NORMAL -- Taken aback by the sight of senior Joe Doyle speaking with a media member, an Illinois State teammate shot back a good-natured barb on his way to practice Tuesday.

"Hey, Doyle. Get a real job."

Such is life for a Redbird football player who spends the majority of his practice time watching others practice.

Yet for Doyle, ISU's long snapper, and senior cohorts place-kicker Zach Kutch and holder/punter Kevin Mazur, preparing to excel in limited opportunities to shine is what they do.

"The three of us work really well together," Doyle said. "We wouldn't be successful if we didn't get along."

ISU's special teams trio are center stage on extra point and field goal attempts. Kutch has converted 19 of 25 field goal tries and is perfect on 24 extra point kicks entering Saturday's noon season finale against No. 9 Northern Iowa at Hancock Stadium.

"I've got a great relationship with those two. I wouldn't be able to accomplish anything I have this year without these guys," said Kutch. "They are the ones who have the hard work. All I have to do is go up and kick it."

The primary Redbird place-kicker in 2005 and '06, Mazur emerged as ISU's punter this season and has averaged 37.5 yards while causing 12 fair catches and dropping 11 inside the 20-yard line.

"They have been great," Redbird coach Brock Spack said. "One of the vast improvements in our football team has been the play of our special teams. All three have had a huge part in that."

Participating in only limited segments of practice, Doyle, Kutch and Mazur work on the side but have plenty of time to chat while teammates bang shoulder pads.

"We spend every day together so we know each other pretty well," said Mazur. "It's a goofy camaraderie, I guess. But that's normal for specialists."

Doyle, a junior college transfer in his third year as ISU's long snapper, is the free spirit of the group.

"I'm kind of an interesting character. I love the sound of my own voice," said the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Doyle. "I'm a spokesperson for them. I try to keep the spirits light."

After losing the place-kicker job early in 2007, Mazur was not on the 90-man training camp roster in August of 2008. He rejoined the team when school started, but did not play in a redshirt season.

Mazur and Kutch both attended an elite offseason kicking camp in Wisconsin, and the results have been obvious.

After serving as the back up kicker to Steven Fetzer most of 2008, Kutch has tied the school record for field goals in a season and set an ISU and Missouri Valley Football Conference record with six against Western Illinois.

"I haven't seen a better kicker in FCS football than Zach Kutch. He's been super," Spack said. "Mazur is very similar to that. He was very erratic in the spring to the point I was really worried. But he's turned into a big-time punter."

Doyle fired a high snap that doomed a field goal attempt in the opening game this season. But otherwise he has been practically perfect the past three seasons. He even recalls the three or four snaps that were off line, but still reached the intended target.

"I guess it's good I can count them all on one hand. But that's still too many," he said. "It's really good I can focus on one thing. I've really had time to hone my craft and work on that one thing to be the best I can. I don't have to worry about being a third-rate offensive lineman."

A real job? Yes, Doyle has one and so do Kutch and Mazur. Just don't expect them to act like it.