Teams: Football: Press Releases

Friday, October 23, 2009

MEET TUFTS UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL SENIOR QUARTERBACK TOM MCMANAMA

MEDFORD -- Quarterback Tom McManama (Wakefield, MA/Wakefield) came to Tufts in 2006 after setting the Wakefield High School single-season record for touchdown passes with 14, a mark that still stands. He backed up Matt Russo during his first two seasons with the Jumbos, getting some playing time in six games. He was the future quarterback for the program, or so he thought.

Prior to the 2008 season, talented QB Anthony Fucillo (Winthrop, MA/Winthrop) transferred to Tufts from Division I Colgate University and won the starting job. McManama stayed in the back-up role and didn't make a fuss. However, in the second-to-last game of the year against Colby, Fucillo was injured late in the third quarter. McManama came on and led the Jumbos to 10 points in the fourth quarter for a 17-10 victory. He then started in the last game of the year at Middlebury.

With Fucillo expected to return as the starter in 2009, McManama dutifully returned to the back-up role as preseason practice started. However, Fucillo was hurt again during a scrimmage against Bowdoin on September 18. McManama was thrust back into the lead role and has been there all season. He is a classic example of a player who has paid his dues and - despite an injury to a teammate - is finally getting a chance to shine. Late in the fourth quarter of the Homecoming Game against Bowdoin College on October 10, McManama led the offense on a 52-yard drive that resulted in a field goal to send the game into overtime. Tufts won 25-22 in OT.

An Academic All-NESCAC selection last fall, McManama recently took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to talk about how the transition from back-up to starter is going and more:

You'd been the back-up at Tufts throughout your career until the injury to Anthony Fucillo this fall. That's lot of meetings and practices without getting the playing time on Saturday. Coach Samko has mentioned how impressed he was with your attitude during those times. What kept you with it?

TM - Yeah, it was definitely tough having to do a lot of the things a starter would do in regards to meetings and in practice, but then not being able to play on Saturday. However, I have a great group of friends on the team and just having the opportunity every day to play football with them made it worth it for me. Whether it be starting or back-up, I love just being able to chuck the ball around every day.

Despite the unfortunate circumstances that led to you taking over the starting role this fall, how does it feel to all of a sudden be the leader of the offense and what are the things that have helped your transition from back-up to starter?

TM - Starting because someone gets injured definitely isn't the ideal situation, especially when it's a really good guy like Anthony, but it definitely feels great to finally be in the role that I've tried to get for the last four years. Taking over the role was a little difficult at first, but I'm pretty close with a lot of the guys on the offense and have played with them for the last four years so it didn't take long before I felt comfortable with them and was able to lead them.

You bulked up for this season, adding 20 pounds to 205 from your 185 playing weight last year. What inspired you to do it and how did you do it?

TM - I wanted to try and get on the field anywhere I could for my senior year, that's why I put on all the weight. It's actually helped me out a lot though for quarterback because I feel like now I don't go down as easy in the pocket and also have been able to develop somewhat of a running aspect to my game. I did it by eating about six meals a day and lifting much more than I've ever done, with a concentration on high weights.

What attracted you to Tufts out of nearby Wakefield H.S., and what are some of the non-football things that you like best about Tufts?

TM - One of my Pop Warner coaches actually went to Tufts and had nothing but good things to say about it. Being close to home is great too because I have a lot of family in Massachusetts. It's also very tough to beat the academics here. The classes and professors are excellent. I also like how Tufts is close to the city. My friends and I like going into Boston a lot.

It's early in your senior year, but what are your post-graduate plans at this point?

TM - I'm a math major and have done actuarial internships the last two summers. I really want to get into that field. Not only does it have a focus on advanced math, but it also has a business side to it, two things that make it very appealing to me.

McManama is part of a senior class of Tufts football players that has not had a losing season during their Jumbo careers. With a 2-2 mark so far, including very close losses to Wesleyan and Trinity, the Jumbos have an excellent chance to finish among the top teams in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). Games against Williams, Amherst, Colby, and Middlebury remain.

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