Snyder Confident Miami Has a Special Team : College football: Hurricane punter, who was a standout at Saddleback College and Dana Hills, is ready for today’s battle against No. 1 Florida State.

As a punter, Paul Snyder doesn’t point fingers or wildly celebrate after each play the way many of his Miami teammates do. But he certainly shares their sense of confidence heading into today’s game against top-ranked Florida State.

“I think we’ll beat them,” Snyder, a former standout at Saddleback College and Dana Hills High, said in a telephone interview from Coral Gables, Fla. “It’s going to be a tough game, but we’re pretty much better than them in all facets of the game anyway.”

Florida State (10-0) has long been considered to have among the nation’s best special teams. They also have Terrell Buckley, a reincarnation of Deion Sanders, a mouthy cornerback who has returned three punts for touchdowns during his career and is averaging 8.5 yards per return this season.

“They either bring an all-out rush or don’t rush at all,” Snyder said. “It’s like it’s been all year. I’ve had one blocked and a couple of close calls. The only difference is it’s just a big game.”

Dave Arnold, Miami’s special teams coach, is showing more concern about the Seminoles’ success in that department.

“They’re as good as anybody in the country as far as rushing the kicker and returning punts,” Arnold said. “The thing we have to do is continue to work at what we’ve done, which is get the ball off and get good coverage. Paul is well aware that they’ll give us a 10-man look every time, but not necessarily rush that many every time. He can’t panic, just do his thing.”

Snyder, a junior in his second season with the 8-0 and second-ranked Hurricanes, is averaging 39.4 yards in 22 punts, with a net average of 36.6.

Last season, he averaged 36.5 yards in 44 punts with a 35-yard net.

“That was kind of a shaky season, mainly (because of) my mental attitude,” Snyder said. “(I didn’t really) know what was going on and what to expect. My first game against BYU was kind of a shock, having a sold-out stadium, real loud and everything. It was nothing I had ever seen or played in before.

“As the season went on, I got more and more comfortable with what was going on. That was the main thing, being comfortable. Just about everyone can kick the ball, but as soon as you get in the game, it’s 90% mental. When you get in the game, you have to be in control of what’s going on and not get shaky if you see a rush coming.”

Snyder credits experience for his improvement this season.

“I’m more relaxed and used to living away from home,” Snyder said. “I’m getting ready for a game better. Going into the Florida State game, I know what to expect. The crowd is going to be loud, they’re going to be booing us and throwing stuff at us from the sideline.”

Snyder, who will turn 21 Dec. 13, averaged 41.8 yards as a senior at Dana Hills in 1988, winning All-South Coast League honors.

“He was a guy who worked very hard at it,” Dana Hills Coach Don Douglass said. “He made himself into a great kicker. He was an upbeat guy, very industrious. He would go kick on his own, do the things you need to do to be good. He took a lot of pride in it.”

Snyder spent the 1989 season at Saddleback, averaging 37.6 yards in 59 punts and pinning opponents inside their 20-yard line 30 times. He was selected to the All-Mission Conference team.

Miami never scouted Snyder in person, but was impressed enough by film of his punting to offer him a scholarship.

“The two strengths Paul has is that he’s a two-step punter and gets the ball off quickly,” Arnold said. “One of the reasons we liked him in recruiting is that he hangs the ball up there and gives our people a chance to cover the kick. Sometimes hanging the ball well at 39-43 yards is better then just drilling it to 50, then having them have a chance to return it.”

Snyder chose Miami over Colorado and San Diego State, again showing either the confidence or arrogance synonymous with the program, depending on your viewpoint.

“I wanted to win a national championship like we plan on doing this year,” Snyder said. “That was the main thing. It’s a great team and I was going to play right away, so here I am.”

The Hurricanes have proved themselves to be a great team, with three wire service national championships since the 1983 season. But while winning many games, they have won few fans with their antics.

“As far as we look at it, we’re just having fun,” Snyder said. “It’s a fun thing. I’m not a dancer type because that’s not called for. They’re just having a good time really. People will always like to look at stuff like that and say it’s bad for the game.

“But the game is really supposed to be fun. That’s the bottom line. A lot of times, it turns out to be more serious than that. But it’s supposed to be a game and fun, and we’re just enjoying ourselves. We don’t try going out to bother people or trying to be rude.”