Entering the 2005 season, Eastern punter Tom Schofield was a three-year starter with a career average over 37 yards per punt. In his final season, he was asked to try something drastically different.

In the off-season, the Panthers hired their first-ever special teams coordinator Steve Choate from Utah State. Choate brought a unique rugby punting style to Charleston, and Schofield was to learn a new system.

“I kind of thought we would be doing something new, but this was something I’d never tried before,” Schofield said.

Six games into the 2005 season, Eastern is leading the Ohio Valley Conference and is 15th in the nation in net punting with an average of 36 yards per punt. Choate believes the plan is currently falling into place.

“What I tell the guys is ‘what are we trying to do here?’ and the answer is win the field position game,” Choate said. “Tom has done a great job winning the net yards battle.”

The biggest difference with the punt is now Schofield will run about three to four yards to the left or right and punt the ball while still on the run.

The senior from Merrill, Wis., talked about the technical differences of the new kick.

“It’s different because of the leg angle,” Schofield said. “I have to swing my leg across my body to make it work.”

Choate said Schofield needed an adjustment period to the change but never questioned the style in the preseason.

“He never fought me on it because he knew that I was trying to add to his many athletic skills,” Choate said.

By utilizing the squib kick, the Panthers have downed 15 punts inside the 20-yard-line and had a 67-yarder that landed inside the one in Saturday’s 53-22 win against Eastern Kentucky.

Two of Eastern Kentucky’s turnovers occurred with the Colonels backed up inside the 10-yard-line.

“It was a major part of the total team effort Saturday,” Eastern head coach Bob Spoo said.

Schofield said his game plan going into Saturday’s game at Murray State would be to get the ball rolling a lot because of the artificial turf at Stewart Stadium.

The most unusual part of the new Eastern special teams system is 11 offensive and defensive starters are on the punt team.

“I sold coach Spoo on the idea that if you think field position is that important, wouldn’t you want your best players on the field,” Choate said.

The one thing Panther coaches and players used is pride in the special teams unit. Against Southeast Missouri, junior wide receiver Ryan Voss ran underneath and downed a Schofield punt inside the 5-yard line, and Saturday against Eastern Kentucky the Panthers downed a 67-yard punt inside the 1.

“Coach Choate made believers out of all of us and the players involved,” Spoo said. “I couldn’t be happier with the job he is doing.