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SPORTS
Chuck Landon: Whitehead's babyface persona belies warrior status
As weapons go, Kase Whitehead doesn't appear particularly lethal.
Perhaps, that's because he's about the size of Joe Pesci.
Marshall's pint-sized punter's baby-face and overall physical persona -- imagine a koala bear personified -- don't exactly enhance his danger quotient, either.
And that's an opponent's first mistake.
Be afraid of Kase Whitehead, be very afraid.
Just ask Illinois State.
The true freshman punter turned in a key performance in Marshall's season-opening 35-10 win over the Redbirds last Saturday at Edwards Stadium.
Besides averaging a very respectable 41.2 yards on six punts, Whitehead dropped four kicks inside the 20-yard line, two inside the 15 (including one downed at the 1-yard line) and only one of his punts was returned.
But wait. There's more.
Two of Whitehead's well-placed punts actually led to eventual Marshall touchdowns.
Still think he's not a lethal weapon?
Guess again.
Martin Riggs had a Baretta 9mm, but Whitehead has a howitzer strapped to his right leg.
Nobody would know he's packing to talk to him, though.
"I think I did good, but not as well as I should have done," said Whitehead, after his collegiate debut. "It's never as good as it should be."
Ahem, have you seen your stats, Kase?
"No sir, I have not," he replied.
One statistics sheet later ...
"That's decent," amended Whitehead. "It's better than I thought."
You think?
In one game, Whitehead proved that punters can indeed be weapons. That is news to casual fans.
"People who understand the game can understand it and realize it," said Whitehead, a native of Maryville, Tenn. "But an average, ordinary, everyday fan ... they are there to see the touchdowns and all that."
Well, they got two TDs against Illinois State, courtesy of Whitehead.
One score came after a 49-yard punt that was downed on Illinois State's 1-yard line. Three Redbird plays netting zero yards later, Marshall's Emmanuel Spann returned the ensuing punt 18 yards. A personal foul by ISU on the play moved the ball to the 10-yard line.
MU running back Darius Marshall scored on the very next play. Touchdown MU, assist Whitehead.
That's a prime example of why fans need to stop viewing punters in a defensive light. Sure, they're supposed to get their teams out of trouble. But there's more to being a punter than just that.
What people don't realize is a punter is a twin-edged sword.
"Most people look at it as getting a team out of trouble," agreed Whitehead. "That's my main job. But I also want to put the other team into trouble."
That's when a punter becomes a lethal weapon ... and that is usually overlooked.
"Most often it is," admitted Whitehead.
But not here. Not anymore. Appearances not withstanding, Kase Whitehead officially is a weapon.
And he'll get a chance to prove it again when Marshall takes on 11th-ranked Wisconsin at noon Saturday in Camp Randall Stadium at Madison, Wis.
That goes for his pal, Spann, too.
"Emmanuel Spann ... he works wonders out there on punt returns," said Whitehead. "He was excellent. Spann kind of made the difference."
That clinches it.
As we've learned from Roger Murtaugh, a lethal weapon always has a side-kick.
Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 526-2827. E-mail him at clandon@herald-dispatch.com.
