Turner searches for special touch, strong kick
Junior Steve Fitts might be destined for double duty as kicker, punter

by Larry Hawley
Senior writer

Martin Sinclair The Daily Illini

Junior punter Steve Fitts takes a break from practice Wednesday afternoon.

Being a pure punter might be a luxury no longer for junior Steve Fitts.

With the departure of Neil Rackers, and no set kicker to replace him, Fitts may have to pull double duty come the fall for the Illinois football team.

However, Fitts said this is a chance he has been waiting for since he first put on an Illini uniform.

"It would be great to have the job," Fitts said. "My goal when I came here was to have the job by my junior year."

The last time Fitts was a placekicker was in high school, where he served as punter and kicker at Airport High School in South Congaree, S.C.

Fitts said that the experience in high school made him want to take both positions.

"I was a kicker and a punter in high school, so when I came here I really wanted to be able to do both for the team," Fitts said.

Fitts has served as the Illini's punter since his freshman year. He averaged 41.3 yards a kick in 1998, improving that total by a yard in 1999. His work in Illinois' 7-4 regular season earned Fitts All-Big Ten honorable mention honors.

Even though kicking has been added to Fitts' agenda, punting still takes top priority.

"I'm still punting first, and that's what the coaches wanted me to do so my punting wouldn't tail off," Fitts said. "So far both have been pretty good, and I am happy with my progress."

In 1998, an unproductive Illini offense stalled many times, and Fitts said he was on the field more than he would've liked.

With a much improved Illini offense last season, Fitts' number of attempts was down by 12 in 1999, including a punt-free MicronPC.Com Bowl.

Fitts said that he has to pace himself when it comes to taking on both kicking roles for the team.

"You can wear yourself out if you kick too much in practice, so I have to try and balance my kicking and punting as much as I can in practice," Fitts said.

Although he's currently the No. 1 punter for the Illini, Fitts has gotten some competition from sophomores J.J. Tubbs and Peter Christofilakos.

"All of the kickers are having a good spring and are pushing one another," Fitts said. "We have our good days and our off days, but we have been getting better during the spring."