Fairfield or football? Punter Jeff Gomulinski ’05 has chosen football over Fairfield.
Gomulinski, the two-time All-MAAC honoree and All-American, announced Tuesday that he is leaving Fairfield to play at Boston College. He was offered a full ride and will be the starting punter come next season for the Eagles, where he will face a tough Big East schedule.
“It’s big for me to play against those schools which I grew up watching,” said Gomulinski. “I have something to prove against the players and coaches that know me from those schools.”
Clemson, Alabama, Southern Mississippi and South Carolina were the other schools Gomulinski considered, but the overall feeling of playing in the Big East meant too much to him.
“It’s big that my family will get to go to see every game,” said Gomulinski
Director of Athletics Eugene Doris was not surprised that Gomulinski received attention from schools at such a high level.
“I think it’s great,” said Doris. “We always thought that he was one player that was always above our level.”
Gomulinski will be taking his 42.1 punting average from 2002 to some fiercer competition next season, but he is excited at the challenge.
“The biggest difference between Fairfield and Boston College is going to be the competition and the fan support,” said Gomulinski. “They are going to be bigger, faster and more mature. I’m ready for it.”
At a heavily attended Fairfield football game, there might be 5,000 fans and now Gomulinski will have to deal with some stadiums filled with over 100,000 fans.
“In my second game we will be at Penn State where there are 110,000 people,” said Gomulinski. “I’m more excited than nervous.”
Gomulinski originally came to Fairfield because he said he wasn’t ready for a big-time school. But now that he has developed into a two-step punter, he will be able to compete at the higher playing level.
The university has been very accommodating with helping players and their situations. Running back Rishwad Watson, ’04, has a very unique situation where he will transfer to another school to play football in the fall, but then return to Fairfield in the spring to finish up his education.
“Players want to get their degree, but they still want to do what they came here for,” said Doris. “I am very happy that the university decided to help these kids.”
Gomulinski says it will be tough to part ways with his teammates especially since they will not get to graduate together.
“It will be hard with all of us are going out separate ways, but I am ready to meet new people,” said Gomulinski. “Right now I need to get in shape. I haven’t kicked a ball since November.
Leave a Reply