”Beanie” Barnes doesn’t fit the mold of the typical Husker football player. First of all Beanie checks it at around 5-4 and 140 pounds. Even by punter’s standards that’s small. Secondly Barnes had never punted in an organized football game before. And, oh, yeah…she’s a girl.

In Saturday’s Nebraska Red White Spring Game Barnes made history as the first female to participate in a formal Husker scrimmage when she took the field with 9 and a half minutes left in the third period for a punt.

The punt traveled 35 yards total, much of it on the roll. But it was enough to put Barnes in the box score.

“I wish it would have been a little prettier, a little further. I guess that happens.” the snior said. “It was my first game. I’m proud of myself. I got it off. I didn’t shank it or drop it or anything like that.”

Her work wasn’t finished when the ball left her foot, though. Barnes rushed up-field where she was met by Husker cornerback Keyou Craver around midfield. The play ended with Craver flat on his back but Barnes laughed and shrugged off the question as to whether or not she executed a perfect pancake block on a Husker starter.

“You’ll have to ask Keyou (what happened).”

Born KaLena Barnes, she has been known as “Beanie” by her family even before she was born. She came to Nebraska from Ontario, California as a track athlete (4x100 relay). After talking things over with several fellow athletes and friends, she decided to try out for the Husker football team. She joined the Husker hopefuls during the winter conditioning period and originally had her sites set on placekicking but quickly found punting more to her liking.

Barnes quickly bristles at the thought that she has made her efforts into some kind of crusade.

“This is not about me doing this for anybody but Kalena. If it motivates people to do stuff that’s great but my reason for doing this for personal reasons.”

Barnes tried to downplay the hype by keeping a low profile. With rare exceptions, such as a Husker Press Box interview in February, Barnes has declined most interview requests.

“I think the media was kind of upset with me. I kind of thought they thought I wasn't trying to avoid them, but I just really didn’t want to say very much. I wanted to make things go as smooth for me as possible. “ Barnes said. “I didn’t want to make a big deal out of me being a female.”

Being a female did cause some troubles for the team. Specifically equipment. The team didn’t have any equipment to fit Barnes.

“They gave me some upper body pads and they were a little too big.” Barnes said. They were able to secure the right sized pads from Lincoln Southeast High School. Her playing pants were child sized.

Although her physical presence on the field is small, Barnes plans on doing everything she can to make an impact next fall. She says her intentions are no joke.

“I’m dead serious.” Barnes said. “Now more than ever.”