Split Zone Duo
Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast
Pac-12 and Indy Vibe Checks + The State of Special Teams Development
0:00
-1:12:58

Pac-12 and Indy Vibe Checks + The State of Special Teams Development

Offseason check-ins continue with the Pac-12 and FBS independents. Plus, author Victoria Zeller joins us to talk about the privatization of ... special teams?
© MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Part 1 of this week’s episode is the continuation of SZD’s “Offseason Vibe Checks” series, checking in on the Pac-12 and the FBS independents. You may be thinking, “Nice, but that’s going to be a short episode, because there are just two Pac-12 teams and three independents at the moment.” Fear not! Part 2 is an interview with author Victoria Zeller, who joins Alex to discuss her new book One of the Boys and the deep research she did into the state of modern special teams development. #CollegeKickers are getting better despite lacking training at most high schools. How? Well, there’s a story there.

  • In the Pac-12, Washington State had the kind of offseason that Oregon State had last year, and now the Cougars have to pick up the pieces

  • Among the FBS independents: UConn’s doing well, UMass is at least trying something sensible as it prepares to move to the MAC this summer, and Notre Dame has lots of backfilling and an intriguing QB battle on the agenda

  • Victoria Zeller talks about her book, the privatization of special teams development, and a whole lot of kicker topics.

The book comes out May 13 and is available for preorder.

Subscriber exclusives all offseason long

Here are two from this week:

And much more from SZD

Paid subscribers get a lot of bonus episodes, at least one pretty much every week and often more. You can try us out on a free trial.

Elsewhere in Offseason Vibe Checks

Get cool stuff from SZD’s partners

Discussion about this episode