Gators head coach Jim McElwain had to laugh when a recent injury report crossed his desk. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: A stupid blog about a coach, a punter and a JUGS machine
Sunday, August 21, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter
Share:
By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – There is a reason why "America's Funniest Home Videos" has been on the air since 1989.
People like to laugh. And people really like to laugh at stupid stuff, especially when it's somebody else caught in the crosshairs of that stupid stuff. Sometimes for fun, I'll type in "Stupid People Doing Stupid Stuff" in the Google search engine and find a fine source of entertainment for a few minutes.
Unfortunately, there is no video evidence to my knowledge of Gators coach Jim McElwain's reaction when Florida's injury report crossed his desk and informed him that punter Johnny Townsend had a "sprained thumb due to a JUGS altercation."
It's easy to imagine a hearty chuckle out of McElwain based on his recount of the incident on Friday to a group of reporters.
As McElwain concluded his normal injury update heading into Friday night's scrimmage, he tossed in a gem about Townsend.
"He hurt his thumb on the JUGS machine,'' McElwain said. "He tried to catch it with his thumb instead of his hands I guess, so his thumb kind of bent back. As I told him, it's a good thing it wasn't his kicking toe. So if he shows up and has his thumb wrapped, it was a JUGS machine incident. It's a good thing the snapper doesn't snap it as hard as the JUGS machine."
Seeking more knowledge about the origination of the JUGS machine and its name – I know them mostly from taking swings in the batting cage as a former baseball player – I found a FAQs post on the official website of JUGS Sports.
Knowledge was discovered. A JUGS machine. (Photo: JUGSsports.com)
Where did the term JUGS originate? The original JUGS Curveball Machine was named from an old-time baseball expression for a curveball, "jug handle curve." The name stuck and has been part of baseball ever since.
I immediately concluded I must have been a bad baseball reporter since I covered MLB for several years and never heard "jug handle curve" uttered by a single pitcher, catcher or manager. But that's another story.
JUGS machines have been part of the football landscape for years, mostly for use by receivers.
Still, punters clearly use them too.
"That's actually something that is part of the routine, believe it or not,'' McElwain said. "Again, I'm glad he wasn't catching with his feet. He's got to punt with that foot."
Townsend's sprain isn't expected to be a long-term issue. And as far as his smarts go, Townsend has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll multiple times. He's a smart guy and one of the nation's top punters.
The confluence of factors is what made the whole episode, well, stupid.
And worth a few laughs.
"I find humor in some of this stuff,'' McElwain said. "To see him show up – a punter, mind you – show up on an injury report with a sprained thumb due to JUGS altercation, I don't know why I find humor in stupid things, but that to me is a stupid thing."
Florida Women's Basketball | Liv McGill FLEXES for the AND-1 💪Florida Women's Basketball | Liv McGill FLEXES for the AND-1 💪
Saturday, November 15
Florida Cross Country | Kelvin Cheruiyot Takes Home NCAA South Regional Title 🥇Florida Cross Country | Kelvin Cheruiyot Takes Home NCAA South Regional Title 🥇
Saturday, November 15
Florida Volleyball | Gators Seal 4-Set THRILLER Over Ole Miss 🍿Florida Volleyball | Gators Seal 4-Set THRILLER Over Ole Miss 🍿
Saturday, November 15
Gator Tales #54: Urban Meyer and Kelly Rae FinleyGator Tales #54: Urban Meyer and Kelly Rae Finley
