AUGUSTA — There’s a familiar refrain when it comes to most offensive lineman ”“ do most of the work, open all the holes, bear the brunt of the bumps and bruises, and get little of the credit.
Thornton Academy’s Bobby Begin is one lineman who can no longer make that statement.
Begin was named the 2012 Frank J. Gaziano Offensive Lineman of the Year at a ceremony on Sunday morning at the August Civic Center, beating out fellow finalists Andy Martel of Bonny Eagle H.S. and Jack Lucy of Orono.
The award is given annually to the senior top offensive lineman in the state based on his “strong leadership on the field, in the classroom and in the community,” and is named after Gaziano, a longtime Portland businessman and All-American lineman in college at Holy Cross, whose family founded the award after he died in January 2010.
Calling it an “honor,” Begin said it was great to see linemen finally getting some recognition thanks to the Gaziano award, which was created partly as a lineman-only alternative to the James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy, which has only been awarded to one lineman in its 42-year history.
“It’s a great experience,” Begin said. “It’s not likely that linemen get this type of glory and it’s really great to see it happen. It’s great to see these types of kids getting the respect and competition they deserve.”
It was the end to an impressive couple of months for Begin, who as a senior captain started at center and linebacker for the Golden Trojans’ Class A state title winning team. Begin was also a Fitzpatrick semifinalist and a first team SMAA All-Conference selection at linebacker each of the past two seasons, and he said that while great, none of that compares to bringing a championship back to Saco for the first time in 24 years.
“It’s definitely up there, but it’s still way behind the state championship because that’s a team accomplishment,” Begin said. “And even this award I couldn’t have done without my team and my senior linemen with me ”“ David LePauloue, Mike Granger and Connor McCrum. It’s great because they’re a part of this too. They’re the reason that I’m here along with my parents and my coaches.”
Thornton also became the first school in the state to have won two Gazianos in the award’s short three-year history as Begin followed in the footsteps of Luke Libby, who won the defensive award a year ago. Kurt Mussey of John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor was this year’s defensive winner, and Libby was on hand as Mussey and Begin joined the exclusive club of six.
“This award is by far the highest honor that can be bestowed on any lineman in the state,” Libby said during a speech at the ceremony, “At least in mind.”
Also on hand was Luke’s brother Andrew, one of the main beneficiaries of Begin’s blocking last fall. Libby rushed for 1,092 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2012 behind Begin and Co., and though he received plenty of deserved accolades for running the ball, Andrew Libby said most of the credit should go to his big boys up front, especially Begin.
“He helped me through everything, he was a great leader,” Libby said of Begin. “Every practice, if you had a bad day he was there for you, he’d pick you up and tell you to keep going. As much as we run the ball we can’t do anything without our linemen, they made us tick.”
Like Andrew Libby, Thornton head coach Kevin Kezal said Begin’s contribution to the Trojans was much bigger than just what fans saw on game days.
“He was our emotional leader,” Kezal said. “We sat down in preseason and we knew we were going to be pretty good, but you started thinking about kids you cannot afford to lose and Bobby was the kid we could not lose.
“Bobby’s had a great career at Thornton Academy, it’s a great accomplishment for him and it’s been an honor coaching him.”
The award also includes a $5,000 scholarship, which Begin will put to good use by continuing his studies at the University of Maine in the fall. An SMAA All-Academic team selection with a 3.96 grade point average, as well as senior class president and editor of the yearbook, Begin said he won’t be playing any football for the Black Bears, but will instead concentrate his attention on obtaining a degree in accounting.
“I’m still going to go to the gym and stay in shape playing intramurals,” Begin said of his upcoming collegiate career. “But I’m mostly going to just focus on my studies.”
— Contact Cameron Dunbar at 282-1535, Ext. 323.
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