Nov. 16, 2005

Washington, D.C. - This Saturday marks the final game of the 2005 football season, as Georgetown hosts Colgate at the Multi-Sport Field on the Hilltop.
For 17 members of the Hoya football team, this will be their last time playing football.
These student-athletes entered the University in 2002 and were part of the first Hoya football team to register a win in the Patriot League.
In the first of four installments leading up to the season finale, members of the senior class shared their thoughts as they close out their collegiate careers.

Senior Tight End Glenn Castergine

Do you realize this is your last week playing football at Georgetown? "It's starting to hit me. Yesterday, walking off the field at practice, it was kind of scary to think about. Football has defined me. It'll be interesting to see how life is after football. It hasn't fully hit me yet, but I'm sure it will as this week goes on."

What was it like getting ready for this week? "(Strength coach) Augie Morelli brought in all the seniors and he thanked each of us for the work we've done here. I thought that was a great deal of respect from him. When he did that (on Sunday morning), it started to make it a bit more real."

Are you more excited to go out on Saturday with a win? "That's how I feel, that we've still got a lot to play for this weekend. It's going to be a great game. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I wanted a challenge and we'll get that with a great Colgate team. I wanted a challenge. If we come out with our "A" game, we can win this one. That's a challenge I want to live up to and it's something that can be with me the rest of my life."

Have you thought about what it will be like to walk off the field on Saturday? "It's been on my mind. Walking off the field (Tuesday), knowing it was the last day in full pads, it just made all of the seniors realize how fast it went. It's going to be overwhelming. The program has come so far in the last four years. It ends for me on Saturday and it's going to be an emotional day."

Senior Linebacker Jackson Dismukes

Do you realize this is your last week playing football at Georgetown? "It has started to hit me. It started on Sunday, as soon as I came in for that practice, knowing I'd be going through that type of routine for the last time. That day we go in the weight room and lift and I got a real heartfelt, sincere goodbye from Augie (Morelli). Everyone on the team loves him, he's a great guy; more so in a lot of ways than the coaches because we're with him so much - he's a big part of our lives. He shook every single seniors hand and said thank you. That meant a lot because it shows how much he cares."

Are there any games that stick out in your mind from your days here? "The two games that I'll always remember were the game against Bucknell in 2002 and the Fordham game this year. Against Bucknell, it was an overtime and it was the first Patriot League win for the team. To be there and see guys like Dave Paulus and Luke McArdle get that win and have a great game meant a lot. The game against Fordham this year for Homecoming was a come-from-behind win, that was up there. Those two games stick out the most in my mind."

What will stick with you most from your playing days? Playing football anywhere is a commitment, a level of commitment and a desire to be part of a team that most people don't get. Matt (Domenyancic, assistant strength and conditioning coach) was talking about how once you graduate and you get a job there's certain things about people you can notice who haven't been around that team atmosphere. He was saying how you don't know what it's like to be there for a team cause. Those people who have been around that have a dedication to a cause that you tend to recognize."

Have you thought about this being your final game? "I thought about it all season. You hear from every single player who's graduated that you're going to miss it. That kind of convinced me that I will miss it. But at this point in the season, you're so beat up and banged up, it'll probably be a relief to not have to go to practice, but I imagine that after Thanksgiving, I'll be wishing I could play one more game."

Senior Offensive Lineman Craig Warznak

Has it hit you that this is senior week? "Not really at all. Even from my friends that graduated, they said that it doesn't really hit you until the next season of workouts start. It's kind of surreal."

Do you think that it will become more real later this week? "I think it will start to become a little bit more real. It's something you've done for 10 years and all of a sudden it will be gone, so it's going to take some time. You have to know that one day it will come to an end, but we want to go out on a good note. I can remember being a freshman and going through everything and now I'm going out on job interviews."

What would you say to any of the coaches? "The coaches are kind of surrogate parents to us. I'd just say thank you to them for a great ride and a great four years."

What would it mean to go out with a win on Saturday? "That would mean a lot. But for us seniors, we're going to try and go out with a win. I think it would also be a great start for the program for next year. To get a win like this to close out the year will mean that much more for everyone coming back."

Senior Defensive End Michael Ononibaku

Has it hit you yet that this is the final week? "It's hit me. Ending my football career at Georgetown has really hit me the last three games. Each week got closer to this week. It's really going to be here, and it's really going to be done. I can't really believe that it's actually going to be the end. It's really going to be sad, and I'll probably be emotional during the day."

How do you get up for this week's game?" "You've always got to look at something to play for each week. Colgate will be challenge, but I believe in our team, and I believe we can end the season on a wining note. The best we can finish is 5-6, but we can still be 3-3 in the Patriot League and that's an accomplishment for us as a program. It'd be great for us as senior class and show how we've improved."

What would you say to any of your coaches? "All I can say is thank you for everything they've done for me and our senior class. We've had a lot of ups and downs. They've always stayed positive. They never let anything affect their job, which was to get ready for the next game. Coach (Bob) Benson and Coach (Rob) Sgarlata, those guys are always so positive. Whether we won or lost, they'd always come in the new week with high-energy and a positive attitude. That's helped me a lot. It's easy to dwell on a loss, but Coach Sgarlata and Coach Benson have done a good job all year of keeping us upbeat and focused for the next game.

"Augie, our strength and conditioning coach, I want to thank him as well. Since day one, he's been working with us in the weight room, and he's always been very dedicated to helping this program grow. In my opinion, Augie has been more than just a strength coach for us, but also a good friend."

What would you say to your teammates? "Being there with them, we've all gone through the same things. We win and lose as a team. It could have been easy for us to dwell. You know they're going through the same things. My teammates all care. Everyone has a great attitude and wants to improve this program. We don't have any superstars on this team, we just all do our job to the best of our abilities week in and week out. Our team camaraderie is one of the things that I've always liked and I'll never forget."

What does it mean for you to play football here? "I've told my teammates before that I believe we're a family. I love them all. After football is over and done with, I'm not going to forget about the program. I'm looking forward to seeing them succeed. It could be my last time playing football, which is something I can't even fathom. I just want to play these last 60 minutes to best of my ability, and leave it all on the field."