| Joey Hildbold |
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AS A JUNIOR: Irish punter in 2001…ranked 35th in the nation in punting average at 42.2…ranks second in Notre Dame history for career punting average at 39.1…recorded a then career-high punt average of 50.1 yards vs. Michigan State on nine kicks…just missed the Notre Dame record for punting average in a game (five punts for 258 yards and a 51.6 average set by Joe Restic vs. Air Force in 1975)…followed that game with a career-high punt average of 50.5 yards vs. Texas A&M on six kicks, and led the nation in punting that week with a cumulative 48.8 average…vs. USC recorded four punts for 190 yards (47.5 average) including two inside the 20. . .recorded four punts for 42.3 average vs. Tennessee…recorded nine punts for 41.7 average vs. Purdue…. .recorded 19 punts inside the 20-yard line…a Ray Guy Award candidate… Street and Smith's preseason honorable mention All-American…Football News preseason all-independent team.
AS A SOPHOMORE: Number-one Irish punter in 2000 . . . named one of 10
finalists for Ray Guy Award as top collegiate punter for 2000, as one of
only two sophomores listed . . . ranked 39th in NCAA statistics with 40.93
average . . . helped Irish rank 10th nationally in net punting with 38.44
average . . . named to the All-Independent teams by Football News and
Collegefootballnews.com . . . played large role in Irish breaking season
record for fewest punt return yards given up per attempt (4.7), breaking
the previous mark of 5.0 set in 1951 . . . booted career-long 69-yard punt
in the third quarter against Texas A&M, pinning the Aggies on their
three-yard line . . . his first three punts against Purdue were for 63, 58
and 51 yards and he averaged 48.8 yards on five punts . . . punted a
career-high nine times vs. Stanford . . . averaged over 45 yards on eight
boots vs. West Virginia, including four punts of 50 or more yards . . .
sprained right ankle in practice week prior to Boston College game,
causing
him to miss that contest . . . returned to action vs. Rutgers . . . had 15
punts for 50 or more yards during regyular season and pinned the
opposition
inside its 20 on 22 occasions.
AS A FRESHMAN: Top name on Irish punting
list throughout '99 . . . finished season with 39.0-yard average on 54
punts . . . punted seven times vs. Michigan State for 43.4 yard average
after 46.4 mark on five kicks vs. Purdue . . . booted career-long 56-yard
punt vs. the Spartans following 54-yard punt vs. Purdue . . . had 43.5
average on four kicks vs. Tennessee . . . matched career high with seven
punts vs. Boston College, including a 35-yard punt which was downed on the
Eagles' one-yard line.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Virginia first-team
Associated Press all-state punter at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax,
Va. . . . first-team selection as punter on Washington Post all-metro team
. . . AP second-team all-state kicker in '98 . . . second-team all-state
pick by coaches as punter . . . averaged 39.7 yards per punt as senior in
'98, with only 22 yards in punt returns against his team . . . hit 19 of
22
PATs and seven of 14 field goals in '98, with long of 45 yards . . . first
team as both punter and kicker on Washington Post all-Virginia AAA Patriot
team for '98 . . . rated one of top 40 players in Virginia by Richmond
Times-Dispatch . . . earned three letters in football as punter,
placekicker and wide receiver . . . put 60 percent of his kickoffs into
end
zone in '98 . . . 21 of his 37 '98 kickoffs were for touchbacks . . .
caught 12 passes, two for touchdowns, as wide receiver in '98 . . .
helped
'97 team to 14-0 record by hitting two of four field goals and 31 of 41
PATs . . . helped team to '97 Virginia Group AAA Division 6 state title .
.
. selected to Chesapeake Classic all-star game between Maryland and
Virginia players . . . earned four letters in wrestling, helping team to
three conference titles . . . finished second in district time
all-conference pick in wrestling and captain of team as senior . . . won
three letters in soccer as sweeper, helping team to league title as
sophomore . . . father Bill is 1973 Notre Dame graduate who competed in
wrestling and rowing at Notre Dame . . . attended Notre Dame summer
football camp . . . brother Billy was wrestler at George Mason . . . full
name is Joseph Matthew Hildbold . . . youngest of three children . . .
born
5-29-81 in Falls Church, Va. . . . earned 3.0 grade-point average during
'99 fall semester . . . enrolled in Mendoza College of Business.
| | G-GS | Punts | Yds. | Avg. | LP |
| 1999 | 12-0 | 54 | 2107 | 39.0 | 56 |
| 2000 | 10-0 | 60 | 2456 | 40.9 | 69 |
| 2001 | 11-0 | 64 | 2703 | 42.2 | 59 |
| TOTAL | 33-0 | 178 | 7266 | 40.8 | 69 |
| | TC | Yds. | Avg. | TD | LG | Solo | Asst. | Tot. |
| 1999 | 2 | -12 | -6.0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Hildbold Game By Game
1999
| Game | Punts | Yds. | Avg. |
| Kansas | 1 | 33 | 33.0 |
| Michigan | 4 | 153 | 38.3 |
| Purdue | 5 | 232 | 46.4 |
| Michigan State | 7 | 304 | 43.4 |
| Oklahoma | 3 | 109 | 36.3 |
| Arizona State | 5 | 165 | 33.0 |
| USC | 4 | 152 | 38.0 |
| Navy | 4 | 148 | 37.0 |
| Tennessee | 4 | 174 | 43.5 |
| Pittsburgh | 6 | 241 | 40.2 |
| Boston College | 7 | 242 | 34.6 |
| Stanford | 4 | 154 | 38.5 |
2000
| Game | Punts | Yds. | Avg. |
| Texas A&M | 6 | 266 | 44.3 |
| Nebraska | 7 | 271 | 38.7 |
| Purdue | 5 | 244 | 48.8 |
| Michigan State | 6 | 264 | 44.0 |
| Stanford | 9 | 337 | 37.4 |
| Navy | 4 | 164 | 41.0 |
| West Virginia | 8 | 361 | 45.1 |
| Air Force | 7 | 264 | 37.7 |
| Boston College | Injured - DNP |
| Rutgers | 4 | 137 | 34.2 |
| USC | 4 | 148 | 37.0 |
| 2001 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl |
| Oregon State | 6 | 249 | 41.5 |
2001
| Game | Punts | Yds. | Avg. |
| Nebraska | 7 | 320 | 45.7 |
| Mich. St. | 8 | 401 | 50.1 |
| Texas A&M | 6 | 303 | 50.5 |
| Pittsburgh | 6 | 196 | 32.7 |
| West Virginia | 4 | 141 | 35.2 |
| USC | 4 | 190 | 47.5 |
| Boston Coll. | 4 | 155 | 38.8 |
| Tennessee | 4 | 169 | 42.3 |
| Stanford | 9 | 314 | 34.9 |
| Purdue | 9 | 375 | 41.7 |
