ODUSports.com reports daily on Old Dominion football practice and one of the features will be a Q&A with a student-athlete. Today's Q&A is with junior holder/punter, Joe Pulisic.
Q: Why did you choose Old Dominion?
A: I chose ODU because I’m from a small town north of Richmond, and it just felt like home because the campus here is small but I loved the football program and the school.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hampton Roads?
A: I like that we have the beach and that there are a lot of things to do around Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Q: What is your major?
A: I am a double major in criminal justice and Spanish.
Q: When did you start playing football?
A: I started playing football in third grade.
Q: What got you into football?
A: My twin brother and I started playing football at the same time because we had a friend whose father was the head coach and he asked us to play.
Q: How hard is it being the holder?
A: It’s not that hard, but it requires a lot of muscle memory. Everything happens in about a second so there isn’t much room for error. But it can be hard if a game comes down to a last second field goal.
Q: What’s the most important aspect of being a holder?
A: Confidence and consistency. If the kicker or snapper is having a bad day you have to keep their head up. You are kind of the middle man, but you have to stay confident and keep everyone on the same page.
Q: What sports did you play growing up?
A: I have played basketball, soccer, baseball, and football.
Q: Who is your role model?
A: Definitely my dad. He’s the hardest working person I know. He didn’t come up with a lot, but now he has his own business. He definitely knows what hard work is.
Q: Favorite food?
A: I would have to say my grandma’s meatballs.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: Definitely Space Jam.
Q: Favorite music artist?
A: I’m going to catch some flack for this, but I would have to say Akon. If I didn’t say it everyone would say I’m lying.
Q: What’s on your iPod?
A: Pretty much everything contemporary, but I’m not a big hard rock or heavy metal fan. So I have country, rap, R&B, hip hop, pop, etc.
Q: Favorite NFL team?
A: My favorite NFL team is the Miami Dolphins.
Q: What would your superpower be and why?
A: Invisibility, because you could go wherever you want and do whatever you want and no one would ever see.
Q: Hidden talents?
A: I can flip my hat from my foot to my head, that’s about all I’ve got for hidden talents.
Q: What is something people do not know about you?
A: I have a twin brother. We are fraternal, so we’re not identical. He goes to William & Mary and plays baseball there.
Q: Favorite athlete?
A: Right now it’s probably Jordan Spieth, the golfer.
Q: One place you want to travel to?
A: Croatia. That’s where my grandfather is from, and we have a house there. I’ve still never been there.
Q: Favorite part of gameday?
A: I would have to say the enthusiasm of the fans. When you are standing in the tunnel and there are twenty thousand screaming fans, that’s a big part of it.
Q: Famous person you hope to meet?
A: I would say Michael Jordan.
Q: Pregame rituals?
A: I guess just that I put my equipment on the same way every time.
Q: Favorite actor/actress?
A: My favorite actor would be Steve Carell.