The so-called punt is when the punter from the offensive special teams unit directly kicks the football out, giving it a powerful boot; and the defensive special teams unit prepares to catch the ball on the other side of the field.
The defensive player who catches the football can continue to push forward, which is called a "return attack."
The offensive special teams unit must then stop this returner because the spot where the returner's knee touches the ground will be the starting point for the opponents' offensive group when they take the field.
The most impressive punt can pin the opponent's starting point at their one-yard line near the end zone.
The worst case for a punt is letting the opponent's return man break through the entire field effortlessly, reaching one's own end zone for a "return touchdown."
Certainly, there are other various situations with punts.
When the punter kicks the ball out of bounds, or it flies out of the end zone, or it lands within the opponent's end zone, the result is the same:
The opposing offensive group will automatically start their drive from their own twenty-five-yard line, called the "standard offensive starting position."
In the past, the standard offensive starting position was one's twenty-yard line, but starting in 2016, the league amended the rule, moving it up five yards, to kick off from the twenty-five-yard line, so the NCAA also adjusted the rule accordingly.
Just now.
The starting team's three offensive attempts ended in complete failure, leaving their last position near their own thirty-five-yard line. To avoid a failed fourth down attempt giving the reserve team a chance to attack close to their own end zone, they had no choice but to punt.
The starting team kicked the football directly out of the end zone, meaning the reserve team would start from their own twenty-five-yard line.
Roar!
Roar! Roar! Roar!
Although the game had just begun, Bryant Denny Stadium was already deeply pulsating with the fervor of the crowd, the fans cheering not only for the starting team but also for the reserve team—
Who knows? Maybe by the start of the new season in September, someone from the reserve team could make it into the starting lineup.
Li Wei, took the field.
It was different.
Truly different.
Li Wei, who had always been accustomed to fighting alone, could immediately feel the overwhelming presence of the stadium, a completely different experience.
This was "merely" the energy of seventy thousand people; it was hard to imagine what kind of magnificent scene it would be if a stadium of one hundred thousand were filled to capacity?
Just imagining it sent a rush of exhilaration through him.
Jogging onto the field with short, quick steps, Li Wei raised his head and chest, savoring the moment, immersed in the atmosphere and the sensation he loved so much.
Li Wei wondered, what would it feel like if the entire crowd cheered for him?
He was ready to find out.
The reserve team's quarterback, Cooper Bateman, whose last name sounded like Batman, and who was roughly the size of Batman—at 224 pounds (102 kilograms), was a bit hefty for a quarterback, so his teammates called him Batman.
Unfortunately, Bateman's professional career prospects were not looking bright.
He was a junior and about to be a senior in September, yet he always remained a backup on the team. In the spring training camp, he had lost out in the competition to be the starting quarterback to a high schooler named Hertz, and his hopes of going pro were slowly fading.
But Bateman was an honest man, who still trained with dedication, and ultimately beat the other contenders to become the team's second-string quarterback.
"I think we should start with a ground attack."
Bateman said.
He knelt on one knee, surrounded by his reserve teammates—the earnest man seemed not very confident, honest, and without issuing commands; rather, he sought his teammates' opinions, and his flickering gaze betrayed a mix of emotions, both nervousness and excitement.
Then, his eyes turned toward Li Wei—
Because Li Wei was a running back and because of the shared hardships of the spring training camp, they had not only seen Li Wei's talent and effort but also his tactical acumen.
From knowing nothing about Football to now, Li Wei had become the team's official strategist. If anyone was still confused after a tactical training class, they would turn to Li Wei, who was sure to clarify any doubts and provide enlightening advice—this had become an open secret on the team.
Beteman himself had sought Li Wei's help several times, and Li Wei never hoarded his knowledge; moreover, he never referred to it as "imparting" but always as "exchanging" in discussions.
Not just Beteman, the main defensive group was also keeping an eye on Li Wei.
Lifting his head, looking past the crowd, he could see Allen and Foster.
Allen was bouncing lightly on the spot, hands rubbing together eagerly, with excitement sparkling in his eyes as if he couldn't wait.
Li Wei knew that Allen indeed couldn't wait—
As a defensive end, Allen's job was to down the running back and quarterback. For the defensive group, downing was a sign of dominance, and the defensive ends were often the team's sack leaders.
From the day Li Wei joined Crimson Tide Storm, Allen had been waiting for this scrimmage. Not for revenge, but to fairly and squarely compete against Li Wei in an official game; this time, he would not underestimate his opponent.
Noticing Li Wei's gaze at this moment, Allen broke into a radiant smile and slowly drew his right thumb across his throat. He continued bouncing like a flea and then shouted at Li Wei,
"How about it, ready to take a nasty fall?"
Li Wei grinned, his face the picture of innocence, "Not ready yet."
"Ha ha," Allen and the others around them burst into laughter.
Allen was indeed someone to be wary of, but Li Wei's attention was all on another person—
Number ten.
More precisely, Reuben Foster.
Li Wei couldn't remember his name, but he remembered the unremarkable number ten was the linebacker from the tryout. He hadn't felt anything special at the time, but after just three weeks of training, Li Wei realized Foster's excellence.
Understated. Focused. Serious. Stable.
Despite Foster's silence, he was also one of the captains of the defensive group; moreover, the linebacker position was essentially the quarterback of the defensive group.
Positionally, linebackers and quarterbacks were mirror images. The linebacker was also the position within the defensive group with a built-in earpiece in the helmet, responsible for communicating with the Defensive Coordinator while observing the offensive group's formation, making judgments, and, if necessary, adjusting defensive tactics—
Just not frequently. After all, the initiative was in the hands of the offensive group; the defensive group mostly reacted accordingly.
Foster's strength lay in his calmness, having his own thoughts about tactical layouts.
Moreover, the linebacker was the running back's real natural enemy.
Crimson Tide Storm's defensive group employed a "3-4" alignment, which meant four linebackers, and Saban had his own strengths in coaching linebackers.
At this moment, Foster wasn't particularly focused on Li Wei, but Li Wei could feel the attention from number ten, a hint of a killing intent locking onto him.
His fighting spirit and battle readiness were already aflame.
It seemed that not only Allen, but Foster had also quietly marked Li Wei.
Drawing back his gaze, Li Wei looked at Beteman, who had a trace of uncertainty in his eyes, feeling that he couldn't blame Allen and Foster for their wariness; after all, they were all on the same team, and everyone was all too familiar with each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Furthermore, they had been sharpening their knives for a full three weeks.
It was time.
Li Wei took a deep breath and looked at Beteman.
"Okay."
Without hesitation, he accepted the challenge—
Ready to face the difficulty head-on!