Louisiana long snapper Paul Boudreaux went from anonymity to viral infamy for sailing no less than three snaps over his punter’s head during the Ragin’ Cajuns’ 24-21 victory over Appalachian State on Friday night.
Thankfully, the football gods forgave Boudreaux for his blunders in not costing his team the game, but Twitter didn’t spare any pity for this young man.
Poor Boudreaux. Most of the time, his position is the least-recognizable on the gridiron. As long as a long snapper does his job, there’s nothing to write home about. This was the unfortunate exception.
This long snapper has money on App State. No other explanation. None
— Dan Lifshatz (@DanLifshatz) December 5, 2020
Don’t think I have ever seen a snap go this far over the punter’s head. He missed his target by about 10 feet. pic.twitter.com/UZzEaC7oOl
— Cork Gaines (@CorkGaines) December 5, 2020
If I ever meet Louisiana’s long snapper the beer is on me
— App State Tailgate (@AppStTailgate) December 5, 2020
THIRD time tonight. I need a 4th. Have to have it pic.twitter.com/5OhN2PSLWQ
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) December 5, 2020
an incredible moment in Sports Graphics History pic.twitter.com/UDlavAi4RC
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 5, 2020
As I watch ULL's long snapper Paul Boudreaux I think, "yep, I've had days like that." Chin up, young man. We've all been there. Our mistakes weren't shown on TV like yours, so that stinks. But if you're ever in Cali, I'm buying you beer all night. Cheers!
— Lisa Horne (@LisaHorne) December 5, 2020
Probably worth mentioning that both safeties traveled backwards over 30 yards.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 5, 2020
I wish you would’ve banned me from watching the end of the game.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) December 5, 2020
The Louisiana long snapper on 4th down pic.twitter.com/PK7426rN5l
— CFB Pylon (@TheCFBPylon) December 5, 2020
Brutal. Just brutal. You hate to see it. Bless this young man for enduring all the tough criticism. After all, as you saw by the final score in the lede, all’s well that ends well, right? But the suffering wasn’t over with.
Not only was social media ablaze with hot takes about Boudreaux’s poor form, but they also were baffled as to what happened late in the game, when Louisiana head coach Billy Napier made a, well, bold decision. Instead of making his long snapper get another rep, or roll the dice with someone else, he opted to take a safety on 4th and 2 with less than two minutes left.
The long snapper has been so bad that ULL decided to take a safety to make it 24-21.
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) December 5, 2020
Insane!!!!!
pic.twitter.com/esZSst6sNJ
Never mind that the defense would probably be required to guard a shorter field, as opposed to what a punt would yield. Worse yet, the Mountaineers would only be a field goal away from sending this one to overtime. Oh, Twitter made sure to weigh in on this angle of the situation as well!
But you could go for it and keep the ball … or short snap to QB (or punter) and punt it … OR you could do what Napier did, which was to beg to be tied. Thus setting up App for the tying score with the timeout to help get downfield. Which App promptly did. Only to shank the FG
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) December 5, 2020
Louisiana intentionally takes a safety so the long snapper can’t snap it over the punters head again pic.twitter.com/5gi9TvMLXx
— The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) December 5, 2020
Louisiana playing chess
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 5, 2020
pic.twitter.com/Sqhx8j7pFs
What is Louisiana doing!?
— Dustin Fox (@DustinFox37) December 5, 2020
Louisiana Lafayette just took a safety instead of punting? pic.twitter.com/mf3zSMSXBF
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) December 5, 2020
Want to know how it ends, right? The play-by-play on this one is bonkers if you’re morbidly curious to check it out.
Turns out App State was left wanting for basic special teams competence, too. After getting all the way down to the Louisiana 13 yard-line, Mountaineers kicker Chandler Staton snap-hooked a 30-yard chip-shot field goal wide left that would’ve tied the score.
App St (-150 ML) misses the game-tying 30 yarder as Louisiana (+135 ML) survives a WILD final two minutes @betthepigskin pic.twitter.com/EUYK2YxjTU
— Barstool Sportsbook (@BSSportsbook) December 5, 2020
Friday was not a paragon of special teams excellence for these two Sun Belt teams. However, the news is great for the Ragin’ Cajuns, who overcame long-snapping deficiencies to improve to 9-1. It only adds more hype to their matchup with fellow top 25 adversary Coastal Carolina for next week, as Louisiana tries to spoil the Chanticleers’ undefeated season.
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