When I asked him about his most memorable moment on the team, he immediately went to a story about a prank where he put a lobster in his teammate’s locker. There are members of the UMass team from all over the United States and the world, including Canada, Germany and Australia. When I asked Andy what he loves the most about his team, he talked about the community in the locker room and how much he enjoys meeting people from different places. In any team sport, so much of the success comes from the chemistry between players. One of the recurring themes that came up in multiple questions was his relationship with his teammates. He said, “Listen to the people who have done it before you.” His answer emphasizes the importance of appreciating the perspective and experience of people who have been in his position and found success. Transitioning into football questions, I asked Andy about the best piece of advice a coach had ever given him. He moved on to talking about how his schedule was becoming crazy, and he had just signed with an agent to manage his career moving forward. When I asked about it, he talked about getting recognized around campus: “Sometimes people come up to me in the dining hall.” He noted that he gets recognized more in his hometown of Mayfield, Ohio. One of the first things I wanted to understand was his level of fame and recognition in day-to-day life. Something that immediately struck me about Isabella was his humility and friendliness throughout the interview, he was never withdrawn or arrogant about his accomplishments. Last week, I got the opportunity to sit down and talk with him about his remarkable season and experience with UMass football. Andy has too many accolades to go through them all, but if you’re interested in delving further into his achievements, a quick Google search reveals the breadth his success. Additionally, he’s one of the three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award. He racked up the most receiving yards in the entire NCAA this season, beating out the next closest receiver (Antoine Wesley) by almost 300 yards. But his skill and success go well beyond the scope of UMass. This season, he broke the school’s records for receiving yards in a single game, with 303 yards against Liberty back in early November. Isabella is one of the best receivers UMass has ever seen. In that game, Isabella - a senior math major from Ohio - received over 200 yards and scored two touchdowns, including an impressive 75-yard touchdown. An old man sitting to my right was cursing him every time he made a catch: “That damn Isabella.” His presence on the field was unmistakable, and everyone around me noticed. I could hear Georgia fans behind me talking about how fast and crafty he was, making him difficult to cover. Amongst UMass’s tenacious offense, one player stood out in particular - Andy Isabella. The final score was 66-27 Georgia, but the UMass offense put up an admirable fight. Given the records of both teams, it was expected to be a blowout in favor of Georgia. That weekend, the Bulldogs were slated to play the UMass Amherst Minutemen. The UGA Bulldogs are one of the most high-profile teams in college football, with an enormous fan base and high rank. Three weeks ago, I flew down to Atlanta to visit a friend at the University of Georgia (UGA) and watch a football game. PHOTO COURTESY OF UMASSATHLETICS.COM Andy Isabella discusses fame and recent success on the football field.Įlizabeth Muirhead ’20 | Assistant Sports Editor
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