Illinois Wesleyan senior Matt Kussmann (Bloomington, Ill., Tri-Valley HS) has been the national leader in punting average in NCAA Division III for most of the 2014 season. He had a 73-yard punt against Elmhurst on Oct. 25, the second longest punt in school history, behind a 75-yarder by Bob Lenahan against Millikin on Nov. 12, 1938.
Kussmann was a first team preseason All-American on the 26th annual USA College Football teams and was named to first team of the 2013 all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin squads.
Majoring in computer science at Illinois Wesleyan, Matt is the son of Scott and Catherine Kussmann.
Why you chose Illinois Wesleyan: It was the best combination of a good school and a strong football program, and it was close to home.
IWU class you’re most qualified to teach: PE 101: Stretching
The hardest challenge about being a Division III student-athlete is: Paying for school
Worst grade in a class you ever got – what and when? C- a couple of times freshman year, but as they always say: “C’s get degrees”.
I’m deathly afraid of ... : Uh… old folk’s allergies, that could sure do it. Just having somebody yucky like you. Um… denim golf jeans, Voldemort. Yes, I said Voldemort.
Worst habit: Biting my fingernails
Most expensive traffic ticket: 77mph in a 55
Language I’d like to learn: German, because we all know how well that is going…
The longest I could survive without my cell phone: 24 minutes and 35 seconds.
One word your mother or father would use to describe you: Focused
Favorite sports figures: Russell Wilson and J.J. Watt. Wisconsin Alumni and class acts
My greatest moment in sports was: Winning my fantasy football league last year
The best player I ever faced was: My father is a ping pong legend.
Worst dresser on my team: I wouldn’t say worst, but some of the things I’ve seen Niall Mulcahy put on his body have been questionable at best.
Thing that’s been in my fridge the longest: Lemon Shocktop. Not a fan
Person I’m dying to have dinner with: Pat McAfee in hopes that he would become best friends with Mikey Kelley, Connor Higgins, and me.
Favorite food: Deer jerky
Vegetable I won’t eat: Anything green except for fresh spinach.
Pepsi or Coke? Coke
Favorite TV show: "Big Bang Theory"
Favorite musical group: Cheap Trick, or Loverboy because I have adopted “Turn Me Loose” as my theme song (“Turn Kuss Loose”).
Favorite movie: "Braveheart"
If a movie were made of my life, I would like the following person to play me: Will Ferrell so people would finally laugh at my jokes.
If my life were on TV as a reality show, I’d call it: "Getting Loose With The Kuss"
The person in history I would most like to meet is: Easy, Alexander the Great
My dream job would be: Professional bass fisherman
Place I’d most like to live: Northern Wisconsin
Two things that are tops on my “bucket list”: Watching Great White Sharks jump in South Africa and moose hunting with my Dad in Alaska
My possession that would fetch the most on eBay: My party shirt because Adam Seifert would pay anything for it.
Who is the luckiest person in the world? Niko Garcia for obvious reasons.
What I miss most about being in the third grade: Well not much has changed since then, so that is nice.
