Oct. 31, 2007

By Todd Merriett, Bucknell Athletic Communications

A long-snapper is often the last person a football fan is going to notice on the gridiron. He toils in anonymity, is listed at the bottom of the depth chart and doesn't get his name to show up in the box score. And that's the way they tend to like it, especially Bucknell's fine long-snapper Chad Glasser.

A three-year starter at left tackle, Glasser is a hulking man of few words, but he gets the job done. He has been a long-snapper for the Bison since his freshman year when he handled snapping on field goals and extra-point conversions. And, during his time in Orange and Blue, the average Bucknell fan has heard his number called just once, and that was for recovering a fumble in the end zone while playing his customary left tackle position that he has started at 27 straight times.

The reserved Glasser first started long-snapping back in high school and viewed it as his chance to see the field his freshman year at Bucknell. Head coach Tim Landis, who oversees the Bison special teams, asked for volunteers for long-snapping duties and Glasser eagerly raised his hand.

Glasser has done a great job avoiding the spotlight as a long-snapper, something that has escaped many others who remain nameless throughout their careers until that one mistake occurs.

"It (long-snapping) can be pressure-packed, but I have been doing it for a long time," shrugs Glasser nonchalantly. "I have a routine, I focus and the pressure doesn't bother me much. I can't say I haven't made any mistakes, but I think I have been doing it pretty well."

One of the most difficult things Glasser has to combat as a long-snapper who also plays the offensive line is fatigue. At 6-2, 268 pounds, Glasser is smaller than most of the defensive linemen he stares at across the line of scrimmage on a weekly basis, and with Bucknell's run-based spread option offense he is constantly trying to push those larger foes backward as he opens gaping holes for the Bison backs. After a long, exhausting drive that ends with a punt, Glasser must then snap the ball and sprint down field with wild abandon as part of the punt coverage team.

"I can get tired running down the field on punts, but it is fun since I get a chance to make tackles," says Glasser with a wry smile. "I just make sure I am in good physical condition."

The last two summers Glasser has gone the extra mile to make sure he was in peak condition. Instead of going back to his Pittsburgh-area home, he stayed on campus and trained daily under the supervision of Bucknell's strength and conditioning staff.

By staying on campus Glasser set a strong example for other Bison players, especially some of the younger ones. He has continued to lead some of the underclassmen, despite lacking a vociferous personality.

"I have definitely tried to be a leader this year," mentions Glasser, who as a member of the offensive line is part of the most experienced position group on the team with four seniors starting each of the last two weeks. "I try to get guys to focus and play the right way and do the same thing the older guys did to help me out when I was younger."

One of Glasser's most memorable moments came in his younger days in his hometown the final game of his freshman campaign. Playing in front of a number of friends and family, he got the chance to contribute to a 30-20 Bison victory at Duquesne.

"There are a lot of exciting games, but one that really stands out was my freshman year at Duquesne," Glasser remembers. "I was really nervous playing near home and it took (teammate) Peter Salvatore to rag on me about screwing up to calm my nerves."

Salvatore's tactics seemed to work as Bison kicker Ryan Korn converted three extra points and one field goal against the Dukes, thanks in part to Glasser's strong long-snapping.

Among those in attendance at that Duquesne game was Glasser's brother, Lee, who is two years older and played football at Thiel College. Glasser looked up to his brother when they were younger. Lee began playing football in seventh grade, and Chad followed along two years later. The two were teammates at Bethel Park High School and helped the team into the state playoffs on a number of occasions.

In addition to following in his older brother's footsteps on the football field, the Glassers also share an interest in accounting. Lee currently lives in Pittsburgh and is an accountant, while Chad, an accounting major who has been on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll twice, already has an accounting job with KPMG lined up following graduation.

Glasser's job could take him to Philadelphia or back home to Pittsburgh - the choice is up to him. Either way, he will remain in his home state, a place he is fond of given his lineup of schools when he was looking for a college. In addition to Bucknell, he also considered going to Lehigh, Penn and Washington and Jefferson, which are all located within the Keystone State.

"I really didn't know about Bucknell when I started getting recruited," recalls Glasser. "I really liked Bucknell, but it was close with Washington and Jefferson. I just really liked the opportunity to play football at a Division I-AA school with academics like Bucknell's."

With just four games left this season, Glasser's career has a chance to go full-circle. The stoic-looking lineman does not show much emotion, but he is predicting Senior Day (Nov. 10 vs. Lehigh) could be tough. Maybe those nerves that Salvatore helped calm so effectively in 2004 will creep back.

"I am already seeing how much I am going to miss it," says Glasser. "I can't believe how fast it went. I just feel so old and can't believe I am going to be in the real world and not play football anymore. I am still trying to get better as a football player as my career winds down."

As Glasser continues to improve up until the final game in mid-November, his biggest hope is that no one notices. And that would be a good thing.