Indiana University Athletics
Seeing Is Believing – Dan Godsil Snaps His Way To Football Success
8/19/2018 2:03:00 PM | Football
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Video doesn't lie. It's a truth almost as old as Win-It-For-The-Gipper myth and Dan Godsil isn't about to disagree.
He's Indiana's senior long snapper and the video posted by IU this week -- actually it came from punter Haydon Whitehead -- showcases accuracy you have to see to believe.
Even then, belief might not happen.
Even coach Tom Allen had doubts.
The video shows Godsil on the elevated outside platform at the Mellencamp Pavilion, aiming (if you can call it that when you're hunched over in snap position) at a trash can far below next to the practice field. He's like 30 feet in the air. The trash can is, perhaps, 30 feet away. A couple of teammates are on the field, watching.
Godsil snaps the ball. It soars over a railing, out and down and, yes, lands in the trash can.
Someone – probably Whitehead – shouts in triumph. A teammate below raises his arms like a referee signaling a touchdown. Godsil shakes a left fist in celebration.
"When I saw it," Allen says, "I was like in shock. I asked, was that edited to go in? I was told it took five takes to do it."
And then …
"That's impressive."
It also shows a creative use of after-practice time.
"Hey, when you're a specialist, you've got a little down time," Allen says with a smile. "Those guys come up with some crazy things to do."
The video is, in fact, striking evidence for why Godsil has earned preseason first team All-America honors courtesy of nationally renowned football expert Phil Steele.
It's not the only evidence, of course.
Take his ability to tackle.
Yes, tackle.
In IU's long-snapping scheme, Godsil doesn't block after firing the ball to Whitehead. Instead, he sprints down field seeking to make a play.
"Long snappers don't block in our scheme," Godsil says. "I usually get a free release, or a linebacker will try to block me and I have to get off the block, go down the field and try to make a tackle."
Godsil is more than capable of doing so. He had two tackles last season, seven as a freshman, including a big hit against rival Purdue.
"A lot of snappers don't have many tackles," he says. "They're not known for being super athletic."
"It feels good to get them. Most of them were open-field tackles."
While the 6-4, 219-pound Godsil doesn't try to rock somebody's world, he's certainly capable. He was, after all, an all-conference linebacker coming out of high school in Ohio.
"Most of (my college tackles) were the any-tackle-is-a-good-tackle kind," he says. "I only had one really big hit and that was against Purdue my freshman year. That's probably the hardest hit I've had in college."
If he has more big hits this season, Allen won't be surprised.
"That's where his athleticism comes in -- the length, the ability to run down the field.
"When teams scheme on punt returns, if the long snapper isn't a good athlete, they wouldn't account for him."
Teams have to account for Godsil.
"It's a tremendous asset to have a guy like that with his skill set," Allen says. "He's pretty special."
Special usually comes far from the limelight. Long snappers generate unwanted attention during botched snaps, which is why Allen doesn't want anyone talking about Godsil.
"It takes a selfless guy to long snap, someone who works behind the scenes," Allen says. "It's one of those thankless jobs that are critical. You can't have any success in any kicks without that guy."
Godsil came to IU specifically to be "that guy." He learned the position while growing up during backyard sessions with his father, David.
"He taught me how to throw the ball hard, to aim small and miss small."
He proved it to Hoosier coaches during a summer camp. Coaches liked what they saw.
"We tried to find a guy built like him," Allen says. "He's set the standard for what we're looking for in a long snapper.
"He's quiet. He's a man of few words. That's what you want -- a man who takes care of his business, is dependable, is a tough guy and does his job."
Doing so has helped Godsil earn All-American acclaim.
"You have to have a lot of consistency," Godsil says. "You have to have unshakeable confidence when you're playing.
"When I go out there, I feel like it's just me, the holder and the kicker, or just me and the punter.
"It's just a ton of repetition. You have to be super consistent with your snaps."
Godsil does all of that, Allen says, and more.
"His consistency in his speed and ball placement are what make him so good. Plus, he's big. He's a pro prospect because of his physical traits – he's long; he has size; he can run. He has the skill to snap at the next level."
What separates a good long snapper from a great one, Godsil says, comes down to execution.
"With the punter, you want to put it on his hip, whether it's going to be to the right or to the left," Godsil says.
Time also matters. The faster you get the ball out, the more time the punter or kicker has to deliver.
"I want to get the snap out in under (seven tenths of a second)," Godsil says. "They say .75 of a second is a good snap time.
"That's how you measure a good long snap -- accuracy and speed."
As far as snapping for field goals and extra points, Godsil adds, "You want a nice, easy snap. Just a decent amount of speed. Just put it in the holder's hands. Make it easy for him to catch."
It's never easy during August workouts. A couple of weeks of fall camp can take a toll on body and mind. Coaches do their part to keep it fun, including a recent trip to Lake Monroe.
"Camp can get long," Godsil says, "but coaches do a good job of keeping us on our toes. They always give us something to do."
IU is less than two weeks from its season opener at Florida International and optimism, Godsil says, is high.
"The attitude in the locker room is great. Everyone feels good about the season. We all feel we can have a successful season."
As for the specialists, "We've got a good punter, good kickers," Godsil says. "We'll do our part.
"Everyone is confident. We want to do our jobs and win games."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Video doesn't lie. It's a truth almost as old as Win-It-For-The-Gipper myth and Dan Godsil isn't about to disagree.
He's Indiana's senior long snapper and the video posted by IU this week -- actually it came from punter Haydon Whitehead -- showcases accuracy you have to see to believe.
Even then, belief might not happen.
Even coach Tom Allen had doubts.
The video shows Godsil on the elevated outside platform at the Mellencamp Pavilion, aiming (if you can call it that when you're hunched over in snap position) at a trash can far below next to the practice field. He's like 30 feet in the air. The trash can is, perhaps, 30 feet away. A couple of teammates are on the field, watching.
Godsil snaps the ball. It soars over a railing, out and down and, yes, lands in the trash can.
Someone – probably Whitehead – shouts in triumph. A teammate below raises his arms like a referee signaling a touchdown. Godsil shakes a left fist in celebration.
"When I saw it," Allen says, "I was like in shock. I asked, was that edited to go in? I was told it took five takes to do it."
And then …
"That's impressive."
Don't ?? on @DanGodsil, @ESPN.#SCTop10 #IUFB pic.twitter.com/yfuTSnlSZC
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) August 17, 2018
It also shows a creative use of after-practice time.
"Hey, when you're a specialist, you've got a little down time," Allen says with a smile. "Those guys come up with some crazy things to do."
The video is, in fact, striking evidence for why Godsil has earned preseason first team All-America honors courtesy of nationally renowned football expert Phil Steele.
It's not the only evidence, of course.
Take his ability to tackle.
Yes, tackle.
In IU's long-snapping scheme, Godsil doesn't block after firing the ball to Whitehead. Instead, he sprints down field seeking to make a play.
"Long snappers don't block in our scheme," Godsil says. "I usually get a free release, or a linebacker will try to block me and I have to get off the block, go down the field and try to make a tackle."
Godsil is more than capable of doing so. He had two tackles last season, seven as a freshman, including a big hit against rival Purdue.
"A lot of snappers don't have many tackles," he says. "They're not known for being super athletic."
"It feels good to get them. Most of them were open-field tackles."
While the 6-4, 219-pound Godsil doesn't try to rock somebody's world, he's certainly capable. He was, after all, an all-conference linebacker coming out of high school in Ohio.
"Most of (my college tackles) were the any-tackle-is-a-good-tackle kind," he says. "I only had one really big hit and that was against Purdue my freshman year. That's probably the hardest hit I've had in college."
If he has more big hits this season, Allen won't be surprised.
"That's where his athleticism comes in -- the length, the ability to run down the field.
"When teams scheme on punt returns, if the long snapper isn't a good athlete, they wouldn't account for him."
Teams have to account for Godsil.
"It's a tremendous asset to have a guy like that with his skill set," Allen says. "He's pretty special."
Special usually comes far from the limelight. Long snappers generate unwanted attention during botched snaps, which is why Allen doesn't want anyone talking about Godsil.
"It takes a selfless guy to long snap, someone who works behind the scenes," Allen says. "It's one of those thankless jobs that are critical. You can't have any success in any kicks without that guy."
Godsil came to IU specifically to be "that guy." He learned the position while growing up during backyard sessions with his father, David.
"He taught me how to throw the ball hard, to aim small and miss small."
He proved it to Hoosier coaches during a summer camp. Coaches liked what they saw.
"We tried to find a guy built like him," Allen says. "He's set the standard for what we're looking for in a long snapper.
"He's quiet. He's a man of few words. That's what you want -- a man who takes care of his business, is dependable, is a tough guy and does his job."
Doing so has helped Godsil earn All-American acclaim.
"You have to have a lot of consistency," Godsil says. "You have to have unshakeable confidence when you're playing.
"When I go out there, I feel like it's just me, the holder and the kicker, or just me and the punter.
"It's just a ton of repetition. You have to be super consistent with your snaps."
Godsil does all of that, Allen says, and more.
"His consistency in his speed and ball placement are what make him so good. Plus, he's big. He's a pro prospect because of his physical traits – he's long; he has size; he can run. He has the skill to snap at the next level."
What separates a good long snapper from a great one, Godsil says, comes down to execution.
"With the punter, you want to put it on his hip, whether it's going to be to the right or to the left," Godsil says.
Time also matters. The faster you get the ball out, the more time the punter or kicker has to deliver.
"I want to get the snap out in under (seven tenths of a second)," Godsil says. "They say .75 of a second is a good snap time.
"That's how you measure a good long snap -- accuracy and speed."
As far as snapping for field goals and extra points, Godsil adds, "You want a nice, easy snap. Just a decent amount of speed. Just put it in the holder's hands. Make it easy for him to catch."
It's never easy during August workouts. A couple of weeks of fall camp can take a toll on body and mind. Coaches do their part to keep it fun, including a recent trip to Lake Monroe.
"Camp can get long," Godsil says, "but coaches do a good job of keeping us on our toes. They always give us something to do."
IU is less than two weeks from its season opener at Florida International and optimism, Godsil says, is high.
"The attitude in the locker room is great. Everyone feels good about the season. We all feel we can have a successful season."
As for the specialists, "We've got a good punter, good kickers," Godsil says. "We'll do our part.
"Everyone is confident. We want to do our jobs and win games."
Players Mentioned
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