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P B.J. Sander (official thread)

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congrats to BJ...

BTW, what was the total for the day? i think 7 Buckeyes went today:
Will Smith, Chris Gamble, Mike Jenkins, Timmy ANderson, Ben Hartsock to Indy is great, Darrion Scott and BJ Sander... did i miss anyone?

...hhmmmm...
* notices that none of the OL went on Sat *
 
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I was shocked by this, but a friend of mine whose wife knows BJs wife was saying that the Sanders and their agent had pretty good word they would go 3rd or 4th round. I know Washington was making noise early on about BJ in 6, but 3 floored me, especially considering how good Groom was the year before and he didn't get drafted at all, I don't think.

BJ has got to be one of the best rags to riches story in OSU history after getting beaten out by a walkon. Congrats BJ
 
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I can't figure this one out, especially with Groom going undrafted last year. I guess that is why those guys make the big bucks. All I know is I have a couple Packer buddies who are besides themselves on this one....
 
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Random Questions With B.J. Sander

From the Packers web site....

http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2004/06/23/1/

Random Questions With B.J. Sander

B.J. Sander

The first punter selected by the Packers as early as the third round since Ray Stachowicz in 1981 (62nd overall), B.J. Sander is one step closer to fulfilling his lifelong dream of playing professional football.

But football isn't the only goal Sander has set for himself.

Winner of the 2003 Ray Guy Award -- given to the nation's top collegiate punter -- Sander majored in turf and grass science at Ohio State and has plans to one day own a landscaping business in his home town of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Recently, Packers.com put Sander on the hot seat to discuss this and a few other topics in our latest round of Random Questions.

Packers.com: When did you realize you wanted to play professional football?
B.J. Sander: "It was always a dream of mine, even while I was playing pee-wee football. You're always in your backyard talking about your favorite players and everything, so I'd probably say back when I was in grade school."

Are there any players you tried to emulate growing up?
"Deion Sanders was always a big one. And I liked Boomer Esiason when he was playing for the Bengals."

Why did you choose your major?
"I majored in turf and grass science at Ohio State. The reason I chose that was because I've always liked working outside and working with my hands, so that was one of the best fits for me."

Is that something you hope to pursue once you're done playing football?
"Well, actually I'm hoping to set up a business account and start my own landscaping business while I'm still playing. Both of my brothers are in Cincinnati and they're starting to get into it so I'll probably start up a business there."

Who would you say is your favorite musician?
"I would have to say Tim McGraw or Garth Brooks."

What is the best college football game you've seen?
"The National Championship game when we played Miami. I guess it was 2002. The entire game was just unbelievable."

What would you say is your worst fear?
"Failing. Failing to reach some of the goals that I've set for myself."

PB& J or Grilled Cheese?
"Grilled Cheese."

What are your three favorite DVDs that you own?
"Van Wilder, Top Gun and probably American Wedding."

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
"I've been to Hawaii, so I wouldn't mind going down to see Australia. In my major, my advisor always talked about going down there and just how beautiful it was."

Besides punting for the Green Bay Packers, what is the best job you've had?
"Probably landscaping because that's the one I've gotten the most enjoyment out of."

Who has had the most influence on your life?
"My parents. My dad. He's just always been there to help me and whenever I've had questions, he's always had the answers. And when I needed something, he's always been there for me."

If you could play any other sport professionally, what would it be?
"Baseball or golf."

If you could play golf with any foursome, who would be the other three members?
"Tiger Woods for obvious reasons. President Bush, just to experience a day in his life. The fourth person I would have to think about for a while."

Who was your favorite sports team growing up?
"The Cincinnati Reds."

Before arriving, what did you know about Green Bay and the Packers?
"I knew it was cold up here. I knew a little bit about the team just because of how much exposure they get everywhere, so I had definitely heard of them. I knew of several of the players. This place is just so rich in tradition, a lot like Ohio State, so I was just excited to be able to come here and have an opportunity to make this team."

Describe what you expect your first experience playing in Lambeau Field to be like?
"Hopefully good. I'm looking forward to it. I've heard great stories about playing here and I'm just anxious to get in there and experience my first game."

What is your favorite holiday tradition?
"That would probably be spending Christmas with my family. Until this year, we've always gotten together on Christmas Eve and celebrated Christmas as a family with all my brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews. This year we won't be able to do that because we have a game in Minnesota."

What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming season?
"Just the experience. Just being able to play in the NFL. It's been a lifelong dream of mine and to actually be able to do it is going to be great."

What kind of interests or hobbies do you have off the field?
"I like to go golfing, but I'm a work in progress. One day I'll go out and shoot 81 and the next day I'll go out and shoot 95. It just depends on the day.

"And I like to spend a lot of time with my family."

Do you watch reality TV at all? If so, what shows?
"I watch The Bachelor and American Idol. My wife loves those shows so we watch them quite a bit."

What is your favorite food?
"Lasagna."

What was your favorite toy as a child?
"A remote control car."

Can you cook? If so, what's your specialty?
"I can cook frozen dinners like a champ. Every once in a while I'll cook, but my wife, Beth, does most of the cooking."



:oh: :io:
 
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B.J. Sander update

http://www.gogreenbay.com/packers/page.html?article=126998

Sander has a leg up at punter

By Todd McMahon
News-Chronicle
B.J. Sander has yet to kick a football at Lambeau Field, where unpredictable weather conditions are the norm.

Less than a week into training camp, though, it's becoming more and more predictable that Sander will be the Green Bay Packers punter this season and possibly for years to come. "He's done a nice job so far, but the true test will be how he performs throughout the course of the season," head coach Mike Sherman said Thursday, perhaps dropping a hint that Sander has secured the job.

The rookie from Ohio State hasn't done anything in the first few days of camp to make the Packers rethink their bold decision of 3 1/2 months ago.

Sherman opened himself to criticism by trading the team's sole fourth- and fifth-round spots in the NFL draft in order to move up and take Sander in the third round with the 87th overall pick. Sander was the last of three third-round picks for the Packers.

The last punter drafted by the Packers that high was Ray Stachowicz in the third round (62nd overall) in 1981. He hung around for only two seasons.

Through two minicamps and the outset of training camp, Sander has displayed the attributes - punctual drop of and get-off with the ball, precise hang time and generally pinpoint landing - that could keep him in Green Bay for a long time.

As impressive, Sander is a left-footed kicker who's befuddling the team's returners with an unorthodox spin on the ball. Plus, he comes to the field every day with a temperament and a confidence belying his first-year pro status.

"I've had very high expectations of myself all along," Sander said. "I know if I can live up to what I want, everybody else should be happy with that, too. My expectations are a bit more than what the coaches expect of me. So, if they're happy, I'm happy."

The Packers took some of the pressure off Sander, who was signed to a four-year contract, by waiving Travis Dorsch last week. Sander and Dorsch are former Ray Guy Award winners as the best punter in college football.

Thus, Sander's only competition in the early part of the preseason is Nathan Chapman, a 28-year-old Australian getting his first taste of the NFL.

The Packers were intrigued by Chapman's kicking skills, honed for a number of years playing Australian Rules Football.

In the past couple days, though, Chapman hasn't helped his cause in the battle with Sander. Chapman has shanked a handful of punts during special-teams segments in practice.

Chapman said after the first special-teams-only practice of camp Thursday afternoon that he has been pressing in trying to make a good impression with the coaches.

Conversely, a poised Sander has been right on the money with the majority of his punts. "I wanted to be consistent when I started out," Sander said. "I'm right where I want to be."

The Packers are turning back the clock this year with an emphasis on directional kicking, which has become a lost art in the league in recent years. Sander said it's the one aspect of his repertoire that needs to be sharpened the most, though he did a lot of it at Ohio State.

Sander was accustomed to kicking amid swirling winds and chilly temperatures during his time in Columbus. So, he's not worried about the blustery conditions that will be prevalent at Lambeau Field later in the season.

His first punts inside the famed stadium will come Saturday night before a capacity crowd of more than 72,000 for the intrasquad scrimmage.

"It's going to be a good taste," Sander said. "I'm anxious to get in there and see what it's like in the stadium."
Click to expand...
 
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BJ has been well received in GB. The Packers have a tradition where kids will bring their bikes to training camp and the players will ride them back to the locker room. Here's a pic of BJ getting to ride a kids bike....

photo3.jpg


Here's one of Kenny Peterson...

photo11.jpg
 
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I would say that his chances are 80% that he will be the starter. Josh Bidwell was the punter for the Packers for the last several years and he left with free agency in the off season. His only competition is the Australian and I don't think he has the leg or the experience to beat out BJ. Unless he has a terrible training camp he will be the starter.
 
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i somehow didn't see the article attached at the top since the page "jumps" to the first "new" post. now i feel stoopid :!

so i'll ask a question. does anyone know if Andy Groom will be punting anywhere this year? i know he signed with TB last year, but i'm not sure if he's still with them.
 
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I remember watching an ESPN thing a year or two ago about how the players ride bikes - belonging to Pack fans, of course - to practice... It actually is a pretty cool thing... Keeps the team and the fan close. Kinda "college" in atmosphere up in GB.

As a Vikings fan, however, GB can fall in to lake Michigan for all I care.
 
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