Assumption : TELEGRAM: Greyhounds Kevin L'Ecuyer looks to restore running game

TELEGRAM: Greyhounds Kevin L'Ecuyer looks to restore running game

September 14, 2006

By DAVE NORDMAN

Worcester Telegram & Gazette SPORTS EDITOR

The Assumption College football team will play its first home game of the season at 7 tonight against Northeast-10 rival Saint Anselm. For senior running back Kevin L'Ecuyer of Leominster, it will be his first home game in almost three years.

Six games into his freshman season, on Oct. 11, 2003, L'Ecuyer broke his foot in a game against Bryant. The injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. His conscience told him to sit out two more.

Why did L'Ecuyer choose to walk away from the game he had played since Pop Warner?

"I was a little overwhelmed with school and everything," said L'Ecuyer, an honor roll student at Leominster High. "I decided to take a year off. Well, one year led to two and the next thing you know ..."

L'Ecuyer spent two years away from football, but he was never far from the action. He continued to stay in shape, attended every home game and even traveled to some away games. After all, he had plenty of friends on the team.

"It was hard to watch," L'Ecuyer said. "Part of me still wanted to be out there."

So much, in fact, that he decided to come back for his senior season, which may not be his last. Because he did not play for two years, he has a year of eligibility remaining.

"I'll worry about next year later," L'Ecuyer said. "I'm just glad to be back."

L'Ecuyer knows all about setting records. A two-time Telegram & Gazette Super Team all-star (2001, 2002), he is Leominster's all-time leader in rushing yards (4,441) and rushing touchdowns (48). As a senior, he led the Blue Devils to a 9-3 record and the Division 1 Super Bowl championship.

In his first two games this season, the 5-foot-8, 175-pound L'Ecuyer has rushed for 168 yards on 49 carries and leads the team with 231 all-purpose yards. That includes 99 rushing yards in last Friday's 16-3 win at Stonehill, a victory L'Ecuyer helped clinch with his first college rushing touchdown, a 24-yard run in the second quarter.

L'Ecuyer said he had no expectations to begin the season. His only goals were to work hard and keep an open mind, something he's done since making the decision to return to football last spring. He dedicated himself during the summer, lifting weights every day with Assumption teammate Zack McKeever, a senior linebacker from Lunenburg.

"Sure, the guys were putting a bug in my ear (to come back)," L'Ecuyer said. "But I needed to want to play again. It had to be my decision."

He discussed his options with third-year Assumption coach Cory Bailey, who welcomed him back---L'Ecuyer played for former coach Sean Mahoney in 2003---with one request.

"When he told me he wanted to come back, I told him he needed to be real serious about it," Bailey said. "So far, he's done a good job."

The coach said Assumption will need to do a good job to beat Saint Anselm---the game will shown live on NE-10 TV.

"Our motto is one game at a time," Bailey said.



Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Golf Ice Hockey Lacrosse Soccer Tennis Track and Field Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Lacrosse Rowing Soccer Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis Track and Field Volleyball Assumption College Home Page Athletics Home Student-Athlete Honor Code Staff Directory Weekly Newsletter Webcasts/LIVESTATS Sports Medicine Directions Greyhound Club Fight Song Did You Play Here? Want to be a Greyhound Athlete? Student-Athlete Info Hall of Fame 2007 Fall Academic Honor Roll 2007-08 Greyhound Honor Roll Facts and Figures Student Athlete Advisory Committee External Links SID Downloads Summer Camp Info 2008 Dept. Golf Tournament (PDF)	TELEGRAM: Greyhounds Kevin L'Ecuyer looks to restore running game September 14, 2006 By DAVE NORDMAN Worcester Telegram & Gazette SPORTS EDITOR The Assumption College football team will play its first home game of the season at 7 tonight against Northeast-10 rival Saint Anselm. For senior running back Kevin L'Ecuyer of Leominster, it will be his first home game in almost three years. Six games into his freshman season, on Oct. 11, 2003, L'Ecuyer broke his foot in a game against Bryant. The injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. His conscience told him to sit out two more. Why did L'Ecuyer choose to walk away from the game he had played since Pop Warner? "I was a little overwhelmed with school and everything," said L'Ecuyer, an honor roll student at Leominster High. "I decided to take a year off. Well, one year led to two and the next thing you know ..." L'Ecuyer spent two years away from football, but he was never far from the action. He continued to stay in shape, attended every home game and even traveled to some away games. After all, he had plenty of friends on the team. "It was hard to watch," L'Ecuyer said. "Part of me still wanted to be out there." So much, in fact, that he decided to come back for his senior season, which may not be his last. Because he did not play for two years, he has a year of eligibility remaining. "I'll worry about next year later," L'Ecuyer said. "I'm just glad to be back." L'Ecuyer knows all about setting records. A two-time Telegram & Gazette Super Team all-star (2001, 2002), he is Leominster's all-time leader in rushing yards (4,441) and rushing touchdowns (48). As a senior, he led the Blue Devils to a 9-3 record and the Division 1 Super Bowl championship. In his first two games this season, the 5-foot-8, 175-pound L'Ecuyer has rushed for 168 yards on 49 carries and leads the team with 231 all-purpose yards. That includes 99 rushing yards in last Friday's 16-3 win at Stonehill, a victory L'Ecuyer helped clinch with his first college rushing touchdown, a 24-yard run in the second quarter. L'Ecuyer said he had no expectations to begin the season. His only goals were to work hard and keep an open mind, something he's done since making the decision to return to football last spring. He dedicated himself during the summer, lifting weights every day with Assumption teammate Zack McKeever, a senior linebacker from Lunenburg. "Sure, the guys were putting a bug in my ear (to come back)," L'Ecuyer said. "But I needed to want to play again. It had to be my decision." He discussed his options with third-year Assumption coach Cory Bailey, who welcomed him back---L'Ecuyer played for former coach Sean Mahoney in 2003---with one request. "When he told me he wanted to come back, I told him he needed to be real serious about it," Bailey said. "So far, he's done a good job." The coach said Assumption will need to do a good job to beat Saint Anselm---the game will shown live on NE-10 TV. "Our motto is one game at a time," Bailey said.