -
FURFARI COLUMN: Hinds doing ‘great job’ as new WVU point guard
Coach Bob Huggins thinks freshman Jabarie Hinds has done a great job as a point guard for the West Virginia University men’s basketball team this season.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound native of Mount Vernon, N.Y., signed with WVU in November 2010 as a shooting guard. -
FURFARI COLUMN: WVU’s 43-0 win at Syracuse a Nehlen Favorite
West Virginia, ranked No. 11 at the time, smashed Syracuse 43-0 in football on Oct. 30, 1993 in upstate New York in what remains the Orange’s biggest beating in this old and at times, bitter, rivalry.
It has to be one of the most cherished victories in Hall of Famer Don Nehlen’s 21 years as the Mountaineer head coach. -
FURFARI COLUMN: What is Dunlap going to do?
Where will veteran Steve Dunlap end up as West Virginia University puts together a new defensive coaching staff?
That is, if he decides to return to his alma mater through the 2012 football season as stated in his contract. -
FURFARI COLUMN - Cignetti not surprised by Saban’s success
Frank Cignetti, head coach at West Virginia University from 1976-79, has been a longtime admirer of Nick Saban’s football coaching ability.
He gave the Marion County native one of his first jobs, as coach of the Mountaineers’ defensive secondary in 1978-79. -
FURFARI COLUMN - Austin’s return is great news for WVU
I know a guy who couldn’t be happier that Tavon Austin has decided to return for his senior year of West Virginia University football.
- More Mickey Furfari Headlines
-
FURFARI COLUMN - City council to honor Mountaineers
