Punter on Punter Crime: Max Duffy Responds to Comments from Morstead

FREMANTLE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 26: Max Duffy talks to the media during a Fremantle Dockers AFL pre-season media session at Fremantle Oval on November 26, 2012 in Fremantle, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) /

Max Duffy got into a Grade A, 100% Australian Twitter Beef over the influx of older punters into college football who come from differing professional backgrounds.

Max Duffy had an incredible season! Beyond winning the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top collegiate punter, he racked up numerous postseason all-American accolades.

On Twitter, Duffy shared his thoughts in response to some interesting perspectives that were voiced on the Pat McAfee Show, hosted by former NFL punter and current media personality, Pat McAfee. Thomas Morstead, current New Orleans Saints punter, remarked these comments about the number of older punters coming into NCAA football from other professional athletic backgrounds:

"“A lot of 17-18 year olds are losing out on scholarship opportunities because of these 25-26-28.. 40 year old players” – @thomasmorsteadon the trend of older professionals from other sports kicking and punting in the NCAA #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE"

Duffy, a 26-year-old, former Australian Football League professional, responded to the comments from Morstead in the following tweet:

"Winners are grinners, losers can please themselves…. 1. the guy from LSU is american and the oldest punter in the SEC (great punter btw) 2. Only 4 of us are former professional athletes and in a completely different sport. 3. We give up ouf whole lives, leave family, friends, and employment to pursue a dream that is not guaranteed and most of us use our life savings/take out a loan to do it. 4. The level of college punting has increased astronomically because of Nathan Chapman @prokickaustralia what he has done should put him college football hall of fame"

For those of you who don’t know, six of the last seven Ray Guy Award winners are natives of Australia and, as of 2018, there were 30 FBS football teams with an Australian-born punter on their roster. Many of these athletes are older and, some, have had professional backgrounds in other sports before pursuing punting at the NCAA level.

The success of these players at the NCAA level has led to opportunities in the NFL for successful Australian-born punters.

What are your thoughts, Wildcat Blue Nation? Is there validity to Morstead’s point, or is Max Duffy correct to take offense and offer these perspectives?

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