ATLANTA - Maryland's Brooks Barnard began college with aspirations of becoming a meteorologist, so he appreciates the wind, snow and rain.

But as a punter in tomorrow night's Peach Bowl against Tennessee, he looks forward to the conditions at the Georgia Dome for his final college game - sure to be 72 degrees with no wind.

"This is going to be the first time where the weather is perfect," Barnard said. "The ball really flies in this dome, so I'm really gearing up for this one."

The senior from Arnold, Md., regularly sent punts 65 yards or farther in the team's one practice at the dome; one went 75 yards.

It's not as if Barnard needs much help. His 42.7 average led the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2002 and resulted in an All-ACC first-team selection.

His career average of 43.6 yards could be higher if not for the Terps' improvement at moving the ball offensively. He spent his first two years at Maryland making punts from near his end zone. With many of his kicks now originating closer to midfield, he is in charge of putting the opponent in bad field position.

"We have roles that we have to do to make our coaches' lives easier. I have to pin them deep," Barnard said. "I know they have a good returner [Mark Jones], but I'm not going to shy away from him, either. I've never shied away from anybody - I'm going to hit it high, long and as far as I can."

Shime suspended

Maryland nose tackle William Shime was suspended by coach Ralph Friedgen for a rules violations and will not play.

Friedgen said yesterday that he had some disciplinary problems since the team arrived in Atlanta around Christmas Day but declined to elaborate.

Shime started the last five games of the regular season when C.J. Feldheim (Hereford) hurt his knee, and he finished with 26 tackles, two for losses. The depth chart indicates that fourth-year junior Tosin Abari could get his first career start.

Game plans

Maryland coordinators Charlie Taaffe and Gary Blackney offered their views on strategy.

Offensively, Taaffe said Maryland's option attack is another weapon against Tennessee's man-to-man tendency on defense, but he called Julian Battle and Jabari Greer the best cornerbacks the Terps will play this season.

"They get in your face and challenge you to go by them," Taaffe said. "When they can play you man-to-man, it allows them to drop down with another man in the box. I expect that Tennessee will challenge us and see how well we match up man-to-man."

Tennessee has been better on the ground this season - a 202-yard average over the past five games - and has lost top receiver Kelley Washington to a neck injury, but Blackney identified the Volunteers' passing game as the greater worry for the Maryland defense.

Tennessee's wide receivers are not at the level of years past, but the talent accompanying quarterback Casey Clausen is better than most of what the Terps faced in the ACC. Against a similar attack in Florida State this year, the Terps lost, 37-10.

"Florida State has the same type of athletes Tennessee has," Blackney said, "and it's going to be a tremendous challenge for our secondary to stay with their receivers."

Miscellaneous

Friedgen said that senior right tackle Matt Crawford, who has been bothered by a shoulder injury, would try to start. ... Reserve cornerback and former Howard player Garrick McPherson (dislocated shoulder) likely will sit out.