As this issue covers an entire year in Tufts sports, we set out to find the man who knows the ins and outs of Tufts athletics better than anoyone else.
Three-sport athletes are a dying breed in the world of collegiate athletics, as children are specializing at younger ages and the offseason is becoming a relative term. But today, Tufts will graduate the only Jumbo to complete the triple crown in recent years, as senior Casey D'Annolfo will collect a dual degree in Child Development and English. During his career at Tufts, D'Annolfo played four seasons for the football team, three for the lacrosse team, and turned in one season on the basketball team (for whom he averaged 2.8 minutes, 0.4 points, and 0.4 rebounds per game). Talk about versatility.
In his senior year, D'Annolfo started at quarterback for the Jumbos in the fall and he played quality time as a midfielder for the nationally-ranked lacrosse team this spring.
The Daily caught up with the best thing coming out of Hartford since the Whalers as he was flexing his wit (and muscles) for some freshmen in the reading room studying for finals.
1) As a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and lacrosse, what's your most memorable Tufts sports moment and why?
It's a bit of a downer, but the weekend of the NESCAC Championships this year when we lost to Middlebury in three OTs. I'll remember that game for the rest of my life. Seeing one of my best friends, Mike O'Brien, score with two seconds left to send it into OT and the sideline and fans erupting and then the emotion during and after the game is still indescribable. And that's also the game that ended my collegiate athletic career. It was surreal.
2) If you could nominate a play you made or a play of one of your teammates over your career for a spot on SportsCenter's Top Ten, what would it be?
This one is easy, but perhaps a little unusual. Sophomore year, we're scrimmaging Harvard in lacrosse and it's pouring and there's about 15 seconds left in the first half, and this absolute stud defenseman we had - Joe Mead '05 - rips the ball away from a Harvard All-American attackman and scoops it up. Being the heads up player that he was, and realizing that there are only a few seconds left in the half, he sees me open at the opposite end of the field, so he's behind the goal and calls out my name - "Casssssssssey!"- and launches the thing down the field. The ball travels 100 yards in the air and bounces once on the field. I catch it on the right side of the goal and shoot it behind my back and score off the post as the horn goes off. The goal counted and we ended up winning by one. I'm convinced it's the greatest play in the history of sports. EVER.
3) If you had to pick one position to play, QB, midfielder, or forward on the basketball court, which one would it be and why?
Considering I only scored four points in my collegiate basketball career, I'm going to have to go ahead and nix that one. But honestly, is there a better pick-up line than, "Yeah, I play quarterback"? Even now that I have to say, "Yeah I used to play QB." People can say, 'at least he used to be cool' - that's gotta count for something.
4) What are you going to miss the most about being a three-sport athlete once you graduate and move on to the "real" world?
Since I'm going into teaching, its going to be a little bit of a change going out on the weekends. When I went out on Saturdays when I was playing all three, people would be like, "Hey, great game today; here's a delicious adult beverage!" Next year when I go out, people are going to be like, "Hey, great lesson plan today! Here's a Grape Soda!" Actually, I hope that doesn't happen.
5) If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could only choose one coach and one of your teammates (from any team) to survive, who would they be and why?
If I could only choose one coach, I would choose Lauren Knight - the G.A of the women's volleyball team. She hasn't given me the time of day the last two years - maybe if we were stranded together, she would say something to me. Or at least ask me to grab her a coconut or something.
If I could have a teammate join me, I'd have senior LAXer Dane Carillo join me because he's so friggin' loud that rescue crews could hear us from hundreds of miles away. We'd be there 12 hours, tops.
6) Which character from Entourage would you compare yourself to and why? Of all your teammates (or coaches), who would play Ari Gold?
A couple weeks ago, I'd say that I was Vince - I was pretty laid back, girls would occasionally talk to me, and I was kind of a big deal. Now with my collegiate career in the rear-view mirror, I'm more like Johnny Drama and my Tufts career is like four seasons of "Viking Quest."
If someone had to play Ari, it would be assistant men's lax coach Jesse Miller. They pretty much have the same vernacular, sexual promiscuity and hair line.
7) Finally, looking back, what's the best piece of advice (on and off the field) you can give to any potential three-sport athletes out there?
You have your entire life to work. Take the four years of college and have the time of your life. Take every opportunity that's in front of you (even if you think you'll regret it, because when you're sitting at graduation, you won't). When it comes to sports, if you're going to play three sports, get to know the training staff, and remember that Head Trainer Mark Doughtie likes his coffee like he likes his men: tall, hot and black.
