May 23, 2005

Senior Brent Plumley, a midfielder for the Hoya Soccer Team, talks about switching schools and how he finally found the perfect fit in Georgetown. He also looks ahead to life after the Hilltop.

Interview with Brent Plumley by Danya Johnson

DJ: How has soccer influenced by your college career?
BP: Actually, it has been more of an influence than for most people because of going to three schools and playing soccer at each school. My experience at each school has been shaped by my soccer coaches as well as by the academics at the school.

DJ: Which other schools did you attend?
BP: I went to UMF my freshman year, and then Penn, and now Georgetown.

DJ: Why was your reason for transferring?
BP: First, UMF was great. It was a fun school, but I just thought I could do better at a more academic school. Then I went to Penn and obviously, it was what I wanted academically, but the soccer wasn't at such a high level. It didn't really help me much. When I decided to leave UMF, it was between Penn and Georgetown and I kind of regretted not going to Georgetown, but I made up for it I guess.

DJ: Now that you are here, has it been everything that you hoped for?
BP: Yes. It has definitely been the experience I was looking for. The culture here is what I like. The people and the students are the type of people that I like to hang out with. The area is just gorgeous.

DJ: What is it that you like most about Georgetown?
BP: My favorite part is just the approach that I think most students come here with that is this is a good school, but it's not so competitive that they loose who they are. Being in such a competitive spirit as some of the other ivy-league schools where the competitive nature is just so great that they can't even be friendly to other students and here they are cooperative wasn't for me.

DJ: What are you studying?
BP: I am a double major in management and finance.

DJ: Any plans for the summer?
BP: I am going to be staying here. I have an internship at Maryland Institute at D.C. So I'll be staying here for the summer and hopefully can get some good soccer in.

DJ: Do you have any specific goals, looking ahead to the fall?
BP: For myself, I'd like to have a stand-out year. I don't think I've had a real stand-out year yet. I played in Maryland and got a lot of playing time. I haven't really had a year that made me who I am as far as in the conference and in the nation of college soccer. I'd really like to have one of those. For the team, if we were in the top one or two teams in the BIG EAST, that would be the greatest thing. I think that's what we strive to get to. Hopefully we can get into the NCAA tournament this year. That would be a big thing.

DJ: What about plans for your future?
BP: Hopefully after next fall, I will have gotten something in decent, maybe in New York.

DJ: Do you hope to play any soccer there, maybe in the MLS?
BP: I don't work at it, but if I could that would be great. I just don't see it happening

DJ: If it was your choice to play for any team which team would you want to play for?
BP: I'd probably go back to Massachusetts and play there. That would be great.

DJ: Is that where you're from?
BP: Yes. About 45 minutes away from Boston.

DJ: Any other hobbies than playing soccer?
BP: T.V. Watching.

DJ: What's your favorite show?
BP: Probably American Idol, but only for the first couple of weeks when they have all of the bad people on. I also like a show on HBO called Family Bondage, but I haven't seen it for a while.

DJ: If you had to pick one person, who would be winning it right now?
BP: Probably Bo. Bo Bice. Bo's the man.

DJ: Would you say the guys on the team are your best friends?
BP: Definitely. We hang out together all week. Those are my closest friends.

DJ: Do you have any advice to incoming freshmen and transfers from your experiences?
BP: As far as transfers go, if you find yourself at a place where you don't think it's everything you should have, don't just be satisfied. Try to make a sacrifice or have the courage to go and get to the place where you need to be. As for the freshmen, I don't know that much about that but, just go out and try to meet as many people as you can.