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dave chapple

Well, sorry for the long wait between interviews my loyal LA-Rams.com fans! I must have tried to reach Dave at least 6 times and being asked to call back next week, etc. etc. etc. But, alas!!! He was worth the wait..You will find this conversation enlightening, as some of his answers were not as I had expected them to be..let me know how you feel. John, Tom and Jeff thanks for the help... Enjoy!!! - Jonathan Fenno - LA-Rams.com

Dave Chapple
Dave's 1973 Tops Rookie Card

"In 1972, you were considered the best punter in the NFL, you had your best average, but in '74, your average dropped, do you think that was why you were cut?"

Dave Chapple - "Yes, I was asked by management to use the 1 step kick after that year and I had never practiced that...It was like a pitcher that is asked to change his delivery. It was a drastic change after kicking like the first way I did during college and mt first years as a pro. It took my hang time down to under 4.0 and was sent off to the Patriots...The weather had an effect on my punting too, the wind more than the cold. You know, oddly enough, John Hadl and I were traded in the same day. After finding out in the office we were being let go and neither of us very happy with this he said that there were two conditions he could never play under, "cold and windy." To make that drastic change from Los Angeles to Green Bay for him and New England for me, we had a hard time controlling the ball....especially against the Vikings as you fans remember..."all that wet dirt" was hard to play on. Plus, we were freezing!!!!!"

"Do you remember your hangtime?"

Dave Chapple - "My best was 4.6 to 5.2 and had the league record of the lowest return average when I was doing my best but I don't remember my average. But I probably couldn't get 3.5 today!!! (Dave laughs out loud!!) In New England the cold would kill your angles and the temperature would give you less of a drop from your foot , that had a big effect on my career there too...You couldn't hit the ball as solid..."

"What are your interests now? "

Dave Chapple - "Currently I have been doing a lot of sculpture. I did one for the memorial at Columbus Park . (note-Dave never told me where this was) I have done a lot of wildlife sketching and 10 years ago I started working with clay. I like to do sketchings of landscapes, wildlife and a lot of golf. I have done pieces for Jack Nicklaus and also Fred Couples. Being on the phone like this keeps my hands away from what I am payed to do!!! (laughs) Inbetween landsacping and wildlife, the other half of the year I have do sculpture now..."

"Too bad punters were not picked as all-pro. do you think you would have been voted for it?"

Dave Chapple - "Well actually, there was. There was a nationally televised show where the league leaders were given their awards for rushing, O.J. was the leading rusher, and there was a guy from Chicago.that was the only year they did it that way.. I felt I had gotten enough recognition being up there for that. (Dave laughs again!) I am pretty sure that was in 1972...I was 1st team all-pro..That was a neat deal."

"From the Jets, Steve O'Neill had the record for the longest punt, did you ever think one day that, "Hey, I could beat that one day!"? Do you remember that 98 yard kick? "

Dave Chapple - "Yeah, I remember that, but of course, no. First of all, in your career, you will hardly ever kick the ball from your 1 or 2 yard line, maybe 4 or five times ever. So you don't have that kind of opportunity and it would have to be a really long roll and bounce with no return receiver making a fair catch or attempt at a runback. I had a kick against New England when I was with the Rams that was called back that would have gone well over 100 yards. It was like a wall, the wind was blowin' it and the turf was hard as you know. In Dallas, they bet me in pre-game warm ups that on the 1 yard line, I couldn't kick it within 10 yards of the goal line but I almost kicked that ball 70 yards in the air, and with a 20 yard bounce...hey!!!! If it rolls with the wind, it's never gonna stop!!"

"Some punters were used as backup wide receivers, were you on the roster as a third or fourth receiver?"

Dave Chapple - "Yeah..I was backup for Snow and the boys and also a third stringer QB behind Munson (?) and Gabe... Thank God that never happened!!! (At this time I edge him on and make a joke) "Oh you know you would have like to throw the ball around a little to Josephson on a swing pass or air it out to Jack for a play or two..." Dave replies, there is no problem throwing the ball, but it would have been a disaster to learn the plays and stay in the pocket keeping your wits and to getting used to it in a matter of a few plays..."

"And our last question we have for you Dave, why do you think there aren't any "pure" punters inducted in the Hall Of Fame? "

Dave Chapple - "Well, they don't have a big enough impact on the game..You know, Slater and Youngblood and Mack are in there because they averaged at least 30 minutes per game. They would of course have an enormous impact on the game outcome..Punters would be in for probably 5 plays..Ray Guy, Yale Lary, Sammy Baugh were excellent punters, but Sammy Baugh as a quarterback had a much larger impact on the field than he did when he kicked it...They are all great guys, but I don't have a problem with that at all 9not being in the HOF)...A few place kickers are deserving to be in there for their play, and I can understand that with the scoring they did."

"Did you have a close teamate on team?"

Dave Chapple - "Jim Bertelsen...He was my roomate and a close friend on the Rams and we still send Christmas cards .Phil Olsen is my closest friend and we still are close, but Merlin Olsen I don't see much anymore since he moved from Los Angeles and he doesn't stray much from Utah. Rich Saul I am in touch with and see with some degree of frequency, and he is doing much better from his illness. You told me about your Josephson's interview, and I remember him being a good friend back then, too..."

"Any good locker room stories?"

Dave Chapple - "Plenty to have and none to tell!!! You can imagine from being 20 years old and treated like kings what could happen out there...All expenses were paid, all the hotels, food, travel you get the best doctors in the world...and feeling like you have a million bucks, back then $20-25,000 a year you had a lot of time to do what you want..and like I said, we were young 20 year olds that had a feeling of invincibility and it's gonna last forever..so let's say we were happy and goofing around a lot...It was a wonderful experience and feel lucky enough to have that in my life since my college days in Santa Barbara. ( I interject with the question) "So you are a Gaucho then, huh?".... Why, yes that would make me a "Gaucho!" Well, I have another call coming in, so I am glad to have spoken with you, and I will have to say goodbye, Thanks Jonathan........click..."

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