Goodrich’s Nathan Barnett has a place in the Hope College football record books.
Against Adrian Oct. 22, Barnett, a senior placekicker on the Flying Dutchmen, converted six extra-point attempts as Hope defeated Adrian 42-21.
In the process, Barnett set the school record for most extra points in a career, as he is now at an even 100 for his career. The previous record of 96 was held by Greg Bekins from 1977-80.
With three games left in the regular season, Barnett has made 36 extra-point attempts this year, including 19 straight.
Barnett, the son of Nigel and Cherie Barnett of Goodrich (the couple has another child, daughter Brittany, 19), has been the Flying Dutchmen’s placekicker ever since his freshman year. While at Goodrich, he kicked for two years on the varsity football team and also played four years for the boys soccer program.
He said Goodrich varsity assistant football coach Brad Rainwater had a big influence in helping him make it to the college level.
‘Every ounce of success is honestly because of him,? he said. ‘He always spent extra time with me. He said, ‘You’re going to make it to the next level.? He’d always give me a big bag of footballs to practice with during the summer. Whenever it came down to fourth down, he’d be the first to talk to Coach (Tom) Alward (the Goodrich varsity football head coach) and say, ‘Let’s kick it.??
Barnett compared kicking to playing goalie for the Goodrich soccer team, and said he thrives on clutch situations.
‘Not to sound conceited, but I honestly like having a certain amount of pressure on me,? he said. ‘I always liked playing a position where, for at least one play, all eyes are on you.?
Barnett said his most memorable kick came his freshman year, when the Flying Dutchmen played archrival Albion College. The previous year, Albion had defeated Hope to spoil an otherwise stellar year by the Flying Dutchmen.
As a freshman, Barnett avenged Hope’s loss to Albion the previous year with a game-winning 35-yard field goal in the final game of the year.
‘Here I am, a freshman having no real knowledge of the rivalry, and I kick a field goal to win the game,? he said.
As far as future plans go, Barnett said he has received some feelers from Arena Football League teams, and attended a camp with the AFL’s Grand Rapids Rampage. However, he said nothing concrete has developed in that regard.
‘It will be interesting to see come tryout time,? he said.
However, he said he is focused on becoming an elementary school teacher. Barnett, an elementary education major, is scheduled to do his student teaching next fall and graduate from Hope in the winter 2006 semester.