Aussie punter James Burnip has made waves in one of the biggest events on the US sporting calendar, starring for college football side Alabama in their Rose Bowl loss to Michigan.
On the same day fellow Victorian Tory Taylor broke an 85-year-old college football punting record, Burnip was one of the Crimson Tide’s best afield in the 27-20 overtime defeat.
The loss to Michigan knocks Alabama out of the College Football Playoff and ends their season. Michigan will play the winner of Washington and Texas next week in the National Championship game.
It will be the Wolverines’ first National Championship appearance in 27 years.
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With Alabama struggling on offense against the vaunted Michigan defense, Burnip was called upon more often than usual and he delivered in spades, recording five inside 20s from seven punts.
Inside 20s is a punt that is downed inside the opposition’s 20 yard line, hence giving them less than ideal field position at the start of the next drive.
Burnip’s heroics did not go unnoticed, with many on social media believing he had changed the game and had been Alabama’s most valuable player.
Burnip was also involved in a controversial play late in the first half, when a Michigan player ran into him during his punting motion.
Burnip appeared to be injured after the play but strangely, no flag was thrown on Michigan for running into the kicker – a penalty which would have resulted in a new set of downs for Alabama.
ESPN’s replay and rules analyst Bill Richardson even thought a flag should have been thrown.
“I’ve got minimally running into the kicker,” Richardson said on the broadcast.
“It was part of his kicking motion. Running into the kicker would have been a first down.
“I would have liked to see the flag on that one, even though it’s not roughing. You have to allow the punting motion to be completed without hitting him.”
US sports personality and former NFL punter Pat McAfee lauded Burnip and his toughness on a special ESPN broadcast of the game.
Burnip would return to the field to punt on the next Alabama possession.
A 22-year-old from Mount Macedon, the 200cm-tall former ruckman joined Alabama on a scholarship in 2021.
He enjoyed his best season to date in 2023, and was rewarded with selection in the All-SEC second team and the Ray Guy Punter of the Week award following an early season clash against Texas.
In an interview with the Herald Sun before the Rose Bowl, Burnip says he still “pinches himself” he gets to play for one of the most storied college football programs in history and the crowds he runs out in front of.
“My home stadium holds 101,000 and that’s pretty much sold out every weekend at home,” he says.
“The biggest crowd I’ve played in was over 108,000 at Kyle Field against Texas a couple of months ago.
“It’s still crazy to me, the atmosphere leading up to games here is unreal … it’s just electric.”
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