June 9, 2008
Washington, D.C. - Members of the Georgetown University football team returned to campus last week to start summer classes and to begin preparations for the coming 2008 season. There are about 20 players on campus this week, including senior captain Nicholas Umar (Belle Mead, N.J./Montgomery), and players started workouts in the strength and conditioning room late last week.
Each week through the start of preseason camp, members of the Hoya football team will be sharing their thoughts on summer workouts and the coming season. Umar, one of the team's co-captains, along with junior offensive lineman Dan Matheny (Fairfax, Va./Paul VI), will also wear the prestigious #35 jersey this season.
"It feels great to be back at Georgetown after a two week stay back home in New Jersey, where I was able to catch up with family and friends. It felt good to be around those that I am close with, but do not always get a chance to see very often, for a little while before I returned to the District.
"Also, going home serves as a reminder of where I came from and the type of hard work that is required to achieve any sort of success on or off the field.
"I am very excited to be back working out with the team and getting ready for the upcoming season. Coach Augie Maurelli is the best I have ever been around in terms of strength and conditioning, so being down here during the summer is great preparation for training camp and the season. The effort that you need to put in is great, but Augie pushes us and makes it enjoyable to do so.
"We have a great core of players here currently, guys who are willing to do whatever it takes to win this fall. I am not a big advocate of talking, and although wins and losses do not always properly reflect the makeup of a team, that is what we are judged on. Nothing matters except wins. This is my last go-around here at Georgetown and I am willing to make every sacrifice and do whatever it takes to win this season.
"The players that are here right now, along with those coming down in July and August, are guys that I am excited to work with and line up with on Saturdays this fall. The passion and work ethic of this team can undoubtedly bring about a big change to the Georgetown Football Program."
Georgetown opens the 2008 season on Saturday, September 6 at Howard, the first-ever meeting between the only schools in the Nation's Capitol that play football. The Hoyas' home opener is Saturday, September 27 against Patriot League rival Holy Cross.
