OU's two-punter system succeeds
OU football: Unique circumstances
Cohen, Knall ‘make each other better'

By Scott Wright

Published: December 23, 2006

NORMAN — Michael Cohen's siblings still tease him about being a punter.

After all, punting was something Cohen did for fun after football practice when the coaches weren't watching. He was a linebacker and fullback at Cypress Falls High School in Houston.

A unique set of circumstances changed all that. And ever since, Cohen's career has been one unique circumstance after another.

That's how he ended up at Oklahoma and how he became part of Bob Stoops' two-punter system.

After the competition for the punting job between Cohen and sophomore Mike Knall remained close throughout fall camp, Stoops decided to use both — Cohen for long kicks, Knall for directional and pooch kicks.

And in a year when Stoops is being considered for multiple national awards, that decision might be his most overlooked coaching move of all.

Cohen averaged 41.1 yards on 46 kicks, including a 72- and 75-yarder. Knall had just one touchback in 11 punts. Nine were downed inside the 20-yard line and five inside the 5-yard line.

"They both have competed really well and have made each other better,” Stoops said of his punting tandem.

Knall wasn't too excited about the two-punter idea at first.

"I was kind of upset, because I wanted the whole job,” he said. "But it's given me a chance to get used to the game atmosphere and the pressure.

"It has turned out to be pretty fun, even though I'd rather be doing all the kicks.”

But for Cohen, Stoops' choice wasn't all that bizarre. No more bizarre than how he became a punter in the first place.

"My best friend in high school was our place-kicker,” Cohen said. "Every time he'd go out to kick, I'd go out with him and punt. I always enjoyed punting, just for fun. Never thought I'd really do it. I'd always kick it back and forth to him.”

Midway through his sophomore year, Cypress Falls' regular punter got injured. After a little convincing, Cohen stepped in.

He kept the job, and eventually landed at Kilgore (Texas) Junior College.

After two successful years at the junior-college level, Cohen started looking for NCAA Division I-A opportunities.

He hadn't looked at OU until after a trip to Oklahoma City to visit family and help his brother, Martin.

"I was delivering a car for my brother that works at a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Texas,” Cohen said. "I was delivering it to one of his customers.

"My family up here tried to convince me to come play here. The weekend after I left, they found out the punter was on suspension. So I decided to look into it.”

OU's suspended punter, Cody Freeby, was later kicked off the team, and Cohen looked a little harder at the Sooners.

"It was just wild how it happened,” he said. "It felt like this was where I was supposed to be after it happened like that.”

Wild, yes. But nothing surprises Cohen these days.

"Since I was a little kid, I always said I was gonna play at a major university,” Cohen said. "I didn't ever think I'd be punting, but that's how it worked out.

"It worked out for the best. I'm here now, and I'm really glad.”