Nov. 8, 2007

Washington, D.C. - This is a week of "last times" for members of the Georgetown University football team. For the 18 seniors on the Hoya football team, it's the last week of rituals that have shaped their four years on the Hilltop. It's the last week of weekly weight-lifting sessions, the last week of watching film on opponents, the last week of practice and, on Saturday, the last time they will wear the Blue and Gray on the Hilltop.

This Saturday, November 10, the 18 seniors will play the final game of their college career when the Hoyas host Colgate in a Patriot League game at the Multi-Sport Field.

It's an exciting, yet unsettling feeling for the seniors. Several of the team's seniors sat down to discuss what they will remember most from their playing days, their favorite moment, what this week has been like for them and what the future holds for them.

Hoya Headliner sat down with twin brothers Brent Craft (Jupiter, Fla./The Benjamin School) and Darren Craft (Jupiter, Fla./The Benjamin School), defensive backs Darren Alberti (Atherton, Calif./Menlo) and Kevin Cherepski (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) and kicker Eric Bjonerud (Potomac, Md./Georgetown Prep) to get their thoughts on Senior Week.

HH: What have you enjoyed most about playing football at Georgetown?
Darren Alberti: "Beyond the playing field, I'd say that I've enjoyed most all of the different people that I've met while playing football here at Georgetown," Darren Craft said. "The team is made up of guys from all over the country and all different walks of life. I can't think of too many other pursuits that allow you to share your passion with such a wide variety of people. I'm grateful to have had the chance to enjoy the game of football with such a great group of guys."
Eric Bjonerud: "The people I have met, the friendships I have made and the situations I have been put in."
Kevin Cherepski: "All the friendships I have made over the past four years playing here at Georgetown, going to practice every day and having a great time with my teammates and being given the experience to play Division I football at such a great institution."
Brent Craft: "I have enjoyed my teammates and the friendships the most."
Darren Craft: "I have most enjoyed the opportunity to compete on behalf of such a great academic institution."

HH: What has been the highlight moment for you?
Darren Alberti: "Probably getting my first start against Brown my junior year. After being converted from receiver to cornerback when I transferred from Trinity, and then having to sit out my sophomore year due to transfer rules, it was great to get the start at corner in only the third game of my career. That and the collective feeling of relief we all had after beating Bucknell this year. That was a happy lockerroom."
Eric Bjonerud: "Hitting the game-winning field goal this year at Bucknell. I was proud to be a big part of Coach Kelly's first Patriot League win."
Kevin Cherepski: "Beating Bucknell my senior year in the last few seconds of the game, singing the fight song in the lockerroom after the game and having the best celebration of my life with my teammates."
Brent Craft: "Beating Bucknell at Bucknell senior year has been my most memorable highlight."
Darren Craft: "My highlight moment was when I sacked the quarterback against Stony Brook my junior year in a game in which the defense pitched a shutout at home."

HH: What will you miss most about Georgetown football?
Darren Alberti: "I think I'm going to miss some of the smaller moments of college football then I will actually playing the game itself. I'll always remember how good breakfast tasted after morning workouts in the winter when the team pretty much had the cafeteria to itself because it was still so early. I'll really miss the Friday night dinners on away trips at the hotel when Coach Kelly gives us a chance to relax and just enjoy being around each other. I'll miss calling home after games knowing that my parents had been nervously watching or listening to the game over some internet feed they managed to find on the computer back home in California, or going out to dinner with them the times they did make the trip to D.C. Little moments like that I'll miss the most, long after I remember specific plays or stats."
Eric Bjonerud: "I am going to miss being part of a team that has so many different kinds of people with so many different backgrounds. I am also going to miss the special kicker practices that (Christopher) MacGriff and I have designed."
Kevin Cherepski: "Being able to go out everyday and play the game of football with all of my teammates that I have become so close with during this time."
Brent Craft: "I will miss competing together with my best friends with one common goal in mind."
Darren Craft: "I will miss the camaraderie with my teammates."

HH: What has this week been like for you as you get ready for your final game?
Darren Alberti: "Well, with it all coming to an end...all the good memories, bad ones and everything in between...suddenly that 5:45 a.m. alarm clock doesn't seem like such a burden anymore."
Eric Bjonerud: "I have taken the same attitude and approach to this week of practice as I have every other week. I don't know when it's going to hit me that I am done with Georgetown Football. But I do know, when it does hit me, it is going to hurt."
Kevin Cherepski: "I have treated this last week just as I have treated the first week of my career: go out and practice and give 100 percent so that we could come out and beat Colgate at home. In the back of my mind, though, I still know that this is it, and it's the last week I will get to strap on the pads at Georgetown and I am happy with that, knowing that I have been given such a great opportunity that most people never get to experience. For that, I'm very grateful."
Brent Craft: "It has been a mixture of emotions. Anything that you love and knowingly do for the last time is sad, and it has been exactly that. But with the closing of one door comes the opening of another."
Darren Craft: "It has been very difficult to come to terms with playing my final football game ever. Every drill in practice is means that much more because it will be the last."