Hal Seymour

[stephenPE]

He was the gator punter when I first started following the gator. Punted bare foot. He was pretty good and drafted by the Wash. Redskins. Passed away Saturday. He was 73. Who became punter after Hal at UF?
I think I know.

 

[Okeechobee Joe]

Steve Spurrier

 

[AlexDaGator]

Alex.

 

[MidwestChomp]

Barefoot punter? That is really quite badass. Hal must have had a foot of steel. Rest in peace Hal.

 

[divits]

Hobart Neville. I believe he was from Micanopy.

 

[crosscreekcooter]

Hobart Neville. I believe he was from Micanopy.

Hobart also did not sing on Tell it like it is.

 

[divits]

Hobart also did not sing on Tell it like it is.

That was his brother, Aaron. He left Micanopy after HS to find his fame and fortune in New Orleans in the music industry. After a so-so punting career Hobart reluctantly returned to sleepy little Micanopy to run the small family farm and take care of his aging Ma and Pa until they died. He always resented Aaron for his success and for abandoning the family and saw him as the reason for a life not fully lived.

 

[BMF]

https://www.afterlife.co/us/obituary-starke-harold-seymour-7013231

Hal also played WR, catching 2 passes in 1965 for 18 yards:

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/hal-seymour-1.html

 

[Okeechobee Joe]

http://starkejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/June-4-2015-Region-pages-1B-12B.compressed.pdf

From up the road in Starke. Ran track for Bradford County High School. Ninety-six yard punt in high school without a shoe. Steve Spurrier took over punting duties when Hal graduated UF. Another great Gator Hal Seymour.

 

[Chomper]

Barefoot punter? That is really quite badass. Hal must have had a foot of steel. Rest in peace Hal.

It was not an uncommon practice in those days for players to remove their right (or left) shoe before punting. Of course, equipment protocols were somewhat lax back then.

 

[Durfish]

It was not an uncommon practice in those days for players to remove their right (or left) shoe before punting. Of course, equipment protocols were somewhat lax back then.

There were a few barefoot placekickers as well. Tony Franklin and Rich Karlis come to mind.

 

[divits]

It was not an uncommon practice in those days for players to remove their right (or left) shoe before punting. Of course, equipment protocols were somewhat lax back then.

Place kickers too.

 

[Durfish]

Place kickers too.

Great minds think alike, Divits!

 

[BMF]

Yeah, but none of those guys were as good as Hal!! In fact, Hal is credited w/ being the 'grandfather' of the barefoot kickers. Rich Karlis is quoted as saying, "If it wasn't for Hal, I'd probably be a garbage collector in New York City."

(just trying to add to the legend of Hal Seymour. Someone should start a Wiki page for him and we could add bits and pieces to make him the greatest punter no one's ever heard of)...

 

[Okeechobee Joe]

Jim Miller Ole Miss led the nation in punting 1977. Greatest barefoot punter.

 

[BMF]

Jim Miller Ole Miss led the nation in punting 1977. Greatest barefoot punter.

He credits Hal Seymour for all his success!

 

[Chomper]

With or without shoes, Hal Seymour was a Fighting Gator. R. I. P. Gator.

 

[78]

He wore a sock. That's not barefoot. Just sayin'.

 

[Gator98MD]

Drop your koks and grab your socks !!

 

[Swamp Queen]

He wore a sock. That's not barefoot. Just sayin'.