Setta kicks competition into high gear in scrimmage
By KERRY SMITH
Sports Editor
Every athlete wants to be competitive.
And Nick Setta is no exception.
Just as Irish head coach Bob Davie and his staff were coming to key decisions about the starting line-up for Saturday's season opener against Texas A&M, Setta decided to shake things up.
The sophomore reserve went on the offensive Friday with an impressive placekicking and punting performance during Notre Dame's afternoon scrimmage, blowing the special team's hierarchy wide open with less than a week before the season kicks off.
"You know, Nick Setta today really came to life. Joey Hilbold had some pressure and didn't kick it particularly well one time and Nick Setta came in and really had a great punt," said Davie after Friday's scrimmage. "Nick Setta also kicked field goals today and was strong. We're going to just have to look at the tape and evaluate it. Nick Setta had a fine day for punting and kicking. How much that will impact or dislodge David Miller and Joey Hilbold — that's something we'll have to sit down and discuss, but he was impressive today."
Last season, the Irish went a dismal 8-18 on field goal attempts, while missing five point-after attempts.
Those are figures Irish head coach Bob Davie doesn't want to see again, which makes picking his starters so crucial.
Miller has experience on his side — the junior saw action during the middle of last year's campaign when he replaced the faltering Jim Sanson against USC, Navy and Tennessee before a hip flexor injury ended his season early. During Miller's short stint as the Irish placekicker, he converted on two of five field goal attempts and went 12-14 on point-after attempts.
Miller came back to spring drills with confidence, earning the No. 1 placekicking spot.
Sophomore punter Hilbold had all but secured his spot as the go-to player as well, but after reviewing the films from Friday's scrimmage Davie announced Saturday that he would refrain from making any final decisions until today or Tuesday.
"It's close between Joey Hildbold and Nick Setta for the punting job," said Davie. "We're going to go this week on Monday and Tuesday to see but I think both those guys will end up punting for us at some point. It's really close."
Setta was quick to share credit with his teammates for his stellar scrimmage performance.
"The snaps were good, the holds were good, the line did a good job so it was a real positive day in all aspects," said Setta. "It's showing all the hard work we did over the summer."
That hard work has paid off for Setta, who, even if he does not start, has proven he is a valuable asset to the kicking team. No matter who Davie and his staff pick to open season, Setta knows the tight competition has and will benefit the group as a whole.
"We all help each other," said Setta. "We know we're all going for each other's job, but at the same time we're there to help each other. We do what's best for the team."
The pressure on the quartet of Miller, Hilbold, Setta and newcomer Matt McNew is apparent as the season opener lingers several days away.
After last season's series of hits and misses, they know there will be even more pressure for success. But Setta is not about to let the high expectations bother him.
"I think there's pressure on any position, it's just how you deal with it," said Setta. "I really just try to go out there and have fun. There's always going to be some amount of pressure, but if you're having fun, you don't feel it as much."
Fun for Setta would be earning a starting position against Texas A&M. Only time will tell.
All Sports Stories for Monday, August 28, 2000
