tcu punter age

The Australian football player has pledged to donate $20 to Hope Center 4 Autism for every punt he lands within the 20-one thousand line.

FORT WORTH, Texas — If the Horned Frogs neglect to get a commencement down, TCU punter Jordy Sandy knows fans don't typically look around to spotter.

"I'm usually similar people's bathroom breaks," Sandy, 29, said. "They don't want to meet me punt."

Only Sandy has given fans good reason to pay attention when he walks onto the field: For every punt Sandy lands within the xx-yard line, he's altruistic $20 to the Promise Center four Autism, a nonprofit in Fort Worth that provides therapy and academic classes for kids with autism.

"I just wanted to requite something back to the Fort Worth community that's been so good to me," the Australia native said.

Sandy'southward ix,000 journey from Commonwealth of australia to Fort Worth

Sandy grew up in Traralgon, Australia playing Australian Rules Football, which has similarities to rugby.

Merely he had dreams of punting for a university in the U.s.a..

"Obviously desire an opportunity to further develop myself with an teaching," Sandy said. "The opportunity to play in front of big crowds and to play Power Five football, it's amazing."

Sandy worked at a paper manufactory in Australia with Tom Hutton, who punts for Oklahoma State. Subsequently finishing their overnight shift at 6 a.m., the pair carpooled together to train with Prokick Commonwealth of australia, an academy that teaches athletes how to punt an American football.

The pair made the four-hour round trip together 3 times a week, Sandy said.

"We've already got our gear in the car," Sandy said. "We'd just rotate. He'd drive. I'd bulldoze the next week. Yeah, it was pretty crazy."

When TCU called, Sandy told WFAA he just had almost two weeks to motion 9,000 miles to Cowtown and brainstorm his college career equally a Horned Frog.

Sandy said his teammates do tease him almost his age – "jokes almost gray hair, only jokes nigh being a dad" – only they didn't hesitate to step upward and teach him the game.

"Throughout my whole freshman year, I was nonetheless scratching my head at some of the referee'south calls and the flags," Sandy said. "That was confusing for a piddling while."

"It'due south like completely changed me every bit a person," Sandy said of his fourth dimension at TCU. "Fort Worth in general, I love it here. I want to stay here once I graduate."

Merging two homes

As Sandy thought of a fashion to give back to his new community in North Texas, he thought of his customs back dwelling house in Australia: That'southward when his nine-year-former cousin, who has autism, came to listen.

"I've seen some of the challenges and stuff that her family has been faced with," Sandy said. "I thought it was a good way for me to partner with something that'southward shut to home for me, but and so something in the Fort Worth community that I could assist do good as much equally I could and raising awareness for autism."

Not only does Sandy donate $20 to the Promise Heart four Autism every fourth dimension he lands a punt inside the twenty-year-line – he's kicked xv so far this year – he also volunteers at the Fort Worth nonprofit once a week.

"Nosotros call him our 'Punter from Downward Under,'" Hope Center four Autism co-founder Susan Wood said. "The kids simply kind of flock to him. It'due south very fun to watch."

The Hope Center four Autism

The Hope Center 4 Autism provides therapy and bookish classes for kids with autism. Wood, her husband and her girl accept been running the nonprofit for 15 years.

"Nosotros do outreach in the community. Lots of parent education and family education," Wood said. "Because autism doesn't affect a child. It affects the whole family."

In his weekly visits, Sandy has been working with the tertiary, 4th, and 5th graders, playing games like UNO or throwing a football. The kids range in historic period from 9 to 11 years old.

"Information technology'southward non only about the Promise Center," Wood said. "It's about these children having a future and being accepted by the world. He treats them all the same. And it'due south astonishing."

Melinda Opitz'southward son, Gabe, attends the Hope Middle. She told WFAA she's noticed a difference in her 11-year-old son since Sandy started volunteering.

"With Jordy's help, (Gabe) likes going outside and being physically active," Opitz said. "He's even watching the football game games on TV and getting into that. It's been a pretty drastic modify in our life with (Sandy) beingness so involved and (Gabe) getting excited about TCU and just getting excited well-nigh learning with another developed that's cool and a celebrity. And so he gets excited when he comes to school."

Altruistic for a cause

Forest said many people across the country – TCU grads or non – have been matching Sandy's donations or making their own financial commitments after hearing Sandy'due south story.

"Nosotros had a lot of struggle during the COVID shutdown, and we had to furlough 17 employees. And it was devastating," Wood said. "Only rebuilding from as if information technology were the beginning again. So every little chip counts."

So far, Sandy has donated $300 (fifteen punts). But the season isn't over withal.

"He didn't recollect that this was very much. And information technology'south a lot," Woods said, getting emotional. "I love these kids and I love my job. I accept the all-time job in the world. But I get frustrated because people don't get it. I desire more people to empathise how amazing these people are. And he gets it. And he's got a attain a lot further than we ever could have reached because of the honey for TCU and because of the love for Fort Worth."

"We have hope hither. Jordy's giving back to our school and our community," Opitz said. "Information technology'due south very of import to brand that stand up out a little bit more than: That kindness is all around."

Want to donate to the Hope Eye 4 Autism? Click here .