The Wahoo Central Chat Room with UVa’s Alec Vozenilek
Virginia football captain and punter Alec Vozenilek will chat live Thursday, Oct. 30 at 2:30 p.m.
The Cavaliers hit the road for and ACC clast on Saturday when they travel to Georgia Tech. The game starts at 3:30 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPNU.
Submit your questions now. Questions will not appear until the chat starts. Remember the players cannot answer questions regarding the recruitment of prospective student-athletes.
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Wahoo Central Moderator: Welcome to today’s Wahoo Central chat with punter extraordinaire Alec Vozenilek.
We are about to get started.
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| Plato Eliades, Chester, Virginia: What are the biggest differences between high school and college? What can a high school football player improve on to prepare for college? Looking back is there anything you would change or do differently? Good luck this week and the rest of the season. |
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Alec Vozenilek: For punting the difference is the operation time. From the time catching the ball to punting it has to be a lot faster than high school because the guys rushing are bigger, faster and stronger.
A high school punter should always work being as consistent as possible. Work on different punting scenarios and styles based on field position.
Try to work with as many different punting and kicking coaches as you can to try to find the best coaching that fits you.
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| Greg: Are you better at basketball than your brother is at football? What other sports or activities do you guys enjoy really getting after it against each other? |
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Alec Vozenilek: Rob was an all-state quarterback his senior year of high school and had a lot of success, however, when we play one-on-one in basketball I used to be able to hold my own.
We used to play a lot of ping pong in our pool house. Rob developed a strong game one summer and hasn’t looked back.
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| Alex: Outside of the specialists, who has the best leg on the team that could fill in in spot duty to boom a punt? |
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Alec Vozenilek: David Marrs. He punted in high school and loves to come kick a few punts with the specialists. In a pinch – he would be good. |
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| James: Can you talk about what went into making it as a team captain and how much that meant to you, especially at a position that normally doesn’t get the kind of credit it deserves? |
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Alec Vozenilek: I try to work hard and be the best leader I can be. I was voted onto the leadership council two years ago by my teammates and I am humbled to be named a captain my senior year. |
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| Campbell (Richmond): Your brother Rob plays basketball. We know you can out punt him and he can out shoot you. But you both swam some in high school. Who would win a 50 meter freestyle race? |
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Alec Vozenilek: I don’t think Rob can outshoot me, now that we settled that – during the winter months I tend to train in the pool so I don’t think Rob has any shot at winning a race against me. |
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| Dillon (Farmville): What is the inspiration or reason behind wearing number 30? |
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Alec Vozenilek: I was given No. 30 when I got here for no reason. I decided to stick with it. If I could choose, I would have taken No. 24, but that number is retired for the great Frank Quayle. |
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| Sarah- Richmond: Understand that there were many foreign exchange students that were in your home during middle school and high school. How did that effect you growing up in that kind of environment? |
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Alec Vozenilek: Great question Sarah, it deserves an essay-form response. In short – growing up in a household with kids from all walks of life gave me a tremendous perspective on life that many of my peers didn’t have the chance to experience.
I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world.
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| Victor from Charlottesville: What’s one thing people should know about team kick? |
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| Nick from Roanoke: With this being your last year of eligibility left, who do you see stepping into fill your huge shoes. |
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Alec Vozenilek: There are two good punters behind me, Nic Conte and James Coleman. It will be a fun competition in spring football to see who emerges. |
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| Campbell- Richmond: I know you are interested in Crossfit competitions? If the NFL is not an option is that a goal of yours? |
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Alec Vozenilek: No Doubt. I follow a lot of the Crossfit competitors and hope to one day compete against them. |
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| Charlie: What are your plans after college? Do you think you have a shot at the NFL? |
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Alec Vozenilek: I think I have a shot at an opportunity. There are 32 NFL teams and they really only need one punter at a time. I plan to train after the season and see what happens. Just not a lot of jobs out there for punters. |
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| Jake (Alexandria): I’ve read that you spend a lot of time in the weight room. Have you always been a weights junkie or did that develop during college? |
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Alec Vozenilek: I started lifting weights in the ninth grade and loved it. I had a great relationship with my high school strength coaches who motivated me to get work done in the weight room. That passion has only increased since I came to Grounds. |
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| Corey (High Point): Do you have dreams of punting in the NFL? |
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Alec Vozenilek: Yes. But its something I am not looking at until our season is over. It would be a fantastic opportunity when the time comes. |
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| Ryan: Pound for pound I know you are one of the strongest guys on the team. From a conditioning standpoint, what is the most important thing or things for a punter to focus on? |
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Alec Vozenilek: Flexibility is one of the most important things when it comes to a punter. In terms of conditioning – running sprints in the offseason helps when the games turn long. |
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| Rilo (Richmond): Who is stronger – You or the incredible Hulk aka Kevin Parks? |
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| Steve from charlottesville: Punter Jim Coleman attempted and failed to hike the Appalachian trail home to Martinsville this summer. What do you think about his failed attempt? |
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Alec Vozenilek: Well the roommates and I encouraged him to train a little more before he went and he insisted that he was fine. We soon found out that his little legs couldn’t carry him home to Martinsville. Rumor has it that he will attempt the trek again come this spring. Good luck! |
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| Matt from Georgetown: Do you miss your long snapper from last year? |
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Alec Vozenilek: We are eight games into the season and you have not heard one public thing about the the new long snapper, which is a good thing and says that Tyler Shirley has done a fantastic job.
However, I do miss Matt Fortin being in Charlottesville. I roomed with him first year and we have been good friends ever since.
I am glad he has been able to make it down to several games this year.
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Wahoo Central Moderator: That is all we have time for today. A big thank you to Alec Vozenilek for stopping by Wahoo Central today.
See you all in Atlanta on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. If you can’t make it to Bobby Dodd Stadium, the game will be televised live on ESPNU. Go Hoos!
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