One of the most unheralded and unrewarding positions in football is that of the long snapper. Yet sophomore Brian Bury knew the position was his calling on the football field long before arriving in East Lansing.

The State News: How long have you been a long snapper?

Brian Bury: I've long snapped ever since I was in third-grade. I started snapping in the side-yard with my old man, and just kind of worked my way up from there. I've done it ever since high school, and took it pretty serious starting my sophomore year. I went to a few academies for that, and just worked my way to earn a scholarship for snapping here.

TSN: So has that been your mindset, to come here and long snap?

BB: Yeah, well my high school coach told me I had the potential to snap in the Big Ten, and MSU was somewhere I've always wanted to be and really love.

TSN: What's it like to work with sophomore punter Brandon (Fields)?

BB: It's great working with Brandon. He's laid-back. He makes the job easier.

This was my first year starting and he kind of helped me start out, easing my way into it and helping me relax so I can do my thing.

TSN: What type of unique characteristics does Brandon, as a punter, present, like his size?

BB: It helps out (that he's tall). It makes a bigger target to snap to, you've got the (6- foot-6) frame and that gives you more leeway to snap to him.

TSN: Head coach John L. Smith likes to run the rugby punt as well as traditional punts, what differences are there in the two systems?

BB: It's a little different. On a regular punt, you're snapping and of course you're getting back and blocking. Now rugby's a little different, you have to directly snap it either to your left or right, then you have to step either way and lead-block. So it's more of a fast-flow play.

TSN: What's a long snappers nightmare?

BB: Any long snapper's nightmare is a jailbreak - snapping the ball over the punters head. But that's out of sight, out of mind for me. I just put the blinders on like coach says, and just go out and perform.