Jake Harry has gone from punter to punch line.

Harry

Harry is the Maytag repairman of the Missouri football team - always ready, never needed. ESPN broadcaster Sean McDonough joked during the Tigers’ 52-17 victory over Nebraska that Harry was in the witness protection program. After the game, a reporter facetiously asked MU Coach Gary Pinkel if he planned to prorate Harry’s scholarship.

Quarterback Chase Daniel, the man most responsible for Harry’s irrelevance, took the joke a step further.

" ‘Why do you even need a scholarship? You don’t play,’ " he asked Harry in jest. "He laughs about it, too. He says, ‘Just miss a pass on third down. Let me get on the field once or twice a game.’ "

Harry didn’t get that chance against the Cornhuskers and has kicked only nine times in five games. It’s an occupational hazard when you punt for the third-ranked Tigers (5-0, 1-0 Big 12), who are averaging 53 points entering Saturday’s game against 17th-ranked Oklahoma State (5-0, 1-0).

Not that Harry is complaining.

"Everybody wants to go to the best program possible," Harry said. "At the end of the year, would you rather be recognized as a great punter for a 1-10 team, or would you rather play for a team that’s nationally televised and has a lot of media and do well?

"I mean, I’ve been on a losing team, and it’s not fun. Being on a winning team is so much more fun, whether you’re playing or not."

Harry, a junior, knew what he was getting into when he transferred to Missouri from Palomar, Calif., Junior College in 2007. The Tigers were known for their offense and had a star quarterback in Daniel. The native Californian - his hobbies include surfing and spear-fishing - was willing to wait his turn behind Adam Crossett for a year. Entering this season, Harry was considered one of the team’s few question marks.

He’s done fine in his rare opportunities, averaging 42.6 yards and depositing three of his nine attempts inside the 20-yard line.

Pinkel, clearly desperate for something - anything - to worry about, said after the Nebraska game that he was concerned Harry was getting rusty. But will he ever be needed? Missouri has yet to have a three-and-out drive with Daniel in the game, and the Big 12 isn’t known for its stout defenses. This might simply be the reality of the 2008 Tigers - the punter is extraneous.

"It’s not reality," Pinkel insisted. "I mean, honestly, it’s nice that we can say this, and I’m really surprised that I’m even saying it now, but we’re going to put in extra time on our punting next week. We have to. We haven’t got the work. Generally, if you get four, five, six punts a game, you’re actually working on your punting game. We pull Jake Harry out in our team periods and snap the ball and do a little extra than we have in the past."

It might be the only action Harry gets, as he’s often reminded. His father even got in on the act Saturday night, sending him a sarcastic text message that read, "You had a great game." Harry said he will judge his season by the quality, not the quantity, of his punts. If he never kicks again, that will be a great sign for his team.

"I enjoy being there on the sidelines," he said. "I enjoy being around the team. The guys are great. I couldn’t ask for anything better."

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