Oct. 11, 2001

by Media Relations Assistant Kevin Fischer

A risky business. Handling the kicking responsibilities for any team can be an arduous task for any kicker.

Just ask Minnesota Vikings place-kicker Gary Anderson who was a perfect 35-for-35 on field goal attempts and 59-of-59 on extra point attempts in 1998. He will forever be remembered in Minnesota as "the guy who missed the kick in the playoffs" against the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championships game.

Remember former Buffalo Bills kicker, Scott Norwood. Certainly it is not for all the kicks he made but his kick that sailed wide right in Super Bowl XXV as the Bills lost to the Giants 20-19.

No doubt, kicking can be a risky business.

Fifth year seniors Casey Hannon and Chris Birch team-up to handle the kicking duties for the Wildcats in 2001 and have accepted the challenges that go along with their trade.

"Chris (Birch) and I know that this is our craft," Hannon explained in what both kickers claim to be their first official interview. "We know more than anybody about what we are doing when it comes to going out there and getting the job done. We are both fifth year seniors and Coach Talley has all the confidence in the world that when we are called upon, we will get the job done."

Both Birch and Hannon began their kicking careers in high school. Birch, at one time a soccer player, received encouragement to join the football team at St. Mark's High School in Wilmington, Del., from his friends. Birch, a part-time wide receiver in high school, focused on kicking from the get go.

"I played soccer up until high school, but I grew out of that," Birch began to explain. "I had some friends on the team and they knew I played soccer, so they encouraged me to come out."

Hannon, on the other hand, began his high school football career at The Pingrey School in Lebanon, N.J., as a tight end and linebacker. Strangely enough, Hannon, a four-year starter as a place kicker at Villanova, preferred life as a position player.

"I played tight end and linebacker in high school. I actually liked that a lot more than kicking. I was not a big fan of kicking," Hannon began to explain. "I realized that I was not fast enough, good enough or big enough to play at the next level as a position player. As a sophomore, I began to focus on kicking and hoped for a chance to get a scholarship."

Hannon originally elected to attend Penn State on a football scholarship as a kicker, but things did not pan out the way he had hoped. Fortunately for head coach Andy Talley and the Villanova football program, he decided to transfer from University Park to the Main Line.

"When I went there I thought I was going to play right away, but that didn't work out.. I got a little frustrated," Hannon explained. "I wanted to go to a place where I didn't have to look over my shoulder and could play for four years."

In Hannon's first home game at Villanova Stadium, he immediately asserted his kicking prowess as he booted a 35-yard field goal in overtime to defeat the Delaware Blue Hens. It certainly was a sign of things to come for Hannon and the Wildcats. Throughout his career on the Main Line, he has successfully converted on 124 of 130 extra point attempts and 30-of-43 field goal attempts.

As for Birch, he certainly has enjoyed Hannon's company. The two kickers have become best of friends on and off the field.

"I like the fact that he (Hannon) is the big, notorious Penn State guy," Birch stated with a smile. "I have never been asked a question, until today. I have never been interviewed, until today."

Last season, in the Richmond game on October 28, things shifted a little bit for Birch and the Villanova special teams unit. Hannon suffered a season ending ankle injury making a tackle on a kickoff return. All of a sudden Birch was thrown into the spotlight and asked to handle, not only the punting duties, but the place kicking duties as well.

"It didn't hit me at first," Birch recalled. "About ten minutes after he got hurt we were moving the ball into their side of the 50 and I was like, 'Oh Man! I am going to have to kick.' It didn't sink in until then."

Despite missing his first field goal attempt, a 34 yarder into the wind, Birch accounted for 14 points over the course of the final three games. Birch finished the season 11-of-12 on PAT's with one field goal on three attempts.

"It was fun to score points," Birch said of his role as a place kicker. "He (Hannon) was a big help to me from the sidelines. My fun is over. It's good to have him back this year. "

And every Wildcat football fan will agree with Birch. For two straight weeks Hannon has been called upon for a game-winning kick. Last week versus James Madison, his extra-point sealed a 45-44 double overtime victory for the Wildcats.

Even more memorable was his kick just two weeks ago. Hannon booted a game-winning 30-yard field goal out of a Birch hold with :01 remaining on the clock to help Villanova to a 31-30 victory. Earlier in the game, Hannon missed a fourth quarter extra-point attempt but he was able to redeem himself as the Wildcats went on to celebrate their victory.

"I have never missed an extra point before that. I have had a few blocked, but I have never just missed one. It's difficult to miss an extra point. You almost have to try to miss it," Hannon said jokingly. "I was in a state of shock and disappointment when I missed it. To get an opportunity in the same game and kick the game winning field goal was great."

In reminiscing about his game winning field goal against Richmond, Hannon was quick to point out the importance Birch has played to the Wildcats special team unit, especially this season.

"The thing that is nice this year is having Sean McCarthy snapping and Birch holding. The only thing I have to worry about is keeping my head down and kicking the ball through," Hannon said. "Having that never be a doubt takes a lot of pressure off me."

Birch's role as the holder on special teams only begins to describe the impact he has on special teams this season. Through four games Birch is averaging 40.6 yards per punt, with a long of 59 yards. Birch has managed to pin the opponents inside the 20-yard line 7 times.

"Chris has been able to change plenty of games just from his punting resulting in bad field position for the other team," Hannon explained.

Week in and week out, Birch and Hannon put pressure on themselves to go out and perform to the best of their abilities. That is part of the reason behind the success they each have achieved. The bottom line remains the same for the Villanova football program whether from a kickers viewpoint or from a position players' perspective.

"A lot of programs the kickers are away from the team," Hannon and Birch agreed. "Over the years, Chris and I have become real tight. We have been around each other long enough so that we can feed off each other and each other's success. We each have some success personally, but neither of us has played on a team that has won a championship. That is the ultimate goal, everything else is secondary. Winning a championship is our only goal."

Both Birch and Hannon share the "kicker mentality" with hopes of achieving the "ultimate goal" of a championship season. They both agree that they play on a special teams unit for a special football program.

Birch, Hannon and the Wildcats continue their quest to that "ultimate goal" versus New Haven on Friday, Oct. 12.