Stadler Enjoys Role as Northwest Missouri Punter

By David Boyce

Every once in awhile Northwest Missouri junior punter Michael Stadler jokes with the offense to ease up on being so good.

When the Bearcats are clicking Stadler becomes the least used starter for Northwest Missouri.

Stadler says, "hey guys, aren't you going to let me punt?"

Actually, Stadler would be one of the happiest players around if he never lines up to punt Saturday when Northwest Missouri, 11-1 and ranked No. 2, faces Central Washington, 12-0 and ranked No. 1, in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals in Ellensburg, Wash. Kickoff is 2 p.m. at Tomlinson Stadium.

"I don't mind at all because that means our offense is playing well," Stadler said. "Luckily, we have one of the better offenses."

Stadler entered this season with a career punting average of 41.1 yards from his first two years.

His average has slipped to 37.3 yards per kick and he even had three punts blocked earlier in the season.

The main reason for the early struggles, Northwest Missouri coach Mel Tjeerdsma said, was because the team lost its four-year long snapper, who was so good that he could snap and block.

The Bearcats didn't have that luxury this season. They had to change scheme.

"We went to a shield where your long snapper doesn't have to block," Tjeerdsma said. "It's been tough on Michael to make this adjustment. He has done a real good job working with it.

"He's really come on. We are blocking better and doing a lot better adapting to the shield protection."

Stadler was the MVP in Northwest Missouri's 22-19 overtime victory over Washburn on Oct. 24.

The Bearcats trailed 13-7 and were forced to punt with just under four minutes left to go in the game.

"He saved me," Tjeerdsma said. "Not too many people thought we should be punting at that time. It's one of those things where it is a great call when it works out."

Stadler punted the ball to the 1. It's what he wanted to do and needed to do to give the Bearcats a chance to win. He was thinking if he pinned Washburn deep in Northwest Missouri territory, the defense could come up with a safety.

And that's exactly what happened. The momentum shifted and Northwest Missouri eventually went ahead.

"I was just trying to help out our offense," Stadler said. "They are pretty good at helping me out to get inside the 20 so it was my turn to help them out a little bit."

It's no surprise that Stadler has successfully adapted to a new punting scheme. It's in his background.

When he was very young, Stadler moved with his parents to Bermuda and spent five years there. His father was in charge of recreation for the Marine Corps.

"It was interesting," Stadler said. "I liked the weather. It never got below 70 degrees."

After Bermuda, Stadler spent five more years in England where he played soccer, rugby and cricket.

"They took sports just as serious as they do in Maryville," Stadler said. "Under-15 rugby games would have 15,000 people there."

Stadler returned to the United States when he was 13. He arrived at Harrisonville High School with a thick British accent. There aren't many British accents in Harrisonville, Mo.

But Stadler fit in so well that he was one of two players from the soccer team that was chosen to kick for the high school football team when a new coach arrived.

Stadler said coach Fred Bouchard, who now coaches at Staley High School, went to the soccer coach and said he needed a senior and a freshman and he would teach them how to kick a football.

Stadler was the freshman and punted and was the place kicker at Harrisonville.

"There were a couple of times when there was a football game and soccer game the same day so my parents had to shuttle me around to get to the games in time," Stadler said.

When he finished at Harrisonville, Stadler wasn't sure where he would kick in college. Recruiting didn't go the way he wanted so he looked at Northwest Missouri where his girlfriend and now his wife went to.

She was a freshman at Northwest Missouri when he was a senior in high school so he paid attention to the football team in Maryville.

"I watched the national championship game and I said ‘hey, I want to go to Northwest Missouri,'" Stadler said. "They let me try out. I walked on and they gave me a chance."

After redshirting his first season, Stadler has been the starting punter the last three years.

"He's been really solid," Tjeerdsma said. "He has a strong leg. He was a kicker and punter in high school. When he came here he just wanted to punt and that was a good move on his part.

"He stepped right in and his first year he did an awesome job. Average wise, this is probably his worst year, but that tells you it's a lot more than just a punter. It's a team thing."

Doing his part to help the Bearcats is all that Stadler cares about.

"It's awesome," Stadler said of playing for Northwest Missouri.

Fun facts: Northwest Missouri is making its sixth straight trip to the quarterfinals. The Bearcats have made the NCAA Division II playoffs 12 times in the last 14 years...This will be a match-up of great offense against great defense. The Bearcats are averaging 43.8 points per game, which ranks second in Division II. Central Washington has allowed 11.2 points per game, which is the best in Division II...Northwest Missouri is 2-5 against teams ranked No. 1, but beat Grand Valley 36-14 in 2007 in the semifinals...Northwest Missouri's senior class is 23-2 in road games.

Offensive player to watch: Senior running back LaRon Council, the quiet leader, is very important to Northwest Missouri attack. When he runs well and scores touchdowns the offense is unstoppable.

Defensive player to watch: Senior safety Myles Burnsides is the quarterback of the defense. The rest of this season comes down to the seniors. They have tasted a lot of success, more than just about any other players in Division II, but they have fallen just short in the championship game. Leaders like Burnsides are going to give everything they have to win it all.

Last meeting: This is the first time these two programs have met.

To reach David Boyce, contributing writer for the MIAA, e-mail dboyce@themiaa.com.