That is saying something for Franks, who, four years ago, turned down numerous scholarship offers from big-time football programs like UTEP and Northwestern in order to attend Georgetown. After a four years as a solid contributor that were overshadowed by losing seasons on the Hilltop, it would be hard to blame Franks for regretting his decision. But following a 24-21 Georgetown win over arist on Homecoming Saturday and a late-game interception that sealed the come-from-behind victory for the Hoyas, Franks was perfectly content.
“I can’t explain it,” Franks said of the emotional Senior Day win. “It’s my senior year, my last home game, my family is here. It is such a great feeling.”
The seniors of 2007 carried the Hoyas on their backs Saturday, ensuring their undefeated homecoming record remained intact. Senior safety Brian Tandy had an interception to go along with Franks’ game-sealer, defensive end Alex Buzbee and linebacker Chris Paulus kept constant pressure on Marist junior quarterback Stephen McGrath, and senior offensive linemen Liam Grubb, Robert Browning and Andrew Rehwinkel plowed huge holes for skill players like senior tight end Matt Cooper, whose first career touchdown proved to be the difference in the last home game on the Hilltop for the class of 2007. The veterans provided both the defensive resistance and the offensive firepower needed to snap a six-game losing streak and earn first-year Head Coach Kevin Kelly his second career victory.
“We wanted to win it for the seniors, but they pretty much won it for themselves,” junior quarterback Matt Bassuener said after the game. “I am so happy for these guys – they earned it.”
It has been a frustrating year for the 14 fourth-years who have been called upon to lead Kelly’s rebuilding of a struggling Georgetown program. On a young team that has seen more and more freshman enter the starting lineup with each passing week, grizzled vets like Buzbee and Grubb have been called upon to provide an example for developing newcomers like freshmen defensive back Travis Mack and running back Charlie Houghton.
“We rode the senior leadership the whole second half,” Houghton, who finished the day with 71 yards and a touchdown, said. “It was huge to get a win for them.”
The come-from-behind win was a fitting metaphor for a team that has seen its fair share of bad breaks and adversity during its rocky ride through Patriot League play. The Hoyas dug themselves into a 14-0 hole early in the game and it seemed, after two critical fumbles and a rash of exasperating first-half penalties, as though it would be the same familiar storyline for Georgetown. But after an inspiring half-time speech by Kelly, the Hoyas emerged from the locker room determined to show the 2,164 students and alumni that packed the Multi-Sport Facility stands that all was not lost.
Cooper’s reception with a little less than 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter cut the Red Foxes’ lead to five. Cooper, who finally settled at tight end this season after leapfrogging positions throughout his career, hauled in a perfect play-action pass from Bassuener in front of his brother and former Hoya, Ryan, who had traveled all the way from California to watch his brother on Senior Day.
Houghton’s shifty moves out of the backfield and the blazing speed of sophomore kick returner Kenny Mitchell showed glimpses of what could be a bright future for football on the Hilltop. The steady play of these promising underclassmen would not have been possible without the leadership of their elders.
“We always win on homecoming. It’s a tradition that we are going to pass on to our freshman,” Franks said. “I didn’t want to leave the field after the game, but I have to pass the torch to the next guy after me.”
Saturday’s win serves as a desperately needed boost of confidence for Georgetown, who hits the road for two tough consecutive Patriot League games to finish its 2006 campaign. Even if the Hoyas fall to Lafayette and Fordham, the team has, at the very least, proved that it is making steady progress. The development has been fostered by the team camaraderie that Tandy and Franks exemplify.
“It’s crazy,” Franks said of the friendship that has sprouted from the seeds of on-field competition. “We’re roommates; we’re tight; we share the same things; we bleed together – I am really going to miss him.”
Years from now, Kelly may look back on the performances of Tandy, Franks, Cooper and the rest of the seniors on Saturday as a turning point for his program.
“We didn’t panic. We could have said `Here we go again,’ but we didn’t,” Kelly said of his team’s perseverance. “We reached a milestone today; our character is strong because our seniors have created a foundation. I will never forget this first class.”