NOTEBOOK: The Spittoon and the Snapper
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The spotlight rarely finds Sean Wracher.
For this, Kasey Teegardin gives thanks.
Wracher is Indiana’s veteran long snapper. When he does his job well, no one but players and coaches notice. When he messes up, the world pays attention.
That this 6-4, 207-pound senior remains a relatively unknown Hoosier hero showcases why Teegardin, IU’s special teams coordinator, calls him the best long snapper in America.
“He’s so consistent,” Teegardin said, “you take it for granted.”
Except, of course, Teegardin and the Hoosiers take nothing for granted. Wracher and the entire special teams unit could play a key role Saturday when IU (3-7) heads to Michigan State (5-5) for the Old Brass Spittoon rivalry game.
Head coach Tom Allen is well aware of Wracher’s importance.
"Sean is one of our most valuable players,” Allen said during Monday’s regular weekly press conference. “His value to this team is immense. He's so consistent and he's so dependable, you kind of forgets he's there, but he always does his job.”
Wracher snaps on punts and kicks. Punt snaps become more challenging depending on the kind of punt IU wants -- regular or more directional.
“It's not like he snaps straight back to the punter every single time,” Allen said. “There are different legs you snap it to based on where we are going to punt it. There's a lot more to it than might appear.”
Leadership is another big element, Allen added.
“He's the leader of the special teams unit. He takes tremendous pride in it and has high expectations. A lot of those guys do things on their own during practice, and he leads that group.”
Wracher was rated the nation’s No. 1 high school long snapper coming out of Ohio. His workout at an Indiana summer camp was all Teegardin and Allen needed to see.
“We offered him based on that workout,” Allen said. “We knew how fast his long snaps and short snaps were. You could see his location. You chart all those things and then you try to find a guy that fits your culture. He fit all those things.”
The fact Wracher also lettered in baseball was another key point for Allen, who prefers multi-sport players.
“Guys who learn to compete in other sports, it matters. He was a complete package of what we are looking for. He's been phenomenal.”
Wracher’s excellence is confirmed by kicker Charles Campbell and punter James Evans, who also holds on kicks. Campbell says he doesn’t see the football laces when Wracher snaps it, which is huge. If the laces show, the holder has to spin the ball so the laces face away from the kicker.
“He makes James’s job so easy,” Teegardin says. “He doesn’t have to spin the ball. That is critical. That’s NFL-type snaps. Sean can put it wherever James needs it.”
IU ends its season with consecutive rivalry games. It also hosts Purdue in the annual Oaken Bucket game on Nov. 26.
“Not every place, not every program has the opportunity to play in trophy games and rivalry games,” Allen said. “We have two trophy games, so there’s a lot to play for.
“We'll continue to tweak things and find ways to get us better and help us play our best on game day.”
Since Allen has been at IU, the Hoosiers have two wins over Michigan State -- in 2016 and 2020.
The Spartans are a victory away from bowl eligibility. They have won two straight and three of their last four.
Quarterback Payton Thorne completes 63.2 percent of his passes for 2,152 yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Three running backs average at least 4.3 yards per carry. Jalen Berger leads with 550 yards and six touchdowns. Jarek Broussard has 284 yards and three touchdowns. Elijah Collins has 178 yards and four touchdowns.
The Spartans have seven receivers with at least 10 catches.
Spartans linebacker Cal Haladay was named Big Ten defensive player of the week for the second-straight week. In last Saturday’s win over Rutgers, he had a career-high 19 tackles, including one for loss.
In a victory over Illinois the previous week, he had nine tackles, including 3.5 for loss.
That gives him a team-leading 99 tackles, which is second in the Big Ten. He has 8.5 tackles for loss.
Michigan State has the Big Ten’s leading punter in Bryce Baringer, who averages 49.6 yards per punt.
Donaven McCulley’s conversion from quarterback to receiver has seen him catch 15 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown, plus a two-point conversion. The 6-5, 210-pound sophomore also has rushed four times for five yards and a TD.
“You see definite growth,” Allen said, “and we want to see more of it and expect more of it. We want him to maximize every opportunity he gets.
“Get the ball with confidence and go get it. He's a big guy that's got length and athleticism.
“Just playing with that confidence is something he needs to develop. What I challenge him with is, when that ball is thrown up, it's yours. Physically, I want to see you be of that mind.
“I want to see him finish this season really strong because he's a guy that we have big, big expectations for and I know he does for himself.”
Allen offered condolences in the aftermath of tragedies that struck the Virginia and Idaho campuses on Sunday.
Three members of the Virginia football team were shot and killed Sunday evening after returning from seeing a play in Washington DC. A motive was unknown. Two other students were wounded.
Also on Sunday, four Idaho students were found dead.
“Our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the Idaho campus community as well as University of Virginia and the tragedies that have happened recently,” Allen said. “Just a very, very difficult time.
“I pray for Virginia Coach (Tony) Elliott that he takes his group through that very, very awful situation.”
Added Teegardin: “It shows you how fragile this life is. I’m not afraid to tell my players I love them. They know it’s genuine and true. (While a lot of attention is focused on winning and statistics), I’m more concerned about the impact we make on these guys’ lives.
“I’m praying for (those at Virginia). Condolences to their staff.”
Injuries to D.J. Matthews Jr. has Connor Delp handling punt return duties. He’s returned six punts for 27 yards. Matthews returned three punts for nine yards.
“He does not get enough recognition,” Teegardin said. “Returning punts is a difficult thing to do, and now we play the No. 1 punter this week.
“You’ve got have a guy who is savvy and comfortable fielding balls. He was the most comfortable, savvy, and smooth. He has not dropped a ball. He’s gained more confidence. There’s a big spotlight on the punt returner and he handles it. He’s confident in his technique.”
The transfer portal has become huge in college football. Players transfer in and out as never before, and coaches are constantly evaluating their roster needs for next season, and how to best use the transfer portal to meet them.
Allen said he and his staff have evaluated positions that “we are trying to address. That’s going to be a huge focus” once the season is over.
He added that high school recruits remain a top priority, but making sure each class has a balance of numbers will require signing transfers. Identifying players will start once they enter the transfer portal.
“You have to keep your rooms in proper orders in terms of the age of that group,” Allen said. “We’ve had two specific staff meetings regarding that already. It’s ongoing in building this program.”