April 16, 2008
Washington, D.C. -
Georgetown Head Football Coach Kevin Kelly said it was the best way to end the 2007-08 academic year for the Hoyas. When he woke up on Saturday morning, April 12, he looked outside and saw a bright, sunny day awaiting him. He told his wife, Kathy, that it must be a sign.
For the last two years, the Georgetown Football Blue-Gray Spring Game was marked by cloudy days with heavy rain showers. The 2008 edition was played under sunny skies and comfortable temperatures.
"It was a good way to end the spring season for us," Kelly said. "I told my wife in the morning that I hoped it was a sign of things to come for us."
The spring scrimmage went through a variety of drills, starting with punt formations. The team then went through a series of third-down plays - taking six plays apiece on 3rd and 1-2 yards, six plays at 3rd and 3-6 yards and 3rd and 7-10 yards - before doing a drive format.
"In a lot of ways, we got more out of it than you would a straight game because it went over specific formations and situations," Kelly said. "The kids liked it. They like playing football and competing and it was a good afternoon."
Kelly was impressed with the play on both sides of the ball. "The offense started slowly, got some nerves out and finished up strong," he said. "The defense got better as we moved along and they were very good during the drive format. As a head coach, I was pleased with the offense at times and upset with them at times, just as I was pleased with the defense and upset with them. Overall, it was a good day for us."
Following the game, Kelly announced the team's captains for the 2008 season, with the nods going to rising senior defensive end Nicholas Umar (Belle Meade, N.J./Montgomery), the recipient of the No. 35 Joe Eacobacci Memorial Jersey for the coming year, and rising junior offensive lineman Dan Matheny (Fairfax, Va./Paul VI), a three-year starter.
"Nick is wearing the 35 jersey and he's an excellent leader," Kelly said. "From the day I started, he's been one of the hardest workers we've had here. It's not a surprise that his teammates recognized that and wanted him to lead them. Dan is a similar type of player. They're just both hard workers who have put time in to achieve. They are blue-collar football players who just work."
Kelly and his staff also presented the Most Improved Player Awards during the post-game banquet to rising senior Collin Meador (Lyndhurst, Ohio/St. Ignatius Prep) and rising junior Jared Myers (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin).
Meador came to Georgetown as a tight end, but moved to offense line the last two years, where he has been a starter. He will make the move back to tight end this season. Myers came to the Hoyas as a tight end, did not play much after getting sick as a freshman and has made great strides over the last two years after a move to defensive line.
"We had a lot of candidates for that award," Kelly said. "These two really stood out and we're expecting big things from them this season."
