Increase in punt average
has Dorsch leading
nation
By Paul Trembacki
Sports
Editor
It's been said earlier this season that Travis
Dorsch has the highest punting average in the nation, and now it can
be said that he officially leads the nation in punting.
Dorsch is averaging 50.4 yards per punt (21 punts
for 1,058 yards), nearly two and a half yards more than his closest
competitor, Dave Zastudil of Ohio, who averages 48 yards per punt. Dorsch
has been averaging more than 50 yards per punt all season, but he never
had enough punts per game.
The NCAA requires that a player average 3.6 punts
per game to be included among the national leaders, and with five punts,
including a 61-yarder, in Purdue's loss to Michigan Saturday, Dorsch
increased his punts per game average to 4.2.
"Last year I was thrust into the punting role and
had some problems early in the season," Dorsch said earlier this season.
"This off-season, I worked very hard at punting and I think both Scott
(Kurz) and I are doing a good job this year to help our team with field
position and winning ballgames."
Also, with four points last Saturday, Dorsch increased
his career point total to 309, second on the Big Ten's all-time scoring
list for kickers. He trails only Dan Stultz of Ohio State, who had 342
points from 1997 to 2000. Dorsch ranks eighth in Big Ten history with
56 field goals and 141 extra points.
The Bozeman, Mont., native is a candidate for the
Lou Groza and Ray Guy awards for the nation's top kicker and punter,
respectively.
Injuries
Safety Ralph Turner has not played since the Iowa
game Oct. 6. He hurt his shoulder during the first half against the
Hawkeyes, but the shoulder has "improved dramatically," Tiller said.
"The bad news is he has a wrist injury," Tiller
said.
Turner went to the team trainer and asked to have
his wrist examined, saying the area had been bothering him since the
Cincinnati game Sept. 2.
"They X-rayed his wrist and he has a hairline crack
— not really a break, not really a fracture, but he has a problem
in his wrist," Tiller said.
But Tiller saw Turner Tuesday morning and the junior
assured Tiller the wrist injury was petty.
"We'll see how that works out," Tiller said. "He's
much improved as far as the shoulder is concerned and I think it will
be determined next week at this time whether or not he'll play in the
next ball game."
Turner didn't practice Tuesday, and he wasn't the
only defensive starter on the exercise bikes rather than on the field
practicing Tuesday.
Senior defensive end Akin Ayodele and sophomore
defensive tackle Craig Terrill didn't practice either, allowing minor
injuries to heal better. Tiller said both players would probably practice
today.
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