Northwestern University Athletics
One-on-One With Amado Villarreal
10/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 16, 2008
Talk about your journey from walk on to starting kicker at Northwestern...
I walked on and red shirted and then I was the backup kicker my redshirt freshman year and was fortunate enough to see action on kickoffs and then kick my first field goal in the Sun Bowl. After I played a little they decided to try me at punter. My redshirt sophomore year I was competing for the punting job and it never really panned out. After that, I realized I wasn't the best punter, so I focused on kicking. I was able to win the job last year and now I'm going into my second year as the starter.
What was it like making your first collegiate placekicking appearance in a bowl game?
That was extremely exciting. I'll never forget that moment. I remember Coach Walker coming up to me at halftime and telling me they were going to go with me for the second half, which was a shock. I had a lot of support from the guys and that was great. I just focused on my technique and once I ran out onto the field, I realized that I had been there before and just thought of it as the practice field. It looks kind of a big from the sidelines, but once you are down there you settle down. It was just an amazing moment.
With all the transitions you have made during your career, how has your mindset changed during your time at NU?
A lot of it is just knowing what you can do. You do it a lot on the practice field before practice and during the team period. You have to show yourself you can do it on the practice field and just take that knowledge with you and trust yourself that the game field is no different. It is the same width and distance, but just in the middle of the game. Out there, you just have to take the game and put it in a practice mentality and think it ` this is the same thing I do every day.' That takes the pressure out. When you break it down, it's what you do in practice every day and there is little pressure when you think of it that way.
A year ago you had just won the starting job and now you are entering your second season as the starting kicker and are one of the leaders on this team. What is that like?
I liked it better coming into this year from a mental aspect. I've got experience and I'm more comfortable. Last year, I was kind of fresh, wide eyed and learning everything. This year, it's nice coming in and knowing what to expect, how the games are going to progress and the tempo. It's good to have that year of experience under your belt and be comfortable. It is good to help out the young guys too because I've been in their position before.
Who had the biggest influences on you in your college career?
Joel Howells had a big influence on me. He was similar to my story in that he came in as a walk-on, earned a scholarship and then the starting job. I was able to learn from him for a couple years and we still talk here and there. Slade (Larscheid) was a bit more of a punter, but those two guys really helped me out. They encouraged me and helped me in all aspects of kicking and life outside of football.
Now that you are a leader, what do you do to help the younger guys out?
I want to encourage them and letting them know it's possible to be successful here. I came from a little school in Colorado and now I'm here on the Big Ten stage. If I can do it, anyone can. I know it's said a lot, but it is true. I just want to encourage them and to tell them to just work on their technique. It's just hard work.
How does one practice kicking field goals and become better at it?
It's really like golf. I have a technique: certain steps back, certain steps over, where my plant foot should be and where I should strike the ball. It really is just focusing on those little points and focus on being as consistent as possible every time. It is all about consistency and working on that form and making sure you are doing the same thing every time. You want to fine-tune that so you eliminate mistakes as much as possible.
You played soccer growing up. How hard is it to make the transition from soccer to football?
One thing that soccer teaches you is how to kick the ball. It's surprising that some of the other guys will come out and try their hand it. A lot of the guys have never played soccer before and will punch it with their toe. One of the things you learn in soccer is you kick with your in-step. You point with your toe and kick with the top. Soccer teaches you the basic form of how to kick the ball and that is a lot of it.
When did you stark kicking exclusively?
I played soccer up until I got to high school and then I played just football in high school. I played other positions actually. I was the starter at corner back for a year and a half during my junior and senior year. I was cornerback, kicker and punter.
How were you as a cornerback?
I started and was able to hold my own. Our team made it to the playoffs. I think I was pretty decent. When I was looking to go play Division I, I knew I wasn't fast enough so I chose to kick. College cornerbacks are a lot quicker, faster and more skillful then I am. That's why I chose to pursue kicking.
