For many of us, when we were little, our position on the team was pretty well locked in. That seems great UNTIL you finally have to compete to win the "job" — no matter the sport — or choir concert or the school play, for that matter. I've mentioned before, that a Hall of Fame kicker once told me that he was "just three kicks away" from getting cut. Ask Brandon McManus how he's feeling right now about keeping his job with the Packers. And now, with the advent of "the NCAA Portal", transferring from one school to another is a relatively easy thing. You may be this year's starter, but you are not guaranteed to keep your job. You need to keep training. Keep improving your skills. Keep re-connecting to doing the things that YOU LOVE. I post this Instagram video that I bumped into... about UW-La Crosse (D3) punter, Ethan Tranel who is now on his way to Madison (D1) to compete for the starting job for the Badgers. Is this smart for him to do so? Only time will tell, but I have news for Ethan, there are three guys at Wisconsin who are all expecting to be the starting punter next season. One of those is a young man who I helped train, Sean West, who say action this past season. Big step up for Ethan, going from D3 to D1. Big challenge ahead for Sean. Good luck to all!

We're "paid" to be a robot. No misses, no shanks, no dropped balls... and yet, the human element gets completely exposed in the cold, in the wind and in high pressure situations. So what can you do? PREPARE. We are in the off season. Mentally and physically prepare for everything you can think of. 1. What should I do in this situation? 2. What should I be thinking? 3. Is there a way to practice for such an event? 4. If it goes wrong, how do I NOT make it worse? 5. If it goes wrong, can I fix it? Ultimately, what this exercise does is give you confidence to tackle the situation. You will be less likely to fail. When "pressure", which is all in your head, is making your body actually ache, your head isn't helping the situation. However, your brain doesn't know the difference between the stress from fear and that from the stress of excitement. Choose excitement, because your body DOES KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. Is this situation EXCITING? It is! Get lost in that. Not on the possible outcome of your failure. Think back, "I tried out for football kicker because I wanted the chance to be a big hero for my team." AND NOW YOU HAVE THAT EXACT CHANCE! When conditions are bad, accept them for exactly what they are... a challenge (that perhaps you've practiced for). SCENARIO #1: Snowy, worried about your plant? Have you taken practice kicks were your alignment is significantly straighter to the post so you risk slipping less? You can't kick it as far (can you?), but how far can you kick it effectively? KNOW THAT ANSWER. SCENARIO #2: Just as you're about to fair catch a punt, you misjudge the ball and trip over your own feet and fall. If the ball doesn't touch you, you're actually OK. Embarrassed, but no harm no foul. However, try to make an impossible catch probably means 6-points for your opponent. And now that you have screwed it up, you feel 2-inches tall. Do you crumple for the rest of the game... or stand up, brush off, deal with your emotions AFTER the game. Right now, you have the next play to play. So play it well.... and for Xavier Smith, pray that you team can overcome your error. (and, they did).

— NCAA III Convention Actions Transfer Portal The NCAA Transfer Portal is currently optional for Division III schools. However, starting in August 2026, the Transfer Portal will become mandatory for all D3 member universities. Until then, D3 athletes must follow their school’s chosen process: - Transfer Portal notification method or the - “Permission to Contact” method.  The option of a D3 athlete’s opportunity to utilize a “self-release” will remain permissible if they are interested in contacting coaches at another D3 program. Schedule a confidential Transfer Consultation to talk through your athlete’s unique situation, understand available options, and receive expert guidance on navigating the transfer process. Season of Eligibility A proposal that would have charged Division III athletes with a season of eligibility only if they competed in a contest during the season was defeated. This means Division III athletes will continue to be charged with one of their four permissible seasons of participation even if their involvement during a season is limited to practicing with the team and they never appear in a game. This also means that if a D3 athlete wants to have an additional season of eligibility, it will be even more important to manage their season by - Stepping away from the team before the season begins or - Having a clear understanding of the rules and guidelines for a Medical Hardship Waiver to possibly get a season “over again” if they are injured or become ill during a season.  _ _ _ This is the latest from INFORMED ATHLETE (run by a friend of mine, Rick Allen)

We all suspected that the genie was out of the bottle on long field goals this year… and Cam Little just hit from 68 beating Justin Tucker’s record of 66 just 4 years ago. You may recall that Cam connected on a 70 yarder in preseason play this year - but it wasn’t the official NFL record because it wasn’t in a regular season game. So who’s next at 69+?https://youtu.be/nXKp_nxtbQ4?si=5A9wJjs63-ay3klY

According to my good friend, Rick Allen at Informed Athlete, here are three rule changes for our college football players... _ _ _ 1) NCAA DIVISION I "5 to play 4" Rule The NCAA Division I Cabinet clarified at their October meeting that D1 athletes will continue to be allowed no more than four seasons of competition within a five-year period through at least the 2026-27 academic year. 2) NCAA Division II Eligibility Proposal NCAA Division II members will be voting at the annual NCAA Convention in January on permitting D2 athletes to have five seasons of competition during an athlete’s first 10 semesters or 15 quarters of full-time enrollment. Currently enrolled Division II athletes MAY be able to have a 5th season of eligibility if they did not use their 4th season of competition by the end of the 2024-25 academic year. 3) NCAA DI Football Transfer Portal Changes Division I football athletes need to be aware of changes to the Transfer Portal dates that were approved by the NCAA recently. The December and April Transfer Portal windows for D1 football athletes have been eliminated. They will be replaced by one 15-day Portal window from January 2-16. *Also, the Administrative Committee approved a change to the “head coach departure exception” that will only apply for D1 football athletes — the new rule will provide athletes with a 15-day window to enter the Transfer Portal which will begin 5 days AFTER the hiring of a new head coach.