Rathjen takes path less traveled

Nathan Rathjen had just finished his pre-game meal when he was summoned by assistant coach Ron Prince.
Virginia’s back-up punter was suddenly having his status changed. Hours later against Duke, the junior would become assume starting status.
He promptly sent a text message to his parents, but admits it was a bittersweet moment.
As one might expect, Rathjen and former starter Jimmy Howell were essentially attached at the hip throughout the past two seasons.
“We talked about it and since we are good friends we both
support each other,” Rathjen admitted. “There’s not really a huge competition. Whatever one is kicking, you are not wishing that they mess up because overall we want the success of our team.”
Rathjen boomed his first punt 50 yards, but settled into pedestrian figures over his final five punts. For the game, he averaged 40.2 yards and dropped one inside the 20-yard line.
“I think with any player … when you are out there and doing your job, which tends to happen when you are nervous, you just go out there and do your job,” Rathjen said of going through the motions. “It is real different from practice and we try to make it ordinary.
“When I got out there I was able to get a little bit more comfortable.”
It was not his career debut. That came against Texas Christian when he held was in as the holder on a placement kick and ran the option on a
two-play that was snuffed out after Rathjen pitched to kicker Robert Randolph, who was drilled.
“Rob gives me a hard time about that,” he said with a smile. “I saw myself about to get hit. I wasn’t about to go down with the ball when I had that option.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t fare out too well.”
Rathjen’s path to playing time was far from normal.
After joining the team as a recruited walk-on in 2006, Rathjen left the program the following year, only to return last year to battle Howell.
The opportunity never developed as Howell, then a rookie, handled all 64 punts.
Rathjen could have pursued opportunities at a lower level, but elected to stay at UVa after developing friendships and longing to remain close to his family that resides in Loudon County.
Given the speed that Miami (6-2, 3-2 ACC) possesses on special teams, Rathjen is aware that attention to detail will be necessary on Saturday.
What is at stake in the game is also a focal point for the special teams units — with a loss the Cavaliers (3-5, 2-2) will be forced to run the table to become eligible for the postseason.
Another loss would only add fuel to the fire that the 2009 season will be the final campaign for Virginia coach Al Groh, whose performance will be reviewed after the season by
athletic department
officials.
How do the players handle that pressure?
“That’s a tough question, as you could imagine, but we just have to move on,” Rathjen said. “We can’t dwell on what has happened in the past. Coach Groh uses the saying the bull doesn’t care and I think that’s real appropriate right now.
“We have a very tough opponent and they are a good team and if we don’t go out there and prepare, if we dwell on the past and what’s happened previously it is going to make it tougher.”