Bowling Green State University Athletics
Barnes on ESPN.com
September 25, 2009 | Football
Barnes on ESPN.com
Bowling Green State University wide receiver Freddie Barnes sat down with ESPN.com's Graham Watson for a few minutes to discuss the upcoming contest with Boise State, as well as Barnes leading the country in receptions through three games.
Complete ESPN.com Story
Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson
Bowling Green receiver Freddie Barnes leads the country in receptions, but he's eager to see how he fares against No. 8 Boise State and one of the best cornerbacks in the game in Kyle Wilson this weekend.
The Falcons have a new offense and a lot of confidence heading into what Barnes calls a rematch game against the Broncos.
What are your thoughts going into this big game against Boise State?
Freddie Barnes: I'm pretty excited to say the least just because I feel like it's a rematch game. We left some plays on their field last year and we've got a new system, new coaches, basically new life. With them being ranked in the top 10, we have an opportunity that most people in the MAC dream about, knocking off a big team.
What's the difference in your play this year than it has been in past years?
FB: Well, I know it's early, but right now it's my health. My sophomore season I came in coming off ankle surgery. I was doing well in the summer and then in camp I messed up my ankle again. So the week going into the first game, I basically had to rehab for a week and try to play through it. And then my junior season, I sprained my AC joint. Each time I was coming into the season, I was coming in not 100 percent. This season I'm just praying that I'm able to stay healthy and give all I've got every week.
Did you think you had the potential to be the top receiver in the country?
FB: As a competitor you always want to be the best, but with being at Bowling Green and my past two seasons, that didn't cross my mind at all. It's interesting to see my name at the top of the list when it comes to receptions per game. It's pretty cool right now.
Because you were hurt so much, how hard was it to get that timing with quarterback Tyler Sheehan?
FB: It was probably tougher on him more than me because I was just trying to focus on being where he wants me to be. I wasn't really focusing on timing and to be honest, last year we didn't have too many things that involved timing. We didn't work on timing and all that. We just ran the routes and he just threw it when he thought we were open. But now, the way that the offense is, it's a lot more timing and everything has to be precise. The summer has been great for us to get the new offense in and pick up on that timing factor. We're much better than we were a year ago.
When do you think you'll start seeing, and maybe you already have, a lot more attention from defenses?
FB: I already have. It started in the Missouri game and then Marshall they picked up a lot more on their aspect of doubling me whether it was a corner and a safety or a linebacker and a corner. I don't know, Boise, they have a great corner in Kyle Wilson so I'm not sure if they're going to allow me and him to just have a one-on-one matchup or if they're going to double me as well.
What are your thoughts about going up against Kyle Wilson considering a lot of people consider him one of the best corners in the country?
FB: I love it and I'm eager for it. Last year, me and him had a great battle, a great battle. I won some and he won some. And last year, I wasn't as healthy as I wanted to be. This year, I'm as healthy as I'm gonna be as the season progresses, so I'm very excited to go up against someone as great as him and to see how I fare.
Does this team have more confidence going into this game this year than it did a year ago?
FB: I would say that, just because we feel like our coaches believe in us a lot and they trust us with their offensive and defensive plan. Coach let's us know that we played with some pretty good teams thus far and we could be 3-0. There could have been a couple adjustments we could have made here and there. We're definitely coming in more confident than we did last year.
Bowling Green State University wide receiver Freddie Barnes sat down with ESPN.com's Graham Watson for a few minutes to discuss the upcoming contest with Boise State, as well as Barnes leading the country in receptions through three games.
Complete ESPN.com Story
September 25, 2009 11:00 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson
Bowling Green receiver Freddie Barnes leads the country in receptions, but he's eager to see how he fares against No. 8 Boise State and one of the best cornerbacks in the game in Kyle Wilson this weekend.
The Falcons have a new offense and a lot of confidence heading into what Barnes calls a rematch game against the Broncos.
What are your thoughts going into this big game against Boise State?
Freddie Barnes: I'm pretty excited to say the least just because I feel like it's a rematch game. We left some plays on their field last year and we've got a new system, new coaches, basically new life. With them being ranked in the top 10, we have an opportunity that most people in the MAC dream about, knocking off a big team.
What's the difference in your play this year than it has been in past years?
FB: Well, I know it's early, but right now it's my health. My sophomore season I came in coming off ankle surgery. I was doing well in the summer and then in camp I messed up my ankle again. So the week going into the first game, I basically had to rehab for a week and try to play through it. And then my junior season, I sprained my AC joint. Each time I was coming into the season, I was coming in not 100 percent. This season I'm just praying that I'm able to stay healthy and give all I've got every week.
Did you think you had the potential to be the top receiver in the country?
FB: As a competitor you always want to be the best, but with being at Bowling Green and my past two seasons, that didn't cross my mind at all. It's interesting to see my name at the top of the list when it comes to receptions per game. It's pretty cool right now.
Because you were hurt so much, how hard was it to get that timing with quarterback Tyler Sheehan?
FB: It was probably tougher on him more than me because I was just trying to focus on being where he wants me to be. I wasn't really focusing on timing and to be honest, last year we didn't have too many things that involved timing. We didn't work on timing and all that. We just ran the routes and he just threw it when he thought we were open. But now, the way that the offense is, it's a lot more timing and everything has to be precise. The summer has been great for us to get the new offense in and pick up on that timing factor. We're much better than we were a year ago.
When do you think you'll start seeing, and maybe you already have, a lot more attention from defenses?
FB: I already have. It started in the Missouri game and then Marshall they picked up a lot more on their aspect of doubling me whether it was a corner and a safety or a linebacker and a corner. I don't know, Boise, they have a great corner in Kyle Wilson so I'm not sure if they're going to allow me and him to just have a one-on-one matchup or if they're going to double me as well.
What are your thoughts about going up against Kyle Wilson considering a lot of people consider him one of the best corners in the country?
FB: I love it and I'm eager for it. Last year, me and him had a great battle, a great battle. I won some and he won some. And last year, I wasn't as healthy as I wanted to be. This year, I'm as healthy as I'm gonna be as the season progresses, so I'm very excited to go up against someone as great as him and to see how I fare.
Does this team have more confidence going into this game this year than it did a year ago?
FB: I would say that, just because we feel like our coaches believe in us a lot and they trust us with their offensive and defensive plan. Coach let's us know that we played with some pretty good teams thus far and we could be 3-0. There could have been a couple adjustments we could have made here and there. We're definitely coming in more confident than we did last year.
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