And how do his teammates react to the kicker who won’t just blend into the background?
“I think people are loving it,” Blewett says. “When people break out of the rut and you create some noise, I think people like that.”
Murphy certainly does.
“His presence benefits the team not only because of his ability, but also because he adds to the chemistry of the team with his personality,” Murphy says.
Blewett feels that making his presence known is an important part of “bringing the thunder,” and sees it as one of the things that separates him from his immediate predecessor, Giampaolo.
“If you don’t assert yourself, if you don’t respect yourself, no one else can respect you,” Blewett says. “I’m not saying that [Giampaolo] didn’t, but what he needed to do is different than what I needed to do. I look back right now and I’m still inspired by his performances. But I just feel like my needs differ from his.”
Blewett is also more outspoken than fellow placekicker Robbie Wright, who has also experienced a somewhat turbulent career on fourth down. The sophomore missed five of his eight tries last year, and lost the starting job to Blewett this year after his struggles continued. Blewett says he and Wright get along well, despite their immediate competition for kicking opportunities.
“We get along great,” Blewett says. “We have a mutual respect, and we wish each other luck out there. I think the competition we’ve had has benefited both of us. We’ve spent quite a bit of time together, we’re definitely supportive of each other. We just try to come together to win games for the Harvard Crimson.”
Wright agrees. “We’ve had a fine relationship,” he says. “There’s never been any animosity.”
But despite their closeness and the fact that they share a position, the two can only do so much to help each other out of the doldrums. Wright maintains that Blewett and Wright use different kicking techniques, and Blewett believes that, even given any similarities, the road to recovery must be traveled alone.
“The whole thing comes down to you looking at yourself in the mirror and solving the problem yourself,” Blewett says. “No one can do it for you, no one can kick the ball for you and no one can make you feel confident when you’re out there. For me, obviously others got me thinking in the right direction, but it came down to me wanting to consciously change my thought process. I had to change my self-perception, accept myself for who I was and know that I need to assert myself in different settings. You have to do that in order to overcome any sort of failure—in life, not just kicking.”
Blewett’s approach has paid off so far. He has made two of three field goals this season, including a 30-yarder in the fourth quarter against Dartmouth that capped off a Crimson comeback from 21 points down. That kick prompted a wild, gyrating celebration from Blewett that will not soon be forgotten.
It is pressure situations of that sort that Blewett will miss once his playing days are over.
“The thing I’m going to miss is walking out into a packed stadium hearing the shrills of the crowd and just having your whole body overcome by this tingling sensation,” Blewett says. “And then just going out there and knowing that you’re just motivated to your highest level. You know it’s a moment when you have to perform, and you can trust your body to do what you know it can do. It’s just getting out there and conquering any sort of fear and just being motivated, motivated by positive results.”
Like so many members of this Ivy League champion team, Anders Blewett will be especially motivated this Saturday at the Yale Bowl. One suspects that he might be the only member of the team who wouldn’t mind a close game. He might enjoy having his number called with the game on the line once more this year.