Word of the Weekend Thus Far: "PUNT"

Curt Van Hekken

After what looked like it would be a shootout, the first half of the Wisconsin at Michigan game turned into a solo themed event.  That theme was "PUNT."

Wisconsin's offense came out on fire on their first drive.  They were running the ball and passing the ball like they were the 1990's Dallas Cowboys.  They scored a touchdown on their first possesion.  It was very well executed 12 play drive for 75 yards.  Dilin Jones scored on a 5 yard touchdown giving the Badgers an early 7-0 lead.

And then it was Michigan's turn.  Their offense looked like well oiled machine on their first drive as they went 75 yards on 5 plays, capped off by a Justice Haynes 1 yard td run.  Haynes also had a 43 yard tote on the drive.

Then the theme of the half, "PUNT," kicked in.  The next 5 possesions ended with a punt.  The streak of punts was ended when Michigan kicker, Dominic Zvada kicked a 32 yard field goal.  And then we returned to the "PUNT" theme as the final three possesions leading into the half were punts.  

In total, Wisconsin punted 5 times and Michigan punted 3 times in the first half.  Although 8 punts seems like a lot in a half of football, these two teams are in no way on pace to set a record for punts in a game.  That record was set back in 1939 by Texas Tech and Centernary with 77 punts.  That game ended in a 0-0 tie with Texas Tech punter, Charlie Calhoun setting the individual record for punts in a game with 36.