While sweating his way through the Cincinnati Bengals preseason practices, Kyle Larson expects to hear all about another football team that is also trying to improve on a losing season.
Larson is a former University of Nebraska and Kearney High School player who is entering his fifth year as the punter for the Bengals. His kicking counterpart is Shayne Graham, a former Virginia Tech player whose outgoing personality is a direct contrast to the laid-back Larson. Virginia Tech plays at Nebraska on September 27.
``I haven't looked at the schedule. I haven't had a chance to yet,`` Larson said. ``But now that I know, I'm sure Shane and I will be talking a little bit back and forth.``
Graham wasted no time firing good-natured jabs at Larson. He all but promised that his good friend would be wearing a Virginia Tech jersey in the Bengals' locker room after the Hokies beat Nebraska.
``They play this year? I didn't even know that,`` Graham said. ``You know what? Kyle's going to have to wear my jersey in the locker room when we beat them. We'll have to wager on the jersey.``
Larson smiled when told about the friendly wager Graham proposed.
``That's his idea. We haven't talked about it yet,`` Larson said. ``We'll have to do something like that.``
Nebraska is coming off a 5-7 season that cost former coach Bill Callahan his job. Virginia Tech finished 11-3 last season under coach Frank Beamer, whose teams are known for playing tough defense and executing outstanding special teams play. That style of football is often referred to as ``Beamer Ball.``
Graham is entering his eighth year in the National Football League. Because he's so far removed the Virginia Tech program, he based his prediction of a win against Nebraska more on pride than first-hand knowledge. Regardless of who Nebraska is playing, Graham tries to do a little talking to Larson.
``We always rag each other a little bit about that every year,`` Graham said. ``Whenever his team is on TV, I always say, 'They still show you guys on TV?' He always says the same thing about Virginia Tech. We have a lot of fun with it.``
Nebraska's new coach is Bo Pelini, who previously served as the Huskers defensive coordinator in 2003. Pelini also coached Larson and the Huskers during a 17-3 win against Michigan State in the 2003 Alamo Bowl after then-coach Frank Solich was fired.
Larson is confident that Pelini's intensity and enthusiasm will have a big impact on Nebraska.
``I think it's going to be a good year for coach Pelini and everyone there,`` Larson said. ``There just seems to be a lot of excitement there. It should be a fun year.``
Poor play on defense played a big role in preventing Nebraska from earning a bowl bid last season. Defense has also been a hinderance in the past for the Bengals, who finished last season 7-9.
To shake things up, Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis brought in Mike Zimmer as the Bengals' new defensive coordinator. Zimmer previously spent six seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys and spent last season in the same capacity with the Atlanta Falcons. Zimmer's fiery attitude immediately caught the attention of the Bengals, including Larson.
``There's a lot of excitement here,`` Larson said. ``Everyone this past spring worked really hard. It's going to be a fun year.``
Larson first made the Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2004 and has been the team's punter ever since. He averaged 41.3 yards per punt last season while putting down 21 of his 59 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Three of Larson's punts last season were touchbacks, none of which occurred after the seventh week.
``I always want to improve on where I finished up last season, whether it be more inside-the-20 punts or improving my net average and my gross average,`` Larson said. ``That's my main thing: I always want to improve on years past.``
Larson and Graham are the only kickers in camp for the Bengals, who will practice at Georgetown (Ky.) College through Aug. 14, then head about 90 minutes north to Cincinnati. Most preseason practices are open to fans who pay parking fees that range from $15 for cars to $50 for large buses in hopes of obtaining autographs from their favorite players. No admission fees are charged.
The Bengals players are handed black markers as they leave the field. Most, including Larson and Graham, stop to sign everything from footballs to T-shirts. Others simply ignore the calls from fans.
``Each and every year I come in with the mindset you have to perform,`` Larson said. ``Each and every day I have to do my job out here or else I know someone else is waiting to take my position.
``It doesn't matter what year it is. I have to take that mindset.``
Despite his success, Larson said he can still walk around Cincinnati and not be recognized by fans. he red-headed Graham is more likely to be recognized when the two kickers hang out together as friends.
``Shane gets recognized quite a bit,`` Larson said. ``He's got that way about him. He's just a fun guy to be around and he has a great personality. A lot of people recognize that and know him that way.``
Even when Graham is recognized, Larson likes to keep his identity quiet. He even tells casual acquaintances in the Cincinnati area he works for the Bengals, but never mentions he's the punter.
``I don't like saying a word about that kind of stuff. I try to go the opposite way if anything,`` Larson said. ``I just like to kind of stay quiet about that kind of stuff and just go about my business.``
Because they're kickers, Larson and Graham spend a lot of practice time working on a separate field than the rest of their teammates. The two kickers are joined by Brad St. Louis, the Bengals long snapper.
Larson is the holder for Graham on extra point and field goal attempts. Larson spent part of a recent practice working on a fake field goal in which he rolled to either his right or left and either threw a pass or ran the football. The sound of an airhorn leaves players scrambling from one part of the field to another to complete different drills. The change is a welcome relief for Maurice Purify, a rookie wide receiver from Nebraska who is trying to make the Bengals as a free agent. Larson and Purify have spent time talking about their days at Nebraska.
``It's great,`` Larson said. ``Anytime we can bring some more alumni in that's a really neat deal.``
The offseason was a special time for Larson and his wife, Lindsay. Eight weeks before training camp began, they became parents for the first time when their son Kolton was born. Being proud parents prompted Larson and his wife to travel to Nebraska over the summer to show off the newest member of their family.
Larson's wife is from Kearney. Her husband is from Funk, a small town located south of his wife's hometown. Larson laughed when asked if either the University of Nebraska or the Bengals should try to secure a commitment from his son that would definitely be long term.
``It's an unbelievable feeling,`` Larson said about being a father for the first time. ``You hear that from everyone that has kids.
``Just to see the whole process, it was so much fun. My wife and I feel so blessed.``
When his pro football career ends, Larson and his wife have already talked about moving back to Nebraska again to live what they consider The Good Life.
``It's always very heartwarming to go back there and see all those people again,`` Larson said. ``That's where it all started for me. That's where a lot of my support system is.``
