Author: Sam Mowe
Cory Ohnesorge ’06, a former punter for Oxy’s football team, signed with the New York Giants earlier this month, making him the twelfth Tiger to play professional football in school history. Division III athletes don’t go pro everyday-the last Oxy punter to play in the NFL was Dan Osborn ’83, who competed in the Kansas City Chiefs training camp in 1983. Ohnesorge however, doesn’t believe that playing for a small school held him back from his NFL aspirations at all.
“The thing is, a football field is the same length and width from high school to the pro’s,” Ohnesorge said. “Some of my New York teammates and coaches joke about [me] “Occidentally” getting here and all, but that’s part of the fun. Occidental never held me back from this dream. I was blessed with Coach Widolff and a fine coaching staff every year at Oxy.”
“[Cory is a] great natural talent who has dedicated himself since graduating in an effort to develop the skill and consistency it takes to make an NFL team. [He] has matured greatly over the past 12 months,” Oxy Football Head Coach Dale Widolff said. “[He is the] best punter I have seen in the SCIAC in 27 years.”
Along with the encouragement and coaching that Ohnesorge received at Oxy-where he was the NCAA all-divisions leader in punting average in 2003 with 44.4 yards per attempt and also wrote three research papers on different aspects of punting for his Kinesiology major-part of his success is certainly due to his tremendous personal work ethic. Since graduating Ohnesorge has been building his physical strength using an Olympic sprinter’s workout, consisting of power lifting, sprinting, stretching, punting and recovering. A huge part of his training, however, has also been about mental preparation.
“I’ve taken a few road trips to the forests and beaches of California to get in tune with who I am and where I see myself going,” Ohnesorge said. “I suppose when I’m out in nature, I can sense my deepest self and it gives me the sensation of refueling my passions.”
Post-graduation, Ohnesorge has been helping coach the football team at his old high school, El Camino High School, where he “re-fell in love with the game of football.”
“I put myself in situations where I could push myself beyond physical and mental limits, to see the truth of where I can go, when I set my entire being to something,” Ohnesorge said. “The final goal is earning the respect of myself when this is all said and done and being satisfied with this experience; the way to do that is knowing I trained every day with the aim and vision of being the best punter to walk the earth.”
Ohnesorge views this whole NFL experience as an opportunity to continue to be a student of the game. During training camp he will be punting along with, and competing against, Jeff Feagles who is a 19-year veteran and a former Pro Bowler.
“I intend to learn everything I can from him,” Ohnesorge said. “I intend to leave no gaps or holes in my foundation-it’s no different than an artist creating a masterpiece.”
As for his new team and new city to call home Ohnesorge couldn’t be happier. “The Giants are amazing,” Ohnesorge said. “There is so much tradition and history in this organization and I feel very fortunate to be a part of it. As for New York- it’s starting to grow on me, and I have a lot to experience in this city. I love it.”
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