Maryland punter Brooks Barnard, a Ray Guy Award finalist, returns for his senior season. Barnard is the Terps' leader in career (43.9 yards), single-season (44.7) and single-game (53.8) punting averages. Barnard, who starred locally at Broadneck High in Arnold, is a senior majoring in kinesiology.
BaltimoreSun.com: Coach Ralph Friedgen said you bench pressed 400 pounds as well as lifting 281 pounds in the clean and jerk, which is a school record for kickers. Have you always been a "gym rat" in the weightlifting sense?
Brooks Barnard:I started lifting in the 10th grade. I think a lot of it is natural genetics because I have some strong people in my family. I just got into it for the fun of it.
BaltimoreSun.com:Did you have a goal about wanting to bench press 400 pounds? That is more than twice your weight (188).
Brooks Barnard:I wanted to do that this year. It's a record I wanted to set so that many years from now when I come in the locker room in a walker or wheelchair, I'll see that record and say, "I did that."
BaltimoreSun.com:Coach Friedgen made this comment during his news conference today: "Since he's bench pressing 400 pounds, he should maybe go down the field [on kickoffs] and make a tackle." Would you?
Brooks Barnard:Probably. I want to go down there and take someone's head off. I think it would be fun.
BaltimoreSun.com: Isn't there a stigma when guys are tackled by kickers?
Brooks Barnard: Yes (laughing). There are some bragging rights involved.
BaltimoreSun.com: Your biography in the media guide said you wanted to study meteorology and become a weatherman. Why?
Brooks Barnard:Being a weatherman is a perfect job. In what other job can you still keep your job even if you're wrong every day? You can almost say anything you want to.
BaltimoreSun.com:So, are you a Weather Channel junkie?
Brooks Barnard:I watch it about two hours a day. I critique the anchors.
BaltimoreSun.com:If you are interested in meteorology, why are you majoring in kinesiology?
Brooks Barnard:They didn't have undergraduate meteorology here, so I went with my second interest, which is children and sports. I would like to study meteorology in graduate school.
BaltimoreSun.com:You were a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award last season and this year, you are among the finalists. Does winning that honor cross your mind?
Brooks Barnard:I just want to go out this season and have fun. You don't know when it's going to end and being a senior, the fact that my college career is ending is starting to sink in.
BaltimoreSun.com:What would be a bigger bragging right for you when you look back on your career - a Ray Guy Award or being the strongest punter in the Maryland program?
Brooks Barnard:Neither. I want to win a bowl game.
BaltimoreSun.com: Coach Ralph Friedgen said you bench pressed 400 pounds as well as lifting 281 pounds in the clean and jerk, which is a school record for kickers. Have you always been a "gym rat" in the weightlifting sense?
Brooks Barnard:I started lifting in the 10th grade. I think a lot of it is natural genetics because I have some strong people in my family. I just got into it for the fun of it.
BaltimoreSun.com:Did you have a goal about wanting to bench press 400 pounds? That is more than twice your weight (188).
Brooks Barnard:I wanted to do that this year. It's a record I wanted to set so that many years from now when I come in the locker room in a walker or wheelchair, I'll see that record and say, "I did that."
BaltimoreSun.com:Coach Friedgen made this comment during his news conference today: "Since he's bench pressing 400 pounds, he should maybe go down the field [on kickoffs] and make a tackle." Would you?
Brooks Barnard:Probably. I want to go down there and take someone's head off. I think it would be fun.
BaltimoreSun.com: Isn't there a stigma when guys are tackled by kickers?
Brooks Barnard: Yes (laughing). There are some bragging rights involved.
BaltimoreSun.com: Your biography in the media guide said you wanted to study meteorology and become a weatherman. Why?
Brooks Barnard:Being a weatherman is a perfect job. In what other job can you still keep your job even if you're wrong every day? You can almost say anything you want to.
BaltimoreSun.com:So, are you a Weather Channel junkie?
Brooks Barnard:I watch it about two hours a day. I critique the anchors.
BaltimoreSun.com:If you are interested in meteorology, why are you majoring in kinesiology?
Brooks Barnard:They didn't have undergraduate meteorology here, so I went with my second interest, which is children and sports. I would like to study meteorology in graduate school.
BaltimoreSun.com:You were a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award last season and this year, you are among the finalists. Does winning that honor cross your mind?
Brooks Barnard:I just want to go out this season and have fun. You don't know when it's going to end and being a senior, the fact that my college career is ending is starting to sink in.
BaltimoreSun.com:What would be a bigger bragging right for you when you look back on your career - a Ray Guy Award or being the strongest punter in the Maryland program?
Brooks Barnard:Neither. I want to win a bowl game.