BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Bridgewater State University seniors Michael D’Attilio, Ben Desmarais, Caleb Gelsomino and Nick Pistacchio have been selected to the National Football Foundation (NFF) 2013 Hampshire Honor Society.
A total of 703 players from 259 schools qualified for membership in the society's seventh year, marking the highest school participation in the history of the program, which began in 2007. To be nominated, student-athletes must have been a starter or significant contributor in their final season of eligibility while achieving at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and meeting all NCAA-mandated progress towards degree requirements and graduation.
D’Attilio, Desmarais, Gelsomino and Pistacchio just recently graduated from BSU with degrees in Physical Education (D’Attilio, Desmarais), Management (Gelsomino) and Criminal Justice (Pistacchio).
"The growing number of schools involved in the Hampshire Honor Society each year shows that football student-athletes not only play at the highest level but that they are some of the best students on campus as well," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "Congratulations to each of these young men for their commitment to education and their leadership on and off the football field."
The NFF Hampshire Honor Society capitalizes on the NFF's current National Scholar-Athlete program greatly expanding the number of scholar-athletes the NFF can recognize each year. The program further strengthens the organization's leadership role in encouraging academic performance by the student-athletes who play football at the more than 700 college and universities with football programs nationwide. The initiative has honored 4,081 student-athletes since its inception.
Jon F. Hanson, the chairman and founder of The Hampshire Companies, provided the endowment to launch the NFF Hampshire Honor Society in 2007. He made the contribution as part of his legacy to the organization after serving as NFF chairman from 1994-2006. He currently serves the organization as a chairman emeritus. Each player awarded with membership in this year's Honor Society will receive a certificate commemorating their achievement.
"We have honored more than 4,000 student-athletes in the last seven years thanks to Jon Hanson’s generosity," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, "We are humbled by his passionate belief in the scholar-athlete ideal, and the Hampshire Honor Society allows us to showcase the names of tomorrow's leaders while inspiring future generations to follow in their footsteps."
A four-year letter-winner for the Bears, D’Attilio appeared in 39 games on the offensive line at tackle. He cracked the starting lineup in week five of his freshman campaign of 2009 and went on to start 36 games while missing just one due to injury over the next three plus seasons. The BSU offense averaged 226.5 yards rushing and 341.3 yards of total offense since the start of the 2009 season. In 2012, the Bears amassed 2,456 rushing yards and 4,095 yards of total offense. The team ranked 35th in all of Division III in rushing yards per game (223.3).
Desmarais rushed for 673 yards and five touchdowns in four seasons for the Bears, including a career-high 330 yards and three touchdowns in 2012. He appeared in 23 games and averaged 4.31 yards per carry during his career.
Gelsomino completed 75 of 136 pass attempts in two seasons on the BSU gridiron as he threw for 1,089 yards and eight touchdowns. In 2012, Gelsomino recorded a pass efficiency rating of 141.4 as he threw for a career-high 790 yards and seven touchdowns while also rushing for three scores.
Pistacchio, who also played four seasons in a BSU uniform, spent time on special teams as well as at slot receiver and running back. He accumulated 1,103 all purpose yards over 34 games and averaged 20.9 yards on 34 kickoff returns. In 2012, Pistacchio caught six passed for 143 yards and three touchdowns and averaged a team-leading 24.5 yards on 11 kick returns.
The Bridgewater State football team posted a record of 9-2 during the 2012 season including a 6-1 mark in New England Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division play. The Bears, by virtue of an at large selection, made their first appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament since the 2000 season.