Post by Carolina on May 31, 2006 11:17:00 GMT -5
( This is a new weekly feature in which one Colonel will sit down with a member of the Colonels press team and answer some questions to help Colonels fans to get to know their favorite players a little better.)
Jamie Barnette is very familiar with Carter-Finley Stadium, where the Colonels play their home games. Barnette played in front of capacity crowds his whole career as the starting Quarterback for North Carolina State University. Barnette threw for 9,461 yards and 59 touchdowns during his time with the Pack. Those numbers are good enough for second all time in the history of N.C. State, and among the top five in ACC history as well. Barnette joined the Colonels before their expansion season in 2004, and has been with the team ever since. The Colonels Spotlight set down with Jamie after the Colonels practice on Tuesday.
Colonels Spotlight: Thanks for giving us some of your time.
Jamie Barnette: Hey, no problem, this is the first time I've been interviewed all year.
CS: (laughing) Ok, I'm gonna start with your career at N.C. State, and obviously you left your mark on Raleigh and the whole ACC, but what do you remember most about your time at N.C. State
JB: Man, game days at Carter-Finley were the best. To look out and see that sea of red, it was just great and I had so much fun.
CS: How did you find your way on the Colonels roster?
JB: It was pretty interesting actually, as I was out of football at the time. I had spent some time with the Greensboro AF2 team, but then I went back home and starting coaching some at my old high school. Anyways, I was at school, when the Colonels Owner, Mr. Casey called me up and said that Raleigh was going to have a team in the XFL, and wanted to know if I was interested in playing. I said of course I was, and once the high school season ended I got in touch with Coach Chow, and I went to Raleigh and did a workout on a Saturday, and then they signed me that night.
CS: You spent some time in the CFL, right?
JB: Yeah, I played one year, 2001 with the Montreal Alouettes.
CS: Was that experience very beneficial to you?
JB: It really was, because I learned what it was like to be a Pro Quarterback. It was great to learn behind a great player like Anthony Calvillo as well.
CS: During most of your time here in Carolina you have been in a backup role. How do you stay focused and continue to work hard when you know that you might not play?
JB: When I was in the CFL at first it was hard because I was a backup there as well. But one day it hit me that while I might not play in a game, I still get payed to play football, and thats so much better than any other job I could be doing.
CS: What are your usual duties as a backup Quarterback?
JB: Well, I run the scout team Offense at practice, which is something that I really enjoy, as I think it helps to make our defense better. During the game, I'm always around Coach Chow, and sometimes I signal in play calls.
CS: But this week, things haven't things been a little different?
JB: Oh yeah, since Rob got hurt at Dallas, I'm now second string behind Kyle, so I have been taking more snaps with the Offense at practice. But, I am still running the scout team because I'm trying to simulate Adrian McPherson, the guy we go up against this weekend?
CS: Wow, you must be putting in some real effort at practice.
JB: Yeah, but man I love it. It works well, because the coaches think that I'm somewhat like McPherson, which is a great compliment, cause that cat is one heck of an athlete.
CS: You have a reputation of being the guy who welcomes new players to the team, and tries to help them fit in. Why do you think that responsibility falls to you?
JB: First of all, I enjoy it, and I think it helps that I have been around for a long time. We have a pretty young team, as most of these guys are just a couple years out of college. Actually I was the one who picked up Timmy Chang at the airport on Monday after he had been signed, and I took him to my house to eat, and basically showed him around Raleigh.
CS: Has Timmy been picking up the offense pretty good so far?
JB: Oh yeah, hes a real smart guy, and I think he has a chance to have a nice pro career.
CS: Well, thats all the time we got today, is there any last words you have for the fans?
JB: I want all the fans to know that we love their support, and that we can't wait till next weekend when we play KC at home, cause we know Carter-Finley will be rocking!!
Jamie Barnette is very familiar with Carter-Finley Stadium, where the Colonels play their home games. Barnette played in front of capacity crowds his whole career as the starting Quarterback for North Carolina State University. Barnette threw for 9,461 yards and 59 touchdowns during his time with the Pack. Those numbers are good enough for second all time in the history of N.C. State, and among the top five in ACC history as well. Barnette joined the Colonels before their expansion season in 2004, and has been with the team ever since. The Colonels Spotlight set down with Jamie after the Colonels practice on Tuesday.
Colonels Spotlight: Thanks for giving us some of your time.
Jamie Barnette: Hey, no problem, this is the first time I've been interviewed all year.
CS: (laughing) Ok, I'm gonna start with your career at N.C. State, and obviously you left your mark on Raleigh and the whole ACC, but what do you remember most about your time at N.C. State
JB: Man, game days at Carter-Finley were the best. To look out and see that sea of red, it was just great and I had so much fun.
CS: How did you find your way on the Colonels roster?
JB: It was pretty interesting actually, as I was out of football at the time. I had spent some time with the Greensboro AF2 team, but then I went back home and starting coaching some at my old high school. Anyways, I was at school, when the Colonels Owner, Mr. Casey called me up and said that Raleigh was going to have a team in the XFL, and wanted to know if I was interested in playing. I said of course I was, and once the high school season ended I got in touch with Coach Chow, and I went to Raleigh and did a workout on a Saturday, and then they signed me that night.
CS: You spent some time in the CFL, right?
JB: Yeah, I played one year, 2001 with the Montreal Alouettes.
CS: Was that experience very beneficial to you?
JB: It really was, because I learned what it was like to be a Pro Quarterback. It was great to learn behind a great player like Anthony Calvillo as well.
CS: During most of your time here in Carolina you have been in a backup role. How do you stay focused and continue to work hard when you know that you might not play?
JB: When I was in the CFL at first it was hard because I was a backup there as well. But one day it hit me that while I might not play in a game, I still get payed to play football, and thats so much better than any other job I could be doing.
CS: What are your usual duties as a backup Quarterback?
JB: Well, I run the scout team Offense at practice, which is something that I really enjoy, as I think it helps to make our defense better. During the game, I'm always around Coach Chow, and sometimes I signal in play calls.
CS: But this week, things haven't things been a little different?
JB: Oh yeah, since Rob got hurt at Dallas, I'm now second string behind Kyle, so I have been taking more snaps with the Offense at practice. But, I am still running the scout team because I'm trying to simulate Adrian McPherson, the guy we go up against this weekend?
CS: Wow, you must be putting in some real effort at practice.
JB: Yeah, but man I love it. It works well, because the coaches think that I'm somewhat like McPherson, which is a great compliment, cause that cat is one heck of an athlete.
CS: You have a reputation of being the guy who welcomes new players to the team, and tries to help them fit in. Why do you think that responsibility falls to you?
JB: First of all, I enjoy it, and I think it helps that I have been around for a long time. We have a pretty young team, as most of these guys are just a couple years out of college. Actually I was the one who picked up Timmy Chang at the airport on Monday after he had been signed, and I took him to my house to eat, and basically showed him around Raleigh.
CS: Has Timmy been picking up the offense pretty good so far?
JB: Oh yeah, hes a real smart guy, and I think he has a chance to have a nice pro career.
CS: Well, thats all the time we got today, is there any last words you have for the fans?
JB: I want all the fans to know that we love their support, and that we can't wait till next weekend when we play KC at home, cause we know Carter-Finley will be rocking!!