June 29, 2011
Head coach Bobby Wilder has referred to his special teams unit as the "All-Star Team" and Jonathan Plisco has certainly been an All-Star for the Monarchs since the beginning. Plisco, who was first in the nation in punting as a freshman in 2009 and finished second in 2010 by only .05 yards, has already garnered attention this preseason being named to Lindy's 2011 Defense Second-Team All-FCS Preseason Team and recognized as one of the top FCS members of special teams by The Sports Network.
Last season, Plisco's punts averaged a distance of 44.30 yards totaling 1905 yards on his 43 punts. Seventeen of his punts went a distance of 50-yards or more, including a season-high 75 yard punt against #12/13 William & Mary. The left footer also averaged over 50 yards a punt in games with Campbell, #12/13 William & Mary, and #14/16 Cal Poly.
Q: What are you working on this summer?
A: This summer I'm working on being more consistent on some of the directional punting and improving my hang time.
Q: What was your overall impression of spring practice this year?
A: I thought it was a lot better looking over the last two years. You could see obvious improvement in our team speed and our team strength and also with the maturity level and focus. Going into the CAA we know we have to step it up a little and you could really tell all the guys were trying to kick it up to the next notch.
Q: What do you think the strengths are of the Monarchs heading into the inaugural CAA season?
A: I think our strength is that we've had a taste of the CAA, but we really haven't been in the CAA that long. We're the newcomers so people are looking at us as `we haven't played them and they haven't played us'. Every game is a new game, a new team. I think that's a strength because we can bring that surprise factor, because people haven't played us. They may see the film as we see their film, but we haven't played each other so it's a big question mark.
Q: Having been with the team from the beginning, what has been the biggest improvement?
A: The focus level is the biggest thing. Even from the summer, there were maybe just a handful of guys here on campus. This summer, we have a lot of guys here. We're focused on getting better and on getting bigger, faster, stronger and improving our techniques. That focus we've been working on these past three years is really coming together now as we're heading into the CAA.
Q: What is your earliest football memory?
A: I started playing football my eighth grade year. That's about as far back as I go. I just remember the conditioning. I had no idea what it was about and figured playing football would be fun. I remember my first conditioning workout being the most intense workout ever. Throughout though, it's been a good road.
Q: How did you get into punting?
A: I played soccer 14 years of my life. I started playing football and every JV coach asked "Who played soccer? Who here can punt? Who here can kick?". I'd been punting the ball with friends, just messing around in the neighborhood, and thought I'd give it a whirl. I got pulled up to varsity the end of my freshman year to be the back-up punter. I really took that and ran with it.
Q: Your left foot wasn't always your dominant foot? How did you start punting with it?
A: I forget the exact age, but I was playing soccer and I did something to my right leg. I thought, okay, I'll just start kicking with my left. My right leg got better, but I don't know why, but I like kicking better and I kick better with my left foot. That became my dominant foot and I really just focused on kicking with my left foot.
Q: What is a typical practice like for the special teams?
A: Before practice, we usually talk to Coach Wilder. For some of those periods where we aren't on the field, we might need to be holding the chains, lend a body to the linebackers to help with drill, but other than that, we have a plan. We have specific workouts that we do and drills and just really find some open space to punt and for Jarod (Brown) to kick.
Q: What is your favorite Coach Wilder saying?
A: His "PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) - All Day" gets me everytime. Whenever he comes into a room and says that, you just have to smile.
Q: What Does PMA mean to you?
A: It means to look at everything half full. It could be a terrible situation, but there's always a positive outcome to look at. Just look at the positive outcomes for everything instead of dwelling on the negatives.
Q: Being that a lot of your fellow ODU students are on break and working summer jobs, what was your favorite and least favorite summer job?
A: My only summer job has been working in home improvement. I've got a family friend who got me working in it in eighth grade. I've done that the past six summers, but now that I'm here in Norfolk, that's come to an end. That's been my only summer job and I couldn't have anything better.
Q: What is your favorite ODU football memory?
A: It has to be that Chowan game and running out of the tunnel. I'm never going forget that at all. Now, just running out of the tunnel everytime, I look forward to it. That's the biggest thrill - running out of that tunnel and seeing all those people who have come to see us play. I can't even describe it.
Look for more Monarch Football Q&A's this summer. Tweet us at @ODUFootball and let us know which Monarchs you want to see and questions to ask.