Eastern Michigan Athletics
Mitchell Tomasek: The Art of the Punt and the Confidence of a Leader
8/22/2024 7:49:00 PM | Football
EMU opens the season Saturday, Aug. 31, at UMass
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – As Eastern Michigan University's senior punter and a two-time Ray Guy Award Preseason Nominee, Mitchell Tomasek (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) knows a thing or two about precision, patience, and perseverance. He's been recognized as one of the top punters in the nation, but for Tomasek, personal accolades are secondary to his team's success.
The Honor and Reality of Recognition
For Tomasek, being listed as one of the best punters in the country is an honor, but he maintains a humble perspective. "At the end of the day, it doesn't really mean much," he says. "It's just a team game, and I just got to do the best I can to put our team in a good position." This team-first mentality has been a cornerstone of Tomasek's approach throughout his career at Eastern Michigan.
The recognition is nice, but Tomasek knows that being mentioned in the same breath as the best special teams players in the country, such as last year's Lou Groza Award winner from Miami University, Graham Nicholson, simply underscores the talent present in the Mid-American Conference. "It's possible," Tomasek says about the possibility of a MAC punter winning the Ray Guy Award. "There's a lot of good punters out there, and hopefully I end up as one of the best this year."
Fine-Tuning the Craft
Tomasek's commitment to improvement is evident in the way he approaches his offseason preparation. His focus is on the finer details—those seemingly minor adjustments that can make all the difference at his position. "Just little schematic things most people wouldn't understand," he explains. "Something I guess would be a shorter first step. And then just more flexibility and some stuff with your mind."
He's meticulous, but not obsessed with numbers or records. When asked if he follows his stats or chases records during the season, Tomasek is quick to dismiss the notion. "I don't look at the numbers. It's the same thing as golf—when I'm doing good on a round, I definitely don't count those strokes because then it goes downhill. I just got to put my best ball out there and see what happens."
Growing Confidence and Leadership
Tomasek's journey at Eastern Michigan has been one of personal and professional growth. "I feel it a lot, actually. I'm definitely more confident now than I was," he reflects. "Going into your first year, you tell yourself you belong, but there's really no proof in the paper. Now I feel like I've showed it, and I'm just excited to keep doing it."
This confidence has naturally translated into a leadership role, particularly within the specialist group. With the departure of key players like long snapper Steven Bird, Tomasek has stepped up. "I would say, yeah, a big part of it's me," he says about taking on the leadership mantle. " Jesús Gómez and Kenyon Bowyer as well. Even the younger guys—they know what they need to do. So it's nothing too hard. It's a pretty easy transition, although Bird was a big piece of our room."
The Challenge of Breaking in New Players
With a large influx of new players, many from the transfer portal, Tomasek and the rest of the team's leadership recognized the importance of building chemistry. "We have, I think, the ninth-most new people on the roster," he says. "Just bonding a little bit and getting to know everybody was the main piece." This offseason, much of the focus has been on integrating new players and strengthening the team's collective identity.
One area of transition has been breaking in new long snappers, a crucial relationship for any punter. While Tomasek doesn't claim to know the intricacies of long snapping, he places his trust in the confidence of the new specialists. "Everything deals with confidence, and they both have confidence. So I know they're going to be all right."
Looking Toward the Future of Punting
Tomasek has also been keeping an eye on the changes in the NFL, particularly new rules surrounding kickoffs aimed at reducing injuries. While kickoffs and punts are different beasts, he remains cautiously optimistic that such rules won't affect his position. "I don't know how you could do that [in punting] because the whole thing is to get it out there, get it high, so your guys have time to run down there. I hope not, or else my job might be in jeopardy, but we'll see."
Embracing the Theme of "BET"
This season, Eastern Michigan has adopted the theme "BET," a concept that resonates deeply with Tomasek. "It just means bet on yourself," he explains. "Bet on yourself as a team. You've got to be good as a person to help the team grow as a whole. And Eastern Michigan—we're always doubted. We're always put at the bottom. So I think we're really just assuming that role and we're ready to show people what we can do."
Tomasek and his teammates know that they face constant skepticism from the outside, but this only fuels their drive to succeed. "A lot of people are counting us out, and I think that's a good thing. High expectations aren't always where you want to be. We know what we have as a team, and I don't think anybody else does. We're just going to have to put our best ball forward and see what happens. I think we're ready."
Reflecting on the Experience
As Tomasek prepares for another season, he reflects on his time at Eastern Michigan and the growth of the program. The recent renovations to Rynearson Stadium have added to the atmosphere, transforming it into what Tomasek describes as a "big-time area." "It definitely has a different feel," he says of the new stadium. "It feels more like a stadium now. When you had that track, it kind of felt like high school a little bit. But I'm very thankful to Max and Rachel Crosby and everybody that donated and helped get it done."
For Tomasek, it's not just about the games or the accolades—it's about the journey. From driving his first car (a hand-me-down Honda) to stepping onto the field for another season of "MACtion"—which, for him, conjures thoughts of Pat McAfee and Tuesday night broadcasts—Tomasek embodies the spirit of a player who has grown into his role, both on and off the field.
As he looks ahead to the season opener and the challenges that lie beyond, Mitchell Tomasek remains focused on one thing: delivering his best for the team. And with the confidence he's built and the leadership he's embraced, there's no doubt that Eastern Michigan will continue to rely on his steady presence as they navigate the road ahead.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – As Eastern Michigan University's senior punter and a two-time Ray Guy Award Preseason Nominee, Mitchell Tomasek (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) knows a thing or two about precision, patience, and perseverance. He's been recognized as one of the top punters in the nation, but for Tomasek, personal accolades are secondary to his team's success.
The Honor and Reality of Recognition
For Tomasek, being listed as one of the best punters in the country is an honor, but he maintains a humble perspective. "At the end of the day, it doesn't really mean much," he says. "It's just a team game, and I just got to do the best I can to put our team in a good position." This team-first mentality has been a cornerstone of Tomasek's approach throughout his career at Eastern Michigan.
The recognition is nice, but Tomasek knows that being mentioned in the same breath as the best special teams players in the country, such as last year's Lou Groza Award winner from Miami University, Graham Nicholson, simply underscores the talent present in the Mid-American Conference. "It's possible," Tomasek says about the possibility of a MAC punter winning the Ray Guy Award. "There's a lot of good punters out there, and hopefully I end up as one of the best this year."
Fine-Tuning the Craft
Tomasek's commitment to improvement is evident in the way he approaches his offseason preparation. His focus is on the finer details—those seemingly minor adjustments that can make all the difference at his position. "Just little schematic things most people wouldn't understand," he explains. "Something I guess would be a shorter first step. And then just more flexibility and some stuff with your mind."
He's meticulous, but not obsessed with numbers or records. When asked if he follows his stats or chases records during the season, Tomasek is quick to dismiss the notion. "I don't look at the numbers. It's the same thing as golf—when I'm doing good on a round, I definitely don't count those strokes because then it goes downhill. I just got to put my best ball out there and see what happens."
Growing Confidence and Leadership
Tomasek's journey at Eastern Michigan has been one of personal and professional growth. "I feel it a lot, actually. I'm definitely more confident now than I was," he reflects. "Going into your first year, you tell yourself you belong, but there's really no proof in the paper. Now I feel like I've showed it, and I'm just excited to keep doing it."
This confidence has naturally translated into a leadership role, particularly within the specialist group. With the departure of key players like long snapper Steven Bird, Tomasek has stepped up. "I would say, yeah, a big part of it's me," he says about taking on the leadership mantle. " Jesús Gómez and Kenyon Bowyer as well. Even the younger guys—they know what they need to do. So it's nothing too hard. It's a pretty easy transition, although Bird was a big piece of our room."
The Challenge of Breaking in New Players
With a large influx of new players, many from the transfer portal, Tomasek and the rest of the team's leadership recognized the importance of building chemistry. "We have, I think, the ninth-most new people on the roster," he says. "Just bonding a little bit and getting to know everybody was the main piece." This offseason, much of the focus has been on integrating new players and strengthening the team's collective identity.
One area of transition has been breaking in new long snappers, a crucial relationship for any punter. While Tomasek doesn't claim to know the intricacies of long snapping, he places his trust in the confidence of the new specialists. "Everything deals with confidence, and they both have confidence. So I know they're going to be all right."
Looking Toward the Future of Punting
Tomasek has also been keeping an eye on the changes in the NFL, particularly new rules surrounding kickoffs aimed at reducing injuries. While kickoffs and punts are different beasts, he remains cautiously optimistic that such rules won't affect his position. "I don't know how you could do that [in punting] because the whole thing is to get it out there, get it high, so your guys have time to run down there. I hope not, or else my job might be in jeopardy, but we'll see."
Embracing the Theme of "BET"
This season, Eastern Michigan has adopted the theme "BET," a concept that resonates deeply with Tomasek. "It just means bet on yourself," he explains. "Bet on yourself as a team. You've got to be good as a person to help the team grow as a whole. And Eastern Michigan—we're always doubted. We're always put at the bottom. So I think we're really just assuming that role and we're ready to show people what we can do."
Tomasek and his teammates know that they face constant skepticism from the outside, but this only fuels their drive to succeed. "A lot of people are counting us out, and I think that's a good thing. High expectations aren't always where you want to be. We know what we have as a team, and I don't think anybody else does. We're just going to have to put our best ball forward and see what happens. I think we're ready."
Reflecting on the Experience
As Tomasek prepares for another season, he reflects on his time at Eastern Michigan and the growth of the program. The recent renovations to Rynearson Stadium have added to the atmosphere, transforming it into what Tomasek describes as a "big-time area." "It definitely has a different feel," he says of the new stadium. "It feels more like a stadium now. When you had that track, it kind of felt like high school a little bit. But I'm very thankful to Max and Rachel Crosby and everybody that donated and helped get it done."
For Tomasek, it's not just about the games or the accolades—it's about the journey. From driving his first car (a hand-me-down Honda) to stepping onto the field for another season of "MACtion"—which, for him, conjures thoughts of Pat McAfee and Tuesday night broadcasts—Tomasek embodies the spirit of a player who has grown into his role, both on and off the field.
As he looks ahead to the season opener and the challenges that lie beyond, Mitchell Tomasek remains focused on one thing: delivering his best for the team. And with the confidence he's built and the leadership he's embraced, there's no doubt that Eastern Michigan will continue to rely on his steady presence as they navigate the road ahead.
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