Q&A // Brad Martz, Francis Scott Key, track and field

By Rich Scherr | Special to The Sun

May 18, 2008

Francis Scott Key sprinter and running back Brad Martz will play college football at Temple. (Handout photo / May 18, 2008)

Francis Scott Key's Brad Martz has drawn acclaim for his play on the football field, establishing himself as one of the area's top running backs. It's been his performance on the track, however, that has turned heads of late.

The senior recently took second in the 100 and third in the 200 at the Carroll County championships, helping the Eagles to the boys team title. With his quick burst from the starting line, Martz will be in the hunt for even more accolades as the postseason continues.

After signing last month to continue his football career at Temple, however, his time on the track appears to be quickly coming to an end.

Was track initially just something you started to keep in shape for football? If so, has that changed with your success?

At first I just looked at it as keeping in shape for football. But after a couple years, I found out I was doing good at it, so I tried to work and improve.

Is the running you do at track practice similar at all to the kind of running you do in football practice?

It's actually a lot different. In football, it just seems like you're working different muscles. In football, it's short, little sprints, and you get a rest in between. But at [track] practice, it could be short or it could be long.

You have a teammate, David Thomas, who you're pretty much step for step with in the 100 and 200. Does it really help you to have someone you can compete with at practice?

That helps a lot. In the 100, I've got more of the speed -- shorter and quicker getting out. In the 200, we're pretty much even, because he can keep up his speed for a long time. We basically challenge each other throughout practice. At first, we joke around. We say we're going to take it easy and to just stay together. But then as it gets near the end, we always try to race and see who finishes first.

You're going to Temple University on a football scholarship. So is this the end of track for you?

Yeah, I think this is it. With football and school, it's going to be a lot. And football is basically year-round training.

What was the recruiting process like for you?

My junior year, I had a good year in football, and I got a lot of letters and offers from a lot of schools. Then senior year we didn't have as good a year, and it kind of went downhill. It was pretty hard, but finally Temple offered, and that was my best choice.

Who else were your finalists?

It was them or Liberty, or I was thinking about Virginia.

So what was it that eventually made you pick Temple?

They're rebuilding, and I want to be a part of that as they're coming on the uprise. But also, I'm looking at studying sports management or business, and they've got one of the top business programs around here. In sports management, they've got a lot of connections, with the Philadelphia Eagles being right there.

Did it mean anything to you to be within driving distance of home?

It made it easier on my parents. It's like a two-hour drive, so it's pretty close for them to come up and watch the games. That did kind of play a little bit of a factor.

How big a relief was it to finally sign with them last month?

I was kind of getting worried. It was getting a little late and I really didn't know what I was going to do. Then finally when they came through, I just felt lighter.

You rushed for 552 yards last season, which was less than half your total from the year before. Do you attribute that mostly to losses on the offensive line?

Yeah, we didn't have the kids we had my sophomore and junior years come back out and play. Last year, we only had three starters who had varsity experience. Everybody else, our whole line, was brand new.

Was that pretty frustrating to you?

Yeah, I was frustrated, but I tried to not show it. I just tried to keep the team up and keep them motivated. But it was kind of frustrating.

What aspects of your game do you feel you need to improve on to make it big at the collegiate level?

I need to work out my legs a little more. I've got the speed, but probably I need to work on getting quicker.

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Q&A // Brad Martz, Francis Scott Key, track and field

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