Interview Questions

  1. You mentioned your dad’s quote, “Once you start something, you finish it.” How has this philosophy impacted other areas of your life outside of sports?
  2. You talked about playing on the “best of Massachusetts” team in middle school. What were the most valuable lessons you took from playing with players who had offers from big Division I schools?
  3. Why did you decide to attend public school over one of the private schools that was recruiting you?
  4. During your high school football career was there a moment you felt like you truly “belonged” on the field, especially after earning your varsity spot so early?
  5. After being named captain your senior year, what did leadership mean to you at that point, and how did you approach it?
  6. After your shoulder injury in college how did you stay motivated to come back stronger?
  7. Looking back on your football journey, what would you say has been the most rewarding part of the entire experience?

Outline

Intro: Who is Evan?

  • Story of someone whose life has been shaped by football on and off the field
  • Someone who feels prepared to go out into the world when football is over, as it has given him many life skills
  • Quote from his dad — “Once you start something, you finish it” — Evan stuck with it… and that decision changed his life.

Youth Football

  • His football journey started with tears
  • Started football going into third grade, begged to quit
  • His Dad insisted he stuck with it
  • After the final game he cried again but this time it was because the season was over
  • Evan fell in love with football
  • Realized what his Dad meant

Middle School

  • Dreamed of playing college football at a big program like Notre Dame or Boston College
  • Played on the “Best of Massachusetts” team, surrounded by athletes who were going to go D1
  • Showed him he could compete even when he wasn’t as skilled
  • Evan said “I felt like I belonged but didn’t at the same time” – The other players might’ve been a little bit better than him, but he could compete as much as anybody else
  • Showed him to have some grit

High School

  • Chose public school despite private school recruitment
  • Made varsity as a freshman because he was already pretty big
  • Sophomore year he was a two way starter – hot headed, was ejected once
  • Senior year named a captain, learned to be a role model
  • Leadership skills stuck with him 
  • Head Coach made him lose his love for the sport a little bit, didn’t support his college recruiting
  • With the help of an assistant coach he eventually connected with UNE and got his one and only offer (Someone believed in him again)

College

  • Started as a challenge, adjusting to faster play and more complexity
  • Sophomore year it was starting to click before a shoulder injury in preseason
  • Evan said “It was mentally and physically one of the hardest times of my life. But you know I was really working my tail off to get back on the field”
  • Surgery and 6 months rehab
  • Ability to overcome adversity will stick with him through life
  • Helped him become more of a leader, helping older/younger guys both
  • Stuck with him, Freshman Sean Gherard “Glynos is a great leader. He really goes out of his way to set a good example for all of us younger guys.”
    • Evan is always there to offer support
  • His comeback earned him a starting spot in year three, but after a tough first game his playtime was reduced
  • Looking to have a great season this year and contribute more

What Football has taught him

  • Build life skills, Leadership, Resilience, Professional Communication, Work Ethic
  • He believes these tools will serve him long after his playing days are over
  • Most rewarding part – Fulfilling a childhood dream and sharing that with his dad, who still attends every game.
  • Defined who he is today
  • “Once you start something, you finish it”
    • His senior year now and he is finishing it

Reflection

200-300-word reflection on the entire process—what went well, what might you change, what surprised you? 

All in all I think this project went very well and I actually enjoyed it a lot. It was interesting to hear about everybody in class and get to know each other better through others reporting on each of us. I was fortunate that I already knew Evan so the start to the project wasn’t too difficult at all. I enjoyed learning about him in his essay and felt like I had enough information to dig deeper into his story in the interview. I found the most interesting information to be from before college which I wasn’t really expecting. Once I started making my outline I definitely felt like I had enough information to talk about in the four to seven minute range and was more worried about having to report it all to the class. I didn’t want to read off my outline but I also wanted to have enough information to really guide me through it if once I went up in front of the class I started blanking really bad. I think I did a decent job of not reading but I don’t think my eye contact with the class was the best because I did catch myself just looking down at my laptop quite often. I think if I were to do it again I would still stick with the digital outline but really trim the detail down and only have a few things down like the quotes to read. I felt like I knew Evan’s story pretty well and I think if I had less in front of me I would be able to look up more often.