The unheralded snapper
From the Editor's Desk
Arthur McLean
Pity the poor longsnapper. Oh sure, the kickers get all the attention. Heck, even the holders get more attention than our humble, long-suffering longsnapper.

But, if you look carefully, there he is, in the middle of the line, head bowed, ready to zip a perfect spiral, backwards, between his legs, to a target that's upside down. No problem, right?

Every time a coach calls a timeout, the announcers say it's to "freeze the kicker." Why wouldn't it be to freeze the snapper? He might get to thinking about that kick a little too long too, and then, next things you know, the snap might go sailing over the holder's head.

Well, you can be sure the snapper would be recognized for that accomplishment!

But no, that so rarely happens that the snap on extra points and field goals is taken for granted. I think I've heard announcers calling the snap good before it even gets to the holder. It may well be the closest thing to a sure thing in sports.

When has a kick been a sure thing? But the kickers get all the attention, hero or the goat, come what may.

Maybe they could film that show "dirty jobs" based on the long snapper. Snap it 7 yards into a guy's hands about one foot off the ground for field goals and PATs, or snap it 15 yards to the waiting hands of the punter. And after you've snapped it to the punter, sprint down the field, take on blockers and try to make a tackle.

All in all, it's a pretty simple job description, but it's deceptively simple.

But that's life for the lineman, little glory to be found. So, here's to you, linemen of the world! Huzzah!

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