Lonie handles double roles

Aussie likes time in the United States, but he loves Down Under

By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER 

G'day, mate. Australia's David Lonie has a leg up in America, punting and kicking for a Cal football team that is 12-2 since he enrolled at Berkeley. Life is wonderful, except for one missing element.  His parents won't be able to see him play at Cal.

"They can't afford it," Lonie said. "They'd love to get over here. Mum would really like to come. It's a shame. I told them if I make it in the NFL, I'll buy the plane tickets."  Remember when coach Jeff Tedford flew to Australia to meet Bill and Susan Lonie while recruiting their son, who already had committed to Cal? Well, the son now is a senior, so his college time is running short.  But there always is the NFL, and David Lonie definitely will get a look either as a punter or kickoff man, or perhaps in a dual capacity.  "He could do both in the NFL," said Cal special teams coach Pete Alamar.  The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Lonie is a natural athlete who starred in soccer, water polo and track in Australia and is quite a skier. So punting and kicking off at the same time could become an acquired habit, too.  He averaged 40.0 yards apunt last year after transferring from Ellsworth (Iowa) Community College. Then, after Anthony Binswanger left Cal, Lonie also became the Bears' kickoff man.  "I found it's harder to be consistent," he said of the transition. "Kickoffs put a lot of stress on your body. Punting puts less strain. I can do both, and, hopefully, I can do it in the future."  Lonie averaged 40.4 yards a punt last week, then improved to 43.0 in Seattle. As for kickoffs, Lonie put three of eight into the end zone against both Sacramento State and Washington.  "I'm definitely happy with my punting, but I'm not kicking off as deep as I did in JC," he said. "I'd like to keep (opponents) around the 20 on kickoffs, and punt for a 40-to-46-yard average."  Lonie hasn't been the Second Coming of Ray Guy, but he does have loft to his punts, which reduces the chances of big returns. He still needs technical adjustments.

"He's getting under the ball," Alamar said of his kickoffs. "Last week, he was dropping the ball inside on punts. But, directionally, he puts the ball where we want."  Lonie is 26. He got around to college late because of his athletic versatility, and his traveling around the world with his Aussie buddies. Then his punting/placekicking potential was recognized.  After a half-dozen years in America, what does he like best about this country?  "The chance to make money," he said. "You can make more money here than in Australia."  What would he change most about America?  "The crime and the homeless people," he said.  "I've lived in all parts of America, and it's a little more rushed than back home. I could live here, but I love Australia more."