Oct. 27, 2007
Washington, D.C. - The Georgetown University football team looks for its second win of the season when they play on Saturday, October 27 at Lehigh in a Patriot League matchup. After meetings on Friday night, senior kicker Eric Bjonerud (Potomac, Md./Georgetown Prep), who was named Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday, and senior punter Christopher MacGriff (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich./University Liggitt School), who is among the top-10 in the country in punt average, took some time to visit with Hoya Headliner.
HH: Why did you ultimately decide to come here?
Eric: I wanted to kick at a high level and receive a good education. Georgetown was the best fit. Chris: Georgetown had always been one of my top choices. When the coaches started expressing interest in me, it sealed the deal.
HH: What was the transition like from high school to college for you?
Eric: In high school, I could use a two-inch block. Once I got to college, I had to learn how to kick off the ground and adjust to the speed of the game. The players coming to block my kicks were a lot quicker, so I had to shed the snap to kick time by a couple tenths of a second. Chris: I did not have much a high school career: only kicked in two games.
HH: The season has gotten off to a tough start, but last week was a strong performance. Are you excited about the direction of the program?
Eric: I believe in the players, in the coaches, and in the program. I think the games will be close and thank God we have a good kicker! Chris: Ever week we are getting better and I am ready to do what I can to help us win.
HH: Who do you look to for advice when you need it?
Eric: I talk to my kicking coach Paul Woodside, who taught me how to kick. I also talk to Nick Novak, who kicked for the Redskins last season, about how to deal with certain situations. Chris: Coach Luke Thompson.
HH: Do you have any superstitions before games?
Chris: Eric hides tooth picks in various parts of his uniform. Eric: Chris looks at himself in the mirror and starts mimicking the crowd noise.
HH: What is on your iPod?
Eric: Our position is predominately a mental position. Music plays a big part in preparing our minds to cope with the pressure that other players on the team do not have to deal with. I listen to a lot of up beat music: Techno and Rock Chris: Anything from Jack Johnson to TuPac, no country.
HH: If you could be on any reality show, which one would you choose? Why?
Eric: Chris would be on "Beauty and the Geek." Chris: Eric would be on "The Biggest Loser."
HH: Who is your favorite player of all-time in your particular sport?
Eric: Adam Vinatieri. Chris: Barry Sanders.
HH: What would you do if you won a million dollars?
Eric: Chris and I always talk about donating money to Georgetown football with sole requirement that 50 percent of it goes to kicker related expenses.
HH: What do you like to do in the off-season?
Eric: Golf, mountain biking, basketball, and more kicking. Chris: I started to pick golf back up this past summer. Lifting, basketball, anything to stay in shape.
HH: What is your favorite quote from your Coach?
Eric: "Bjonerud! Get over here. Now get the *&^% away from me!" Chris: "You're kicking a pumpkin ball and you have a damn monsoon behind you, it better get to the end zone."
HH: What is your "breakfast of champions?"
Eric: Chris: A cold bagel and a warm Gatorade at 6 a.m.
HH: If you could get front row tickets to any concert, now or in the past, which would it be?
Eric: I would have really liked to have gone to the HFS festival. Chris: I would have really liked to have gone to a TuPac concert. One of the best live shows I have ever seen was the Roots in Detroit.
HH: What is your favorite holiday?
Eric: Thanksgiving. Matt Bassuener always plays in a backyard Turkey Bowl. Chris: All my extended family gets together for ever major holiday. New Years is one of my favorites
HH: When did you first start playing football?
Eric: Freshman year of High School Chris: Senior year of High School.
HH: When did you know that you wanted to play football competitively in college?
Eric: Sophomore year of high school. Chris: About a month before preseason camp started.
HH: Who is your biggest rival?
Eric: Christopher MacGriff Chris: Eric Bjonerud
HH: What was the best moment in your career so far?
Eric: Game winning kick against Bucknell my sophomore year, up until last week. I was the man. Chris: This year has been breakout season for me. Unfortunately, when I have a great it usually means the team doesn't. I would have to say this year against Holy Cross.
HH: What is a typical practice like?
Eric/Chris: 15 minutes of special teams practice with the team and about two hours of "kicker practice" in the far left corner of the field.
HH: Who on the team do you rely on the most?
Eric: I rely heavily on Matthew Bassuener and Nick Umar. Without them I would not be able to attempt a kick. I treat them to dinner every Thursday night just to let know that I really appreciate what they do. Chris: Nick Umar.
HH: If you could change one thing about football what would it be?
Eric: Make a field goal over 50 worth four points instead of three points. Chris: I don't like how everyone gets really quiet on game day. I have never played a sport where getting pumped up means listening to your I-pod by yourself.
HH: What do you have in your personal equipment bag?
Eric: Three plastic pipes, one rubber kick off tee, and a lot of tooth picks. Chris: Nothing special.
HH: Do you have any regrets about playing football?
Eric: No Chris: No
HH: If you could be great at any other sport or event besides football, what would it be?
Eric: I want to be a pick-up basketball all-star. Chris: I would love to be a scratch golfer.
HH: Anything you want to do before you graduate?
Eric: Make a 40+ field goal in a game. Chris: Throw a pass on a fake punt.
HH: Your most embarrassing moment?
Chris: We were doing a form tackling drill with the line backers and Eric blindsided me and in front of the whole team.
HH: Who in your life inspires you the most?
Eric: My brother, who graduated from Georgetown last year. Chris: My Grandmother.
HH: What do you consider to be your biggest fear?
Eric: Spiders. I am afraid of spiders. Chris: Honestly, at this point in my life, waking up late for practice.
HH: What is your favorite thing to do on the weekends? Eric: Winning football Games.
HH: What one word people use to describe you?
Eric: Enthusiastic
HH: Favorite Georgetown restaurant?
Eric: The Tombs
HH: What is your dream job?
Eric: NFL kicker
HH: Favorite TV show?
Eric: The Office
HH: Favorite movie?
Eric: Gladiator
HH: Least favorite movie?
Eric: Pathfinder
HH: Freshman dorm?
Eric: Village C west
HH: If you could be anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Eric: New Zealand, because of all the different landscapes.
HH: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Eric: Probably working for some bank.
HH: Booey's or Wisey's?
Eric: Wisey's.
