Center of attention. Snap to it. Matt Katula has heard them all.

In fact, the Baltimore Ravens long snapper, and Brookfield native, has his own favorite catch phrase.

"The only way you should know who I am is if I mess up," jokes the former University of Wisconsin standout.

Katula hasn't messed up much since he zeroed in on his career move...a simple snap between the legs. After playing on both sides of the ball at Waukesha Catholic Memorial, Katula walked on at Wisconsin but found it difficult to get on the field. When the Badgers needed someone to get the ball to the punter and holder, Katula decided to show the coaching staff his hidden talent -- one he learned from his father, Chuck, back in eighth grade.

He's been on the field ever since, and following a solid rookie campaign in Baltimore, Katula is back in camp hoping to run a carbon copy in his sophomore season.

"I know what got me through camp last year, so I just try to duplicate that," Katula said from his home in Pikesville, Maryland. "I feel more comfortable. I wasn't as nervous this year. Last year, I was basically fighting for my life."

The phone rarely rings for long snappers on draft day, so Katula and his family waited the two-day cattle call out hoping for a shot via free agency. Once the final player was selected, it didn't take long for the invites to follow and Katula weeded out the Raiders and Dolphins to sign with the Ravens. Just one obstacle remained... perfection.

"Last year I was nervous, because I had to be absolutely perfect and I had to really make a name for myself," Katula said. "I'm nervous again this year, because your job is never one hundred percent safe. It might be a little bit safer, but there are still guys coming in that can do your job probably almost as well as you can, so you can't go out and just assume you're going to be fine and make a bunch of mistakes. You still want to go out there and try and be perfect."

Katula takes nothing for granted. After unseating Ravens veteran long snapper Joe Maese last summer, he is familiar with how quick the revolving door in the NFL can spin. Landon Schrage was his lone challenger in camp this season, but Katula's flawless preseason easily surpassed the work of the rookie from Iowa State. He has certainly earned his stripes, and his place on Brian Billick's roster. And perhaps for the moment, a comfort zone.

"It feels different because I went in last year not knowing anything. (I) didn't know any procedures, the practice schedule, time management, nothing," explained Katula. "Having that year under your belt makes camp go a lot smoother, a lot quicker, you're not so apprehensive about what's coming in the next few days, you know what to expect."

The view from down under is a bit different this season. The Ravens are auditioning a pair of punters to take the spot of Dave Zastudil, who signed with his hometown Cleveland Browns. Think a punter, is a punter, is a punter? Not to the long snapper.

"I try to just do my thing, but last year we had a left footed punter, so my snaps were geared to the left," said Katula. "Now both guys (Leo Araguz and Sam Koch) are righties, so I have to re-train myself to hit the right side of the body. It's just a different look through my legs upside down."

Katula understands why Zastudil took his left foot back home to boot for the Browns, but he still misses his friend off the field. The guy crouched over the football during field goals and punts formed a bond with most of the special team players, so when one of them leaves the Ravens nest; it's like losing a member of the family.

His own family made the trek out east last December to watch Matt snap against his favorite team growing up, the Green Bay Packers. He is still giddy when he talks about lining up on the same field as Brett Favre on a Monday night.

"It was awesome," Katula says in a somewhat star-struck way. "I grew up loving the guy, I'm glad he's back for another year. That was fun to get a chance to talk to him and shake his hand."

The rookie carefully plotted his casual strategy to approach Favre during pregame
warm-ups, hoping to gather a quick meet and greet with his idol.

"He was warming up, I was jogging around, so I just went over there, talked to him a little bit, shook his hand, and that was the extent of it. But that was enough for me!"

And now Katula has a Pro Bowl quarterback right there on the Ravens roster with him. Baltimore upgraded from Kyle Boller to Steve McNair following an offseason trade with Tennessee.

"It's nice having that kind of presence on the field," said Katula. "Everyone feels the difference having a guy who's been to the Pro Bowl, been to a Super Bowl."

Like any NFL player, Katula hopes some day he's on the front end of the most important snaps of his life, in the biggest game of his life, on the biggest football stage in the world. But longevity is the key, and the kid from Wisconsin has monitored the career of Packers long snapper Rob Davis, who's held down his job in Green Bay for 11 seasons and counting.

"I have absolutely no complaints," said Katula. "I just need to go out there and try to do what I did last year again, and the year after that, do it again, the year after that, again. I just want to try and make this last as long as possible."

2 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by OMCreader on Aug. 29, 2006 at 9:29 p.m. (report)

masmeg said: What a great article about local talent.

Posted by OMCreader on Aug. 29, 2006 at 8:49 a.m. (report)

Dean Casper said: Matt should be an inspiration to all young athletes who aspire to take their skill to a higher level in sports. His work ethic and dedication to be his best has been a driving principle. He understands these values will carry him throughout his career and life. However, Matt's real strength has been is understanding of how to keep his job and success in perspective. He is a wonderful husband and son-in-law and truly knows how to balance all the excitement of his profession with his family life. He makes all of us very proud!!!