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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER>Jeremy Zills</H1>
<H2 ALIGN=CENTER>Punter</H2>

<CENTER><FONT SIZE=3>by Bob Grant</FONT></CENTER>

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<IMG ALT="Jeremy Zills" BORDER=1 SRC="pic/zills01_bw.jpg" WIDTH=144 HEIGHT=186>
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<P><FONT SIZE=6>J</FONT>ust about anybody can kick a football, right? All you need is a ball and, well, a leg. But, try punting a football while 10 very disgruntled, 200-pound linemen close in on you. As Auburn punter Jeremy Zills discovered, it's not as easy as it looks.

<P>"I never thought it was all that hard to punt in a game," Zills said. "But there is a lot of mental pressure that comes with the job because we are only involved in a few plays each game and all eyes are on you."

<P>As an All-State punter coming out of high school in 1993, it's natural to assume Zills has been a punter his whole life. Not even close.

<P>Zills' first love is basketball. And during his senior year of high school, Zills averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds per game and earned all-area honors. Zills also had 12 receptions and two touchdowns as a tight end and racked up 65 tackles as a defensive end in football.

<P>So how did Zills find his way to the Plains as a punter?

<P> "I was the back-up punter in high school and I didn't kick in a game until our starter got hurt two games into my senior year," Zills said.
Which means Zills earned All-State honors after punting in only nine games.

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<P> "It was a different experience because everybody always makes fun of kickers and punters. I used to think that way myself," Zills said.

<P> "At my high school we played both ways because we didn't have enough people, and I would be playing every down and the kicker would be standing around not doing much."

<P>But as Zills learned, punters can feel the pressure of a big game just like any other football player.

<P> "I would tell anyone who doesn't think it's hard to step in my shoes for a game. It's not like when the offense or defense is on the field and everybody in the stands is watching a bunch of different guys at once," Zills said. "If one of them makes a mistake the fans might not see it, but everybody is watching the punter and if I mess up, everybody knows it."

<P>But Zills has not allowed the pressure of his job to consume his time or taint his college experience.

<P> "I like to go hunting with (Auburn snappers) Brent Turner and Alex McRee. I've made some good friends since I came to Auburn and I have had a lot of fun," Zills said. "If I have a bad game and mess up, I've learned to put it all behind me and get over it, because thing are never as good or as bad as they seem."

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<FONT SIZE=4 COLOR="#FFFF00"><B>Q &amp; A With Jeremy Zills:</FONT></B>

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<P>If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?

<P> "My dad because I look up to him a lot. He has worked hard and provided for us and I would like to see things from his perspective."

<P>What is the most exciting thing you have ever done?

<P>"People say I don't get excited. I jumped around a little after the Alabama game last year but that's about excited as I get."

<P>What three CD's do you always keep in your car?

<P>"Matchbox 20, AC/DC and the Charlie Daniels Band."

<P>If your life was made into a movie, which actor would you want to play you?

<P> "Nicholas Cage."

<P>What is your biggest fear?

<P>"Snakes. I went to a forestry camp once and they were all over the place. One guy got bit by a rattlesnake and almost lost his arm."
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<P ALIGN=CENTER><A HREF="./" target="_top">TABLE OF CONTENTS</A> | <A HREF="../" target="_top">PROGRAM INDEX</A> | <A HREF="../../index.html" target="_top">HOME</A></P>

<P ALIGN=CENTER><I>&copy; 1999 Auburn Network, Inc.</I></P>


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	<H1 ALIGN=CENTER>Jeremy Zills</H1>
	<H2 ALIGN=CENTER>Punter</H2>

	<CENTER><FONT SIZE=3>by Bob Grant</FONT></CENTER>

	<TABLE ALIGN=RIGHT BORDER=0 WIDTH=10>
	<TD>
	<IMG ALT="Jeremy Zills" BORDER=1 SRC="pic/zills01_bw.jpg" WIDTH=144 HEIGHT=186>
	<HR>
	</TD>
	</TABLE>

	<P><FONT SIZE=6>J</FONT>ust about anybody can kick a football, right? All you need is a ball and, well, a leg. But, try punting a football while 10 very disgruntled, 200-pound linemen close in on you. As Auburn punter Jeremy Zills discovered, it's not as easy as it looks.

	<P>"I never thought it was all that hard to punt in a game," Zills said. "But there is a lot of mental pressure that comes with the job because we are only involved in a few plays each game and all eyes are on you."

	<P>As an All-State punter coming out of high school in 1993, it's natural to assume Zills has been a punter his whole life. Not even close.

	<P>Zills' first love is basketball. And during his senior year of high school, Zills averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds per game and earned all-area honors. Zills also had 12 receptions and two touchdowns as a tight end and racked up 65 tackles as a defensive end in football.

	<P>So how did Zills find his way to the Plains as a punter?

	<P> "I was the back-up punter in high school and I didn't kick in a game until our starter got hurt two games into my senior year," Zills said.
	Which means Zills earned All-State honors after punting in only nine games.

	<TABLE ALIGN=LEFT BORDER=0 WIDTH=10>
	<TD>
	<IMG ALT="Jeremy Zills" BORDER=1 SRC="pic/zills02_bw.jpg" WIDTH=144 HEIGHT=207>
	<HR>
	</TD>
	</TABLE>

	<P> "It was a different experience because everybody always makes fun of kickers and punters. I used to think that way myself," Zills said.

	<P> "At my high school we played both ways because we didn't have enough people, and I would be playing every down and the kicker would be standing around not doing much."

	<P>But as Zills learned, punters can feel the pressure of a big game just like any other football player.

	<P> "I would tell anyone who doesn't think it's hard to step in my shoes for a game. It's not like when the offense or defense is on the field and everybody in the stands is watching a bunch of different guys at once," Zills said. "If one of them makes a mistake the fans might not see it, but everybody is watching the punter and if I mess up, everybody knows it."

	<P>But Zills has not allowed the pressure of his job to consume his time or taint his college experience.

	<P> "I like to go hunting with (Auburn snappers) Brent Turner and Alex McRee. I've made some good friends since I came to Auburn and I have had a lot of fun," Zills said. "If I have a bad game and mess up, I've learned to put it all behind me and get over it, because thing are never as good or as bad as they seem."

	<P><TABLE WIDTH=80% BORDER BGCOLOR="#000099" ALIGN=CENTER>
	<TR>
	<TD>
	<FONT SIZE=4 COLOR="#FFFF00"><B>Q & A With Jeremy Zills:</FONT></B>

	<FONT COLOR="#FFFFFF">

	<P>If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?

	<P> "My dad because I look up to him a lot. He has worked hard and provided for us and I would like to see things from his perspective."

	<P>What is the most exciting thing you have ever done?

	<P>"People say I don't get excited. I jumped around a little after the Alabama game last year but that's about excited as I get."

	<P>What three CD's do you always keep in your car?

	<P>"Matchbox 20, AC/DC and the Charlie Daniels Band."

	<P>If your life was made into a movie, which actor would you want to play you?

	<P> "Nicholas Cage."

	<P>What is your biggest fear?

	<P>"Snakes. I went to a forestry camp once and they were all over the place. One guy got bit by a rattlesnake and almost lost his arm."
	</TD>
	</TR>
	</TABLE>

	<P ALIGN=CENTER><A HREF="./" target="_top">TABLE OF CONTENTS</A> \| <A HREF="../" target="_top">PROGRAM INDEX</A> \| <A HREF="../../index.html" target="_top">HOME</A></P>

	<P ALIGN=CENTER><I>© 1999 Auburn Network, Inc.</I></P>


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