S

enior Day is a special moment for any college football player. It’s a time to celebrate their collegiate career with family, friends and fans.

The University of Massachusetts football team was able to give its seniors an extra special send-off as they played their “Senior Day” game at historic Fenway Park last weekend — and former Thornton Academy standout Andrew Libby was one of the players honored for the Minutemen.

Libby, who is a fullback and special teams ace for UMass, spoke with the Journal Tribune about everything from playing at Fenway Park to his favorite memories from Thornton Academy.

Here is the complete interview:

PM: What was it like

to play at Fenway?

AL: It was definitely a surreal moment playing at Fenway. It was nothing I would ever expect coming out of Maine, one day playing at Fenway — obviously in a different way — but definitely a very cool moment.

PM: When you looked at

the schedule and saw Senior Day was going to be at Fenway what was going through your mind?

AL: I was just kind of at a loss for words, you know having a moment like that out on Fenway with your family, and being out there in the middle of the field with them.

PM: What was that moment like?

AL: It was an unforgettable moment and a moment I will cherish forever … going out there and seeing my family on the field, you know, I never thought I would have my Senior Day out at Fenway.

PM: What made you pick UMass?

AL: You know talking with the coaches and what not, it’s a great coaching staff here and when I came down to have my recruiting day with them it just felt like the place for me. They were talking about the areas around here and how the system works, it just felt like it was the right place.

PM: After four years at UMass, do you think you made the right call?

AL: I definitely think I made the right call. I love playing here. It was definitely a lot of fun. I still have two weeks left and I’m going to make every moment count.

PM: You had a big trip down to Mississippi State in SEC country and gave them a tough game, what was that like?

AL: It was definitely a cool game. I think hearing those cow bells (a Mississippi State tradition) is definitely an experience, a lot more than anyone thinks when you are out there on the field, so that was cool.

PM: What was it like playing against some other TA graduates (UMaine’s Dakota Tarbox and Brandon Briggs) at Fenway?

AL: That was cool … it was like, ‘hey, I’ll be able to be out there on the field with a couple of the guys that I knew back from the 2012 state championship team.’ That was really cool.

PM: When you look back at your time at TA, what do you remember most?

AL: Just every time before you step on that field (at Hill Stadium), all the fans cheering you on.

PM: How much do you think playing

at TA for coach Kevin Kezal prepared you for the Division I level?

AL: It prepared me very well. He’s a great coach, he’s smart, he knows what he’s doing. He worked us hard, so that definitely helped with everything … definitely with the plays and learning them, it was a very helpful thing.

PM: What are your goals

for the next couple weeks?

AL: I mean a big goal overall is there is a slim chance our team can make it to a bowl game, so definitely win out these next two weeks for sure. For me personally, being on punt return is one of the things I’ll do and I definitely want to try and block a punt before the end of the year.

PM: What are your plans

after you graduate?

AL: I’ll train and I’m going to try and go pro … you know I’m going to try to go pro, but I mean I already have for my major, if I really need to, I have companies that I’m talking to, but my main goal right now is to train and get ready to try and go pro.

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.