Naugatuck’s Mike Kennedy Jr. is counting down the days to his final college football game and savoring every moment.
Kennedy and Anna Maria College played at Castleton (Va.) College on Saturday, leaving him with six games left in his collegiate career.
For Kennedy, playing for a start-up program only six years in existence has been better than he could have imagined.
A 2010 Naugatuck High graduate, Kennedy, 22, took a postgraduate year at Bridgton (Maine) Academy after recovering from knee surgery that sidelined him for his entire senior year with the Greyhounds.
“I had a lot of unfinished business,” Kennedy said. “While I was at Bridgton, I looked around at the prospects and felt that it was just a great opportunity to be a part of the ground floor of a program (located in Paxton, Mass., just outside of Worcester). And secondly, it would give me a chance to play immediately.”
The Amcats were 0-9 in 2009, its first season, then went 0-10 in 2010 and 2-8 in each of the past three seasons. This year, they are winless through five games. As a senior captain, Kennedy is not conceding anything.
“You have to show some patience, but the competitive side of you obviously gets you frustrated,” admitted Kennedy. “Even though you are consistently losing, what the scoreboard says doesn’t always tell the whole story. We’re getting close to turning the corner. We have so much potential and talent, and my belief as a senior captain is that we are going to finish the season strong.”
Kennedy is proud that he has started 31 games as a defensive end, recording 70 career tackles with seven sacks.
“I take a lot of pride in being able to help a program grow,” said Kennedy. “I feel a lot of times, kids are unable to swallow their ego. They want to go to the bigger programs. But realistically, they need to find a place where they can fit in the best, both academically and athletically. Anna Maria allowed me the opportunity to do both. I’m so thankful for the opportunity here, and I am healthy. I haven’t faced too many (injury) issues … knock on wood.”
In 2009, Kennedy was going to be the starting tight end and linebacker for Naugatuck until he sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee in a preseason exhibition.
Kennedy underwent surgery in October and a yearlong recovery after that. Throughout the process, Kennedy remained loyal to his teammates, being vocal along the sidelines despite having a set of crutches.
“There’s nothing better than playing for your hometown,” said Kennedy, who credits former Greyhounds coach Rob Plasky for keeping his spirits up.
“I’ll always consider Robbie one of my best friends,” said Kennedy. “He made me stay positive and focused, and kept telling me my time would come if I was given another chance. I tried to be a leader then even though I wasn’t able to be on the field. I realized that something better would be out there for me.”
When Kennedy graduates in May with a degree in sociology, his intent is to apply for a position as a graduate football assistant.
“I just want a chance. I’ll do whatever I can to improve my chances,” he said.
