Sept. 13, 2003

Editor's Note: This story ran in the Sept. 13 edition of the Mizzou football gameday program.

by Scott Ward

Missouri punter Todd Gohsler never thought he would be a part of Division I football. In high school he was a premier-level club soccer player, and thought that would be his ticket to any sort of elite college play.

About a week ago, though, Gohsler stood in the Tom Taylor Building telling the story of how he had arrived as a back-up punter for one of the nation's up-and-coming football programs, who showed flashes of brilliance last season in emergency duty after Brock Harvey was injured.

His strong kicking leg had gotten him there, but as he spoke he was almost ashamed that he did it in football and not soccer - almost.

"Yeah, I guess I kind of sold out," he said with a laugh. He glanced around the packed hallway and added, "But this is what it's all about. Being around these guys and this program is awesome."

His first action as a Tiger came with two games left on last season's schedule. Harvey sprained his kicking foot in practice the week before and Gohsler was bumped from backup to starter for that weekend's game against Texas A&M.

For his first major-college football action Gohsler, a year removed from a JUCO All-American season at Mesa College in San Diego, would be punting into the teeth of one of the most hostile environments in college football - College Station, Texas.

"The whole thing was definitely a trip," he said. "To get my first start in front of 80,000 people, I would say I was definitely a little nervous.

"After the play that Brock got hurt in practice, I dropped the next snap. I got a heat rush. There was just a lot of nervousness."

His Tiger debut came in a place where even the fans hold practice the night before home games to make sure they are primed and ready for the next victim to come strolling their way.

But Gohsler faced the crowd of almost 80,000 and barely blinked.

He had two kicks over 40 yards, including one that pinned the Aggies inside their own 10-yard line, that played a pivotal part in the Tigers' 33-27 double-overtime victory. The win was Missouri's first against the Aggies in school history.

"There are so many people up there," he said. "You kind of blur it out, and I just worried about catching the ball and getting it off."

He turned in another outstanding performance the following week against Kansas State, where he averaged 43.8 yards on nine punts, including a career best 59-yarder.

But still, try asking any Tiger fan about the strong-legged punter from Southern California, and you are likely to get more blank stares than knowledgeable responses.

A hamstring injury his freshman year at Junipero Serra High School in San Diego, caused him to pursue other athletic ventures and his high school football coach suggested he play tight end.

"I thought about that but I didn't really want to mess up my leg," Gohsler said. "So I told him I could kick, but he wasn't really interested in that - nobody really cares about kickers in high school."

He got a chance, though, and helped his team to a 20-4 record in his varsity career.

He was set to go to Arizona State after graduation, but disinterest from the Sun Devils meant he would just be a student. Gohsler had other plans.

"I registered there and signed up for everything," he said, "but two weeks later, I decided that I couldn't go to college, and think that I could be out there on the football field and playing."

"So I went to junior college to try and go to the next level."

His two seasons at Mesa College saw him gain a spot as an honorable mention on the JUCO All-American team, but he still gained little interest. Finally, through a contact, he got a call from Missouri and signed shortly after.

"The stadium and the facilities are great, the fans are great, and (Columbia) is a great college town," he said. "You put all that together and it's a really great place to play."

He might not get much action again this season, as Harvey is gaining accolades as one of the nation's top punters, but Gohsler will always be ready to step in like he did last season and take another worry off coach Gary Pinkel's mind.

"I'm waiting and if they need me I'll be there," Gohsler said. "I'm just trying to do my best, and I'll step up if I need to."