BILLY SULLIVAN Strength training, practice advance kicker's proficiency

He led Akron in points scored last season.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AKRON -- There are several reasons why Billy Sullivan of Niles became the leading scorer for the University of Akron football team last season as a freshman placekicker.
But preparation, practice and people appear to be the main driving forces behind his climb up the career ladder to score 61 points in 2002, which won for him the Howard "Red" Blair Award as the Zips' top scorer.
Sullivan's first-year success -- 7-for-14 in field goals (he made his last four attempts) and 40-for-43 placements -- gave the Niles High graduate a lot of momentum entering spring practice, which concluded last Saturday with the Blue-Gold Spring Game.
And he hopes to become an even more proficient kicker by the time the season opener rolls around Aug. 28 against Kent State in the Rubber Bowl.
Getting ready
"I've gotten a lot stronger. I have been involved in a weight [lifting] program. We had four weeks over Christmas break [of weightlifting] and we had eight weeks of winter conditioning," said Sullivan (5-11, 179), whose performance against Marshall last year included field goals of 41 and 36 yards and 4-for-4 in placements.
His longest field goal was 47 yards against Virginia.
"We do a lot of Olympic lifts -- platforms, squats -- we do a lot of rubber band Jump Stretch. Dick Hartzell helped me with his Jump Stretch. I have been doing Jump Stretch ever since the eighth grade. It's helped me a lot. It made me stronger and [helped] flexibility-wise."
And, "During the summer I will practice 5-6 days a week," and will kick "75-100 balls a day. You have to build your leg up," said Sullivan, who began kicking early in life.
"I used to do a lot of punt, pass and kicks when I was growing up. "I played soccer until the eighth grade. I decided in the ninth grade to be a placekicker. I had a strong leg from soccer."
Parents helped him
The son of Barb and Bill Sullivan, Billy said his parents reinforced his early interest in placekicking.
"My dad helped me. He started taking me to kicking camps. My mother also helped by giving support and traveling with us. I got a lot of valuable tips," said Sullivan, who went on to become the Niles High football team's punter and placekicker for three years under coach Nill Bohren.
"I give a lot of credit to him [Bohren] and [assistant] Brian Fedyski. They helped me during the season and to get into college," said Sullivan, who also kicks off for Akron and is the back-up punter.
Sullivan said he owes a lot to holder Micah Faler and snapper Mike Piccirillo.
"I couldn't do anthing without those two. They are a big part of any success I had," said Sullivan.
But, "It's all practice. And, "Timing is a big part of it."
3.88 GPA in engineering
Sullivan holds a 3.88 grade-point average in construction engineering during his first semester.
"I want to have my own construction company. I was always interested in building things ever since I was little," said Sullivan, who has volunteered at the Korey Stringer Camp which benefited four children's charities.
While at Niles, Sullivan made All-Ohio as a punter with a 42-yard average, and was 11-for-13 in field goals.
kovach@vindy.com