Restic also has nothing but praise for his punter, pointing out MacMurray's dedication toward trying for improvement. Yet MacMurray himself is as candid as anyone in assessing his own abilities. Sure he's averaging 35.0 yards per punt now -- the same average Jim Curry finished with last year -- but there's still the bad punts, the low ones that go 18 yards.

Satisfaction

"I'm just not satisfied yet. Situation-wise I've done alright. I've hit some big ones when we needed them. But in terms of overall kicking, it's just not there yet."

On satisfaction: "One time I'd just like to be able to walk away from a Saturday afternoon and say, 'Gee, I did alright. So far I haven't been able to do that. I've been down on myself."

He's fought the swirling Harvard stadium winds, a back injury that has put him in a brace for a part of every day, a schedule overloaded with commitments and the obscurity of being a punter who's no superstar -- just a guy who does his job.

Determination helped him nail down the starting job, carrying him through a neck-and-neck race with friend and fellow punter Scott Groper. But MacMurray says he plays football because he loves the game, and he's starting to get a return on his investment.

A parting character reference from the "My Three Sons" Department: "When people ask for my name I tell 'em MacMurray -- like in Fred. That way they spell it right."