Louie Sakoda has apparently devoted all aspects of his personal life to improving the length of his punts.
Sakoda, who was unanimously named the 2008 All-American kicker and has appeared in a statewide anti-drunk driving TV ad campaign, has been seen punting a variety of objects and seems to take special pleasure in drunkenly punting friends’ keys while at parties.
“Every weekend, when it gets to be around two in the morning, you can pretty much bet that Louie will come around and start asking to see your keys,” said friend and fellow football player Koa Misi, who was searching through a bush at the time of the interview. “Usually he only kicks them somewhere in the house and they just hit a wall and knock down some picture frames or something. But tonight he got outside with them, and he punted them across the street. Louie has punted for 67 yards before. My keys could be anywhere!”
Misi said that in addition to showcasing his talent late at night, Sakoda also punts dozens of objects throughout the day. Misi speculated that Sakoda’s goal of breaking more punting records is behind the senior’s tendency to stop what he’s doing, pick up an object, take two small steps forward and drop-kick the object, effectively sending it flying for as far as 80 yards, depending on its size and weight.
“He was definitely our most decorated player on the team last year, and also surpassed anyone from the MWC,” said Utah football head coach Kyle Whittingham. “But he’s not number one in the nation yet, and I think that’s really been rankling him. His success here at Utah has maybe gotten to his head a little.”
Whittingham said that he’s advised Sakoda to “go back to the pigskin” to avoid hurting himself or others.
Sakoda said he refuses to stop until he’s broken the 98-yard punt record set by Steve O’Neal in 1969. He said the closest he’s gotten was a punt he performed while walking with his niece in a park by his home near San Jose, Calif.
“We were walking toward the snow cone vendor when a bichon frise puppy ran across my path,” Sakoda said. “I looked at the thick yet compact body and realized that the puppy’s weight and rounded body would allow it serve perfectly as a projectile. Also, the amount of “give’ the puppy had was ideal8212;much better than the bowling ball I tried to punt last week.”
The puppy went roughly 50 yards in the air and then rolled and bounced for 40 more. Sakoda said he could have kicked the puppy even farther if it hadn’t “flailed so much.”
Editor’s note8212;This story is not real. Happy April Fools’ Day!
T-Sizzle (feat. T-Pain)Louie Sakoda has been obsessively punting everyday objects in order to break the longest punt record. Sakoda had some success with a golden retriever puppy but has now been experimenting with different breads.