Brian Schmitz

Position:
Punter/Place-Kicker
Height:
6-1
Weight:
160
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Park Ridge, IL
High School:
Maine South

One of the top all-purpose kicking specialists in college football. The Sporting News ranks him the second-best punter in the country. Is the starting punter, handles kickoffs and long-range field goals. Came as close to dominating a football game as a punter can with his performance in brutal conditions in UNC’s Las Vegas Bowl victory last December. Is fourth alltime in school history with an average of 42.5 yards per punt. That is the highest career punting average by a Tar Heel in the last 50 years.

1998 • Junior Season

Named to Sports Illustrated’s All-Bowl Team after his performance against San Diego State in the Las Vegas Bowl. Earned second-team All-ACC honors. Averaged at least 40 yards per punt in all 11 regular-season games to tie a UNC record. Averaged at least 45 yards six times. Led the ACC in punting at 44.8 yards per kick. His average of 44.8 yards per punt was the third highest in UNC single-season history. The only higher averages were Harry Dunkle’s 46.6 in 1939 and Bud Wallace’s 45.6 in 1950. Punted 50 yards or longer on 24 of 75 punts. Drilled a 56-yarder from his own 21-yard line with 1:35 to play in the fourth quarter at Wake Forest. One series earlier, he had a 43-yard kick from the back of his own end zone. Had four 50-yard plus kicks out of seven attempts at Florida State (53, 55, 54 and 51). Punted at least 60 yards three times in the regular season. Averaged 44.0 yards on five punts in the Las Vegas Bowl. Pinned the Aztecs inside their own 11-yard line four times. Late in the second quarter, with the Aztecs looking for good field position after stopping Carolina at its own 21-yard line, Schmitz unloaded a 66-yard punt into the wind. The ball came to rest at the Aztecs’ 5-yard line. Did not allow Damon Gourdine,who came into the game as the No. 2 punt returner in the NCAA, to return a single punt . San Diego State’s average starting field position in the first half was its own 21-yard line.

1997 • Sophomore Season

Punted 57 times for a 40.0 average. Dropped 16 punts inside the 20-yard line. Had a 57-yard punt against Stanford. Booted eight punts longer than 50 yards and 31 better than 40 yards. Punted six times at Maryland and placed five inside the 20-yard line. Kicked a career-long 51-yard field goal to give Carolina a 10-7 lead at NC State. It was the longest field goal without the use of a tee in UNC history. Was 2 of 4 on field goal attempts. Also made a 44-yard field goal at Georgia Tech in UNC’s 16-13 victory. Had a punt of at least 50 yards in five of 11 games. Had 17 touchbacks on 59 kickoffs (29 percent).

1996 • Freshman Season

Opened the season by kicking off against Clemson and blasted the ball out of the back of the end zone. Kicked off 50 times and had seven touchbacks. Also punted twice and had a long kick of 44 yards.

Maine South High School

Second-team All-USA Today. Kicked the game-winning field goal in the Illinois 5A state championship finals. Also kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime in the state semifinals. Selected the Central Suburban Conference Player of the Year. Started at wide receiver. Two-time all-state, all-conference, all-area selection. Made 21 of 26 field goals and 60 of 63 extra points in his career. Had 98 career touchbacks on kickoffs. A first-team all-state selection, he also averaged 46 yards per punt.

Personal

Born Brian Charles Schmitz on June 12, 1978. Majoring in physical education. Favorite pro teams are the Chicago Cubs and Blackhawks. Favorite athletes are his brother, Bill Schmitz, Ronald Curry, Tiffany Roberts and Anna Kournikova. Greatest athletic achievement was kicking a field goal as time expired to win the Illinois state championship. The people who have influenced him the most are his family, God and his high school basketball coach, Dave Scott. Other favorite sport is surfing. Homesick for his buddies, his girlfriend, his dog, his favorite hot dog place and the Cubs. Post-college ambition is to play pro football and own a restaurant.

Brian Schmitz’s Regular-Season Statistics

Year   Punts   Yds   Avg   Blk   LP   In 20
1996   2       60    30.0  0     44   0
1997   57      2278  40.0  4     57   16
1998   75      3357  44.8  2     62   17
Totals 134     5695  42.5  6     62   33