UGA kicking legend Butler has played for Dooley and Ditka, and with Herschel and Sweetness

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          Kickers have all sorts of odd reputations and stereotypes, but Kevin Butler didn't really show any as the guest speaker Monday night at the Macon Touchdown Club.

          Butler weaved funny stories of a long and storied and interesting career with examples of change and opportunity, and making the most of opportunities, of being a good teammate, appreciating others, especially in 2020.

          He has been on Georgia's radio broadcast for years, and works with UGA kickers, offering some thoughts on teams not coaching kickers, and covered many topics in interesting fashion.

          Naturally, he discussed Georgia in 2020, and the QB situation, talking and answering questions for nearly 45 minutes.

          Some highlights, and the time stamp:

          7:40: Kicker is a good position for cheerleader watching. "I ended up marrying one of 'em."

          8:40: Doing more than just kicking to help the team, helping out in any way at practice. "What kind of opportunity is it to kick extra points for Herschel Walker and kick extra points for Walter Payton?"

          17:00: Injuries will be a bigger part of this season than people realize.

          18:25: "Embrace change. Always know there is an opportunity in those situations. Be prepared."

          19:00: Comparing and playing wit Herschel Walker and Walter Payton.

          21:00: Winning the Super Bowl, and celebrating in Chicago, and lessons of the NFL.

          22:20: On Jamie Newman's decision to opt out at Georgia late in the process.

          24:00: Guessing on Georgia's quarterback situation.

          25:50: A different dead season in recruiting.

          27:50: On Georgia's kicking situation

          29:35: A funny tale on talking with Vince Dooley just before the monster kick against Clemson, and some other kicking scenarios with Clemson.

          31:25: On icing kickers, and it being a good chance for camera time.

          32:40: On Georgia's freshman kickers, and why don't college coaches employ kicking coaches.

          "Kickers don't develop on their own. You don't send kickers over to the magical field, and they come back and they're better."

          34:50: The difference for Rodrigo Blankenship between his first and second seasons, and on kicking coaches, and how he's working - seriously and not-so-seriously - to get Kirby Smart to make that move.

          37:40: His introduction to the NFL, with the Hall of Famers in Chicago, and the pressure as a rookie.

          "If you weren't about winning the Super Bowl, you weren't gonna make the team. It's Super Bowl or nothing."

          He changed his wedding date months before the Super Bowl.

          39:30: Playing for Mike Ditka was as bizarre and entertaining as you'd think.

          "You are the worst kicker I've ever seen."

          42:30: Playing with The Fridge.

          "Fridge was one of the nicest guys. Nothing would make him mad. He'd get into a into a slapping fight with one of the linemen, he'd just give this big ol' laugh, it'd be Fridge just laughing, and everybody else would start laughing, and forget about the fight."