In the huddle with Purdue kicker Spencer Evans | Leader of the band

• Evans has made 9 of 12 field goals and 13 of 15 extra points
• Is 9 of 10 from inside 39 yards this season
• Totaled 19 touchbacks this season and 54 the last two years
• Made 17 field goals the last two seasons

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Tattoos, guitars and a superstition involving tying his shoes are part of Spencer Evans' personality. 

Your right arm features several tattoos. Which one did you get first?

The one on my inner arm - This is Happiness. It’s from a song and it’s got a sun with it. The reasoning behind that – I got to commemorate my grandmother when she passed. She had breast cancer and some depression, anxiety issues and stuff. It’s to always remember to be happy and there are worse things that could be going on in your life.

From there, you just added?

They told me when you get the first one, you won’t be able to stop. I didn’t believe them. As you can see, they were right. I started with the shoulder on the same arm, worked my way down and stopped at the clock.

What year did you get the first one?

Freshman year at Baylor.

Were you allowed to get them before you turned 18?

I could, but I was terribly afraid of my mother. Once I turned 18, I could do whatever I wanted. She liked the first one but then the second one was a little more than she was hoping for. Once I pushed her over the edge, she embraced it and she likes them.

If you would get your mother a tattoo, what would it be?

On her or to commemorate her?

On her

I feel like mom’s get a lot of tattoos with their kids’ names. Maybe do one on the shoulder with the kids’ name with some roses.

To commemorate her?

Good question. She works and hangs out with us. She’s worked for Wells Fargo her whole life and I’d probably take a spin on that stagecoach thing – this is me off the top of my head – but I'd rather it be the traditional horses but I'd probably turn them into a zombified horses and fire coming off the back of it.

Nothing says Happy Mother’s Day than a tattoo like that

(Laughs)

The first time you kicked something. Ball, chair, person, whatever?

It was soccer. It was when I turned 4 and I played soccer for 14 years, playing it all throughout high school. I was decent at it. I had a couple of long free kicks in a game and the head football coach just happened to be watching. He asked me if I’ve ever kicked a football before and I said no. I played my senior year and that’s how it started.

If you could trade places with one teammate and play that position?

It would be the holder, just because I enjoy holding. But also since (Joe Schopper) does both of those, would that mean I would have to punt? I’m not opposed to that. My little brother was a quarterback and I pulled him over to the specialist’s side of things, but he wants to punt. I’m looking at it and it’s a sweet gig. Lot less pressure on punting. Schop is a well-liked dude, team captain and a lot of respect for him.

In all the years I’ve asked that question, this is the first time someone has said a holder.

It’s a good job, man. It’s a starting job. Every time you step on the field, you’re probably scoring points or you’re attempting to score points. Holding is fun.

Are kickers, or you, superstitious? Is there a ritual you go through?

I would say the socks have to match the leggings is the first thing and the wristbands have to match the socks. Black socks, black wristbands and tie it all together that way. The main thing from a superstitious standpoint is when I’m tying my shoes – I knot them up pretty good. I don’t like floppy laces.

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I end up knotting them five or six times until they won’t tie another knot. If I get into it and I mess up … let’s say I’ve tied the right shoe and then I go to the left but I mess up on the third knot, I will untie that shoe, untie the right shoe and start over.

In looking at your shoes, how do you get them untied?

Just start picking them apart. It takes a couple of minutes, but you get there. In the game, there’s no chance of them coming undone. It started back in high school for me. I used to not do that but on a kick, I had a floppy lace and I kicked the ball off and I was running downfield, the lace got caught in the stud and ripped the shoelace in half. I didn’t have an extra pair of shoes.

If you didn’t play football or soccer, what’s your sport?

Golf, 100 percent. I enjoy it and I play it in my free time. I’m not great at it but we also don’t have a whole lot of time. If I was going back and doing it all over again, I would play golf.

Why?

It’s very similar to kicking but it was something when I was young, and my dad took me a couple of times and it was something I really enjoyed. It’s a classy sport. It’s quiet, it’s peaceful and I’m a quiet person. It may not seem like it, but you would be surprised. I tend to keep to myself.

What’s your best score?

I’m in the mid to upper 80’s. My putting game is bad. That’s my biggest problem. I can drive, I can pitch up it there but as soon as I have to putt, it’s bad news.

One thing your teammates don’t know about you?

Can I say what most teammates don’t know about me?

Yes.

I would say it’s probably assumed, and it’s something that wouldn’t be surprising but I was in a heavy, heavy, really heavy metal band. Lead guitar. That was me. I’ve always been a little different. I was a freshman in high school and everybody else in the band was in college. I was out there shredding lead guitar.

Last time you played the guitar?

Yesterday (Tuesday, Oct. 2). I brought six of them up here with me. I left three at home and I have six up here with me.

Do you have jam sessions, or do you jam by yourself?

Up here, by myself. I’ve got people back home I’ll play with. My dad plays a little bit, so when I go home and visit, I’ll play with him some. I’ll hook up my phone to some speakers … I’m big playing by ear. I was self-taught. I’ll put my phone on shuffle, throw on random songs and as it’s going, I’ll play along with it.

Do you sing?

No. I probably can sing but I don’t. I can do screams. That makes a difference. I can play bass, I can play drums, a little bit of the piano.

Is this something you see down the road for you?

As a hobby, more than anything. It’s not anything I would pursue.

Ten, 15 years from now, you’re doing what?

I plan on going back home to Texas with my family and getting into – I’m already a licensed home inspector. I did that a lot when I was back there. My dad started up a home inspection company a long time ago, but it’s evolved now into construction and other stuff. I would start out doing the home inspections and start taking off some of the load he’s got in running a whole business.