Notre Dame Kicker Blake Grupe Focused on Routine
Blake Grupe is a confident guy.
It’s not often you see the graduate transfer without a smile and that includes Friday as Grupe nailed a 42-yard field goal with Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman basically standing on him as he kicked.
The kick was good with plenty of room to spare and Grupe’s teammates swarmed him.
"Those are moments you sign up as a kicker to be part of,” stated Grupe. “You love to go out there and execute, especially today, you get the guys out of a tempo period. Those feel good, but you don't have an opportunity to execute unless the other guys do their job. You keep putting in work and go out there and do your job."
If Notre Dame was taking on Ohio State today, Grupe would be the starting kicker following a productive offseason and preseason camp.
"Blake Grupe, as Coach Freeman kind of alluded to yesterday, is the starting kicker right now,” Notre Dame special teams coordinator Brian Mason said on Friday. “If we were to play today, Blake Grupe would be the starting kicker and would handle all field goal duties in every situation."
As a kicker, the moments can be high, but they can also be low. Grupe enters year six of college, so he’s experienced it all.
"I feel like I've seen both sides of it,” explained Grupe. “That's a chip on my shoulder. I've been doubted for my size my entire life. I use that. When you are on the high side of it, you have to keep it rolling and stay confident. You go out and use that chip. You go out there and have the confidence in yourself to know you're going to do your job every single time despite any of the circumstances."
Some may have been surprised by Freeman stating Grupe has a range of 53 yards whether it’s because Notre Dame has lacked distance kicking in the past or because of 5-foot-7, 158-pounder doesn't look like Jon Doerer.
Mason wasn’t giving away any hints on Friday as to his evaluation of Grupe or even his kicker’s work with Matt Balis over the last eight months when asked if Grupe had always had distance or if he had developed more range since arriving in South Bend.
"Yeah, I get it he's short, so he doesn't have distance, right,” stated Mason. “So Ok. Good?”
Yet, it likely has to do with Grupe’s confidence, but his routine, which Mason has stressed with all his specialists.
"Coach Mason is a scheme guy,” Grupe said. “He has all kinds of stuff. He's always on me about establishing and mastering your routine. He wants us to write it out. When you're so locked in on your routine, none of the other stuff matters."
Part of Grupe’s routine is visualizing each kick. There is a big picture part as Grupe makes sure to learn his surroundings, while also focusing on the details in the moments before the kick.
"It's another tool in your toolbox,” Grupe said of visualization. “I've used that since I was a sophomore. Pregame as you're in the locker room, you get a feel for the stadium and what it looks like—going through reps in your head. Before practice today, as I knew I was building up to it, just go through your routine and see the ball fly through. You don't have to make anything over-complicated, but when you see it, it's in your head and you've seen it. It's a lot easier to go through and execute."
Grupe has also executed off the field as he arrived at Notre Dame with a master’s degree from Arkansas State in hand.
"I actually already have my master's,” said Grupe. “I got my MBA down there in 4.5 years. I got here and after going through the season last year and finishing that master's program, I decided not to necessarily pursue a degree. Getting here in January, it was a little tough to jump into a program. I am in a master's degree program, but I'm just taking classes."
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Guinness Stadium Pullover Hoodie
