Grady Capobianco’s Return To Football Team Emblematic Of Senior Class’s Jumbo Pride

Senior Grady Capobianco returned to the team after missing two seasons with a bad shoulder

MEDFORD - Sixteen Jumbos celebrate Seniors Day on Saturday at Ellis Oval/Zimman Field in the final game of their collegiate careers against the Middlebury College Panthers.

Tufts tackling machine Zack Skarzynski spoke in the preseason about possibly continuing his playing career after college, and perhaps a few others will pursue similar opportunities. However, for most of the Tufts seniors, this will be the last organized football game that they take part in.

Football is a commitment, made by both the players and their families. In most, if not all cases, autumns for the past 10-plus years have been centered around football for the Jumbo seniors and their families. That the routine will end today is pretty deep.

Along with Skarzynski, classmates Adam Auerbach, George Brereton, Grady Capobianco, Pat Cassidy, Carlo Cervini, Nick Croteau, Andrew Daley, Nick Falk, Andre Figueroa, Luke Lamothe, Kyle Leggott, Ian Levinsky, Johnny Lindquist, David Lloyd and J.T. Rinciari will be honored on Saturday as the Tufts Football Class of 2011. They will all graduate with degrees in football, with a concentration on being members of the Tufts Football family.

Linebackers Phil Artis and Ferras Albitar also earn honorary degrees today. Both seniors would have played this season if not for injuries.

All 16 Tufts seniors have played for the love of the game and for the dedication to their teammates. One Jumbo senior's story shows that commitment in particular.

Capobianco came to Tufts in 2008 as an All-Tri Valley League quarterback out of Holliston (MA) High School. He was part of a 23-man freshman class for the Jumbos that fall. However, he injured his shoulder seriously during the season. Due to the injury, he was unable to play football for the next two years.

Almost half of the Jumbo freshman class of 2008 is no longer with the team for one reason or another. However, this fall Capobianco chose to return after the two-year hiatus. Uncertain of what his role would be on the field, now as a wide receiver, he was more interested in getting back to being a part of the team. It's that type of Jumbo pride in all of the Tufts seniors that will be saluted on Saturday.

"It was two of the most difficult years of my life," Capobianco said about his time away from the team. "The sense of brotherhood and pride you gain from being on this team was remarkable and indescribable, and something I dearly missed."

No one would have blamed him for forgetting about football after the frustration of the injury, but he couldn't. In addition to the camaraderie, he missed the joy of playing the sport and the life lessons to be learned as a Jumbo football player.

"The minute my body was able to perform again, I jumped at the opportunity of coming back for my senior season," he said. "We've learned to endure any hardship, balance everything in our lives, and work hard at everything we do. The Tufts football program shapes teenagers straight out of high school into brilliant, hard-working men that will be successful in everything they do in life."

Though the team's record isn't where they want it to be, the senior class has played a key role in helping the program transition to a new head coach this year. Jay Civetti, the offensive coordinator for the past three seasons, took over as head coach in January 2011.

"All of the seniors bought into Coach Civetti's coaching techniques and beliefs without hesitation," Capobianco said. "We would do anything for him, as he would do anything for us. All of the seniors have been incredible leaders, making this transition very easy. We all know the future of this program looks extremely bright under Coach Civetti, and despite our record thus far, we feel we've begun that bright future for the program."

Over the years, Jumbo seniors have talked about how special the Tufts Football family has been to them. How welcoming it was in the beginning, and how being a part of it has enriched their lives. No one can put a finger on exactly what is this aura of the Tufts Football family. Basically, it's just a bunch of guys from different parts of the country coming together and having a great time on and off the field, year after year.

For Capobianco, being with his classmates has been the time of his life.

"There is never a dull moment when we are all together at practice, at home, or on campus," he said. "I've laughed more over the past four years than one could laugh in an entire lifetime. We are all extremely lucky to have had the privilege to play together every day."

Their time on the field together ends today. However, the experiences they've shared will provide memories that will last a lifetime. Sure, they would have liked to win more. However, today is more about celebrating the personal significance of their football careers, and sharing it with a number of like-minded teammates at Tufts.

"The highlight of my career at Tufts is the enjoyment I get every day of being back on the team for my final year and season," Capobianco said. "Being on the field with Coach Civetti, the fellow seniors, and the rest of the team and coaches every day has been the greatest highlight of my Tufts experience."

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