Editor’s note: This is a new feature that will appear in the Journal Tribune sports section each Sunday. Anyone who has an idea for someone we should interview can send information to [email protected] or [email protected].

By PAT McDONALD

Sports Editor

Brandon Briggs decided when he graduated from Thornton Academy in 2013 that he would focus on his studies and not continue his football career when he enrolled at the University of Maine.

After several years of thinking about giving football another try, the former Golden Trojan decided to warm up his leg and try out to be a kicker for the Black Bears last year.

Fast forward a year and Briggs is not only on the UMaine team, he is the Black Bears starting kicker — and one of the best kickers in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Briggs took some time on Thursday to speak with the Journal Tribune from Orono. The TA graduate, who is a senior at UMaine, would cover everything from his time with the Trojans to his plans for the future.

Here is the entire interview:

When did you first start kicking, and what made you give it a try?

“I first started in youth football in sixth grade, but that obviously wasn’t anything serious, but it did give me a little taste. I started actually playing football my junior year in high school. What made me play was all my friends played football, and joining a winning team was what solidified it for me.”

What do you remember most about your time at TA?

“Obviously the state title is my biggest memory … I think just the whole journey and process is kind of imprinted on me.”

What was that  2012 state title run like?

“The state title was everything because I think we hadn’t won in something like 24 years, we had this major drought, and I always told myself in high school that I wanted to graduate with some sort of state title. I never thought it would be football … just to get that feeling just topped off my high school career.”

How much did playing at TA get you ready for UMaine?

“The only thing that I feel like that helped me was the fan base, the more people showing up to the games and getting some pressure situations. The crowd back there was nowhere near the crowds I’m playing in now, but it definitely helped me out a little bit.”

How did the academics at TA help prepare you for college?

“They kind of recently really upped their game with academics. They were still a really good academic school when I was there but I think it’s nowhere near the way it is now. Looking back at it I wish I actually tried and took a little more difficult courses back in high school, like taking advanced placement which would have helped me get into courses here instead of having to take like basics and upping my way through the prerequisite courses.”

You didn’t join the UMaine team until last year, was making the squad always in the back of your mind since graduating from TA?

“Yea, it just kind of grew more and more as the years went on, and eventually I got a for sure thing about tryouts and I took it. I always kind of convinced myself out of it every year and then I just finally caved.”

After taking several years off, what was it like when you lined up for your first collegiate field goal?

“I was nervous as hell … I mean just because it’s a Division I school, I was rusty and just getting back into that atmosphere and the crowd it was kind of overwhelming.”

You are credited with one tackle this year, is it every kickers dream to lay a big hit on a returner, or would you rather not have to do that ever?

“I mean it’s a high risk, high reward kind of deal, you know you go in and try to get a huge blow and you either get demolished or you look like some strong super hero. It could go both ways and it could obviously bite you in the butt real hard if you end up getting destroyed. My coaches always tell me “take it easy, you don’t need to do that because you could get injured,’ and then they are going to be pissed at me, but you obviously want to lay a hit on someone, no doubt.”

What are your goals for the rest of this season?

“Just to keep winning … I just want to stay where I’m at, help the team, contribute to (wins) and help get in the playoffs.”

Once your time at UMaine wraps up, what are your plans for the future?

“Just get some sort of engineering firm to hire me.”

Would you like to stay in Maine?

“I’m willing to travel and go wherever opportunity knocks.”

Being a sophomore eligibility-wise are you planning on returning to kick as a graduate student?

“That’s definitely something I’ve thought about, and I’m talking to the coaches about that. It’s something that we’ve just got to work out.”