Buffs Long Snapper Bale Prefers To Stay 'Under The Radar'
August 08, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — If J.T. Bale had his druthers, this would be the last time this year that you read his name.
Truth is, if J.T. Bale really had his way, you wouldn't be reading his name now because he wouldn't have conducted the interview necessary for this story. The Colorado junior prefers to be anonymous — "under the radar" in his words — because the simple truth is this:
Bale is a long snapper — and when you hear a long snapper's name, it's usually not because he did his job well. Instead, it's usually because something went wrong on a field goal try, an extra point or a punt. While snappers almost never get credit when a field goal kicker is successful or a punter booms a long one, they are conversely quite often mentioned when special teams mistakes occur.
"Ideally, I don't want to hear my name," Bale said after Wednesday's practice. "If we're in a meeting and my name is mentioned, it's probably that I did something wrong. If it gets in the newspapers, it's probably because something went wrong. Unless I'm making a tackle or a big play, I don't want to hear my name."
But this year, Bale's name has already appeared in various mediums, and it has been good news. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound La Mirada (Calif.) High School product is getting some preseason love from national publications, including preseason second-team All-American honors and first-team All-Pac 12 recognition from Phil Steele College Football.
That, however, is news that Bale greets with a shrug of his shoulders. Bale's goal is not to earn awards. Rather, it is to make sure his holder, punter and kicker all have the very best opportunity possible to do their jobs.
It's something he has obviously done well the last two seasons as CU's primary long snapper. A year ago, the former walk-on was awarded a scholarship by head coach Mike MacIntyre, and there's no doubt he and the rest of the CU staff expect Bale to continue to perform at an elite level.
"J.T. is good — and to be honest, I think he has realized that he is good, that he can be one of the top three if not the best snapper in the country this year," said Matt Thompson, CU's director of quality control for special teams. "Now, I think he knows that he needs to take it seriously on the field, off the field, in school — everywhere. He now knows he needs to be as serious as possible about his craft, and I think he has stepped everything up a notch. He's being a professional in everything he does."
Indeed, Bale is doing everything possible to improve, even going as far this summer to attend special teams expert Gary Zauner's Vital Man long snapping camp in Milwaukee.
"It was good," Bale said. "There were a lot of good guys there — 10 NFL free agents, 10 college juniors and 10 college seniors. A lot of it was about blocking, something that a lot of college programs don't really stress too much with their long snappers."
Bale refuses to say there is anything particularly difficult about his job — even though it entails bending over, looking backward and upside down through his legs and snapping a football to a target with excellent accuracy and velocity.
Oh, and there's also the fact that the opposition is ready to run him over as soon as the ball moves in an attempt to block the kick.
"It's football," he said. "It's pretty simple. I snap the ball, block somebody and if it's a punt, go try to make the tackle. It's not rocket science."
But it does demand a very particular skill set, and Bale has proven to possess the skills necessary to make everyone involved in the process comfortable — a key element when it comes to what is usually a highly stressful moment.
"Having a great snapper makes our holder, our punter, our kicker as comfortable as they can be," Thompson said. "They know the ball's going to be where it needs to be. They know on field goals that the vast majority of the time the laces are going to be out for (holder) Alex (Kinney) so he doesn't have to spin the ball. In turn, it makes everything faster, makes (kicker) James (Stefanou) more comfortable and makes Alex's job easier. In general, it makes everyone else's job easier."
Bale said his job is a little easier this year because he's snapping to the same person. Kinney, CU's punter, is also the holder this year for field goals and PATs and Kinney and Bale also happen to be roommates.
"Snapping to one guy makes it a lot easier," Bale said. "Plus, I just think overall we're definitely bonding together as an entire unit that we have in previous years."
While special teams have been a thorn in the Buffs' side at various junctures over the years, they are expected to be a strength this year. Steele tabbed CU's overall special teams unit as the No. 13 group in the nation, and the Buffs believe both Kinney and Stefanou are legitimate candidates for postseason awards. Stefanou, a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award last year, is on this year's preseason watch list while Kinney has been named to the Ray Guy Award preseason watch list.
"If we keep working the way we're working now, keep the same work ethic, there's no telling how good we can be," Bale said. "But we have to keep working."
PRACTICE NOTES: The Buffs conducted a short but brisk workout Wednesday morning in shorts and shoulder pads under cool and cloudy skies, getting a reprieve after Tuesday's three-hour full-pads workout in much warmer temperatures. …
One player who continues to be in the midst of the action on defense is Buff back Davion Taylor, whose size (215 pounds) and speed (sixth in the Pac-12 100-meters in the spring) give him a great skill set for the combination linebacker/safety position.
"Davion has a lot of talent," defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot said. "We're expecting him to progress at a rapid rate. Considering that he was here this spring, he's already shown huge strides from spring to the fall."
The Buffs will use Taylor in a variety of ways, as he is fast enough to play pass coverage, big enough to play the run and fast enough and strong enough to rush off the edge in passing situations.
SCHEDULE: The Buffs will return to full pads Thursday and again on Saturday. Saturday's scrimmage at Folsom Field will be open to the public and will also feature a Select-A-Seat session. Gates will open at 9 a.m. with the scrimmage portion of the practice set to begin at about 10:30 a.m. Following the scrimmage, players and coaches will stick around for a meet-and-greet and selfie session with fans on the south side of the field.
The Select-A-Seat program offers fans a chance to watch live action from the best locations still available to purchase season tickets or three-game flex plans.
Those interested in Select-A-Seat can go to https://buffs.me/2M8Eb1l and fill out an RSVP form.
Also coming up on Aug. 24 is the 30th annual Boulder Chamber Colorado Football Kickoff Luncheon. Individual tickets are available for $35 and tables (up to 10 guests) are available for $350. Please visit cubuffs.com/events for more information.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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