Carbondale native Tom Striegel (1978-81) reflects on record-setting punting career at SIU

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Tom Striegel was such an amazing punter that even the team’s radio broadcaster, Mike Reis, joked that he didn’t mind when the offense went 3-and-out, because it meant he could watch Striegel punt the football.

A native of Carbondale, Striegel was the starting punter for Southern Illinois all four seasons (1978-81), but his All-American senior year etched his name in history.

In 1981, Striegel finished second in the nation in punting average (45.9), behind only Iowa’s Reggie Roby, a player who went on to a 16-year NFL career. Striegel still holds SIU’s single-season punting record.

After graduation, Striegel challenged Danny White for the punting job with the Dallas Cowboys, but ultimately settled into a business career in Dallas. He owns Striegel Sales, a clothing distribution company that he started 42 years ago.

StrongDawgs conversation with Tom Striegel

SD: Tell me about your family, growing up in Carbondale and playing football at CHS.

TS: My parents were both from Murphysboro, Illinois. My mother was a nurse and my dad was a veterinarian. I was the youngest of four boys. I had a blast growing up in Carbondale. We actually rode on bikes everywhere, it wasn't like today's world. We lived next door to the Bleyers and they had five boys. We all grew up together, and if anything ever went wrong, they always knew it was one of us.

My high school coach was Tom O'Boyle, who was previously SIU’s linebackers coach. My freshman and sophomore years, I played quarterback, but I also played fullback, safety, and then I punted, kicked off and did extra points. Back then, we never came off the field.

SD: When did you realize you might have college-level punting skills?

TS: I knew I was pretty good at punting when I was a freshman in high school, actually, because I could turn the ball over, punt the ball into a spiral, and each year I just got better and better.

SD: What made you decide to stay home and play for SIU?

TS: I was stubborn and wanted an opportunity to start as a freshman in college. Everywhere I looked — Southwest Louisiana, Murray State, University of Miami — these people all had punters. Late in my senior year, Coach (Rey) Dempsey asked me to come out to spring training and punt for him, and I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to go to SIU, and what a great opportunity it was.

SD: So you impressed Dempsey enough that he guaranteed you the starting job?

TS: No, no, no, coach didn't work that way. No, he said, “Tom, I don't have a scholarship for you, but if you come in and win the starting job, I’ll start you on a scholarship after the first semester." And that's what happened. Les Petroff was our kicker, and he punted, too. I beat him out and started as a freshman. Dempsey kept his word and around Christmas-time I went on scholarship.

SD: What was it like playing for Coach Dempsey?

TS: I just talked to Coach about a month ago, actually. I hadn't talked to him in quite a bit of time. Coach Dempsey was my personal coach. He came from the Detroit Lions as a special teams coach, and so I was his pupil. He taught me how to be an adult pretty quickly. College football is the real deal, it's not all fun and games anymore. He drilled into us a strong work ethic, how much your body can take. Coach Dempsey is the best — as a man, as a person, and as a coach. I love the man.

SD: What were some of the things he helped you with as a punter?

TS: He loved special teams. I mean, that was his passion. He taught me how to punt in stressful situations, how to handle the pressure with people coming after you, keeping your eye on the ball, walking straight, the drop, the leg swing. I was fifth in the nation after my first game as a freshman, 46-yard average against Drake. Each year I got better and better, and then my senior year I just exploded.

SD: Who was your long snapper?

TS: Ken Little was my long snapper, and he was good. He could get it back to me in .8 seconds. We had Tony Wartko as my personal protector. It was just a rhythm of getting it off fast enough so it doesn’t get blocked.

SD: You had an extraordinary senior year, the best in school history. What are your recollections from that season?

TS: Everything clicked that year. I go back and it's so vivid, it seems like yesterday. I’d punt the ball and nail them back inside the 20, time after time. Coach Dempsey gave me two game balls that year. One was against Fresno State, which was the toughest game I ever punted in, in my whole life, because Jim Sweeney was the coach there and he attacked me every time. He had people rushing down my throat, and we were getting the ball out of there. The only negative thing about the whole year is we didn't win the Valley. We lost our last game to Drake, and I didn't have a great punting day that day, but it didn't cost the game,

SD: I recall McAndrew Stadium being a difficult place for kickers because of the wind. Did you find that to be the case as a punter?

TS: Punting in McAndrew was nothing like punting at Wichita State or West Texas State. Those are wind tunnels, where you have 40-mile-per-hour winds going against you. That's one thing I really practiced a lot, was punting against the wind. It's so easy to punt with the wind, so most of my punting practices were against the wind. The wind moves the ball, and sometimes you almost have to lay that ball right on your foot.

SD: I listened to audio of the 1981 postseason banquet, and Mike Reis joked that he was ok with it when the offense went 3-and-out on its first drive, because it meant he’d get to watch Tom Striegel punt the ball. Quite a compliment.

TS: Coming from him, that is a tremendous honor. You know, my dad loved Mike Reis and would always brag to people that Mike could have gone anywhere in the world to broadcast in the pros, college, anywhere, but he chose to stay at SIU.

SD: How did you end up with the Dallas Cowboys and how was your experience with several NFL teams?

TS: Well, I wasn't drafted, which I thought I would be. I had several calls to sign as a free agent, and Dempsey sat there with me and said, “Tom, I think you have the best opportunity with Dallas. (GM) Gil Brandt is saying they want to get a punter and they're not going to keep Danny White this year.” So I went to Dallas and ended up being the last punter cut at the end of the preseason. I actually had a really good preseason, averaging 43.4 yards a punt, but they ended up keeping Danny.

After that, I signed with Atlanta, had a disagreement with the special teams coach there, who was really not even a special teams coach, and asked them to let me go. Then the Seattle Seahawks picked my contract up on waivers. Punters didn’t make much money in the NFL at that time, and I had a great offer to go work with one of my brothers in the business I'm in today. It was too good of an opportunity to turn down.

Striegel with his three children and wife, Mary.

SD: Tell me about your post-football career, your family, and living in Dallas.

TS: I worked for one of my brothers in the business for two years and then started my own company 42 years ago. I'm a distributor for several women's clothing companies. We sell to small stores, big stores, distributing to brands that we have contracts with.

I have three children. My oldest is a computer scientist. My middle son is in the business I'm in and has his own company now. My daughter is an actuary here in Dallas. All in their 30s. I’m 65 and still going. I don't know if I can ever retire, because I don't know what I’d do with all the time.

I've been in Dallas the whole time, love the city, a lot of great opportunities here. I married my second wife, Mary, eight years ago. She owns a women's clothing store here in Dallas and that's how we met. She's my best friend and we do everything together.

SD: How much of what you learned during your football career have you applied to your professional life?

TS: For better or worse, it made me a workaholic, because in football, you just lived and breathed the game. So that work ethic follows you into your career, and I think that's what makes a person successful. I was always raised, the more you work, the more you make.

SD: You mentioned speaking to Coach Dempsey, do you still keep in touch with teammates?

TS: Oh, yes. I grew up with Tony Bleyer. He was our linebacker. We lived and played football together from the time we were kids until our senior year of college. I keep in touch with Chris Lockwood. I see Jeff Ware here in Dallas, and we try to have lunch every month or so. My two suite-mates are deceased, Mike Collins and Bryan Houlihan. I saw Tony Wartko up at a funeral recently. We would like to see each other more, but it's hard.

SD: How often do you get back to Carbondale?

TS: I try getting back once a year. I have a brother that lives there and is retired, and I have a lot of relatives in the Murphysboro area and we have family reunions sometimes. I like to get back for my high school class reunions.

SD: What advice would you give to a young player who is considering going to SIU?

TS: Well, if you're a recruit considering SIU, the pros will definitely find you if you're good enough. It doesn't matter if it's Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame or Southern Illinois University. So come on and be a Saluki, because if you're that good, they'll find you.