The 2005 NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year plays a fundamental role not only on the football team, but also in Amherst's athletic program as a whole. "He leads by example with his confidence on and off the field," said Head Coach E.J. Mills. "He makes everyone around him a better player and they begin thinking 'Wow I gotta do things like Mark.'"
Fellow senior quad-captains, quarterback Nick Kehoe and offensive lineman Ryan Smith also say Mark's talents are endless. "Hannon is such a great player because he's so versatile," said Kehoe. "He can beat you as a receiver, a running back, a kick/punt returner, and as much as it pains me to say this, as a quarterback. Besides the obvious athletic ability, he's also a very smart football player and knows what to do in each situation. All the girls want to date him, and all the guys want to be like him."
"I am constantly impressed with Mark's athleticism," added Smith. "He makes very difficult cuts and catches with so much ease. I still say "wow" sometimes in practice when I see him make grabs that any other player in the conference would probably miss. He was an obvious choice for captain and I see no reason why he wouldn't be the most valuable player again this year."
Hannon's abilities do not go unnoticed. Not only was he the 2005 NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year but he also received honors such as the Amherst Tom Ashley MVP Award and Amherst's Special Team's Player of the Year award, among others.
B: How long have you been playing football?
M: I have been playing football since I was about eight years old. Third grade was the first year we could start and junior football was fairly popular in my town (Glen Rock, NJ) so I joined with most of my friends.
Who is your greatest inspiration?
Growing up I may have had many sports figures who may have been inspirations for the field, but as I got older I realized my parents are my most realistic inspirations. They have given me so much and are a crucial part of the reason why I am here at Amherst.
What made you choose the Amherst football program?
There were many different factors that played a role in my decision to come to Amherst, but the kicker was the people, atmosphere and the coaches. I pretty much knew from the start of my college search that I would want to play football at the next level because I liked to play the game and I knew it was a great opportunity to go to a great school. They were very persistent in recruiting me and were upfront with letting me know where I stood in their process the entire time. I was very close to going to Williams, and since they seemed to be extremely similar schools it was hard to distinguish the differences between the two. I know now that I definitely made the right choice and I have no regrets.
What are your goals this season?
8-0. Although it may seem greedy to set our goals that high, I feel it is important to have confidence in our coaches, teammates and what we are trying to do as a team. Of course every team will tell you that they want to go undefeated, but we truly believe we have the talent and potential to make history. With that said, it is what we do going into each week, and what we have done this preseason which will determine whether we can successfully transform that potential into production.
What is your best moment in Amherst football?
I would have to name a few that stick out since it is hard to choose one. On a team and program level, beating Williams my sophomore year was the greatest moment. That sounds like a pretty cliché moment around here, but it was hard to understand the tradition and aura of the rivalry until we beat them on our field. Although I only had a minor contribution in the game, the atmosphere of the spectators and the presence of the alumni alone made it clear just how important the game was. On a personal level, I would have to say that being awarded the NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year was my best moment. The fact that my play was recognized by coaches around the league really meant a lot to me. The award was somewhat bittersweet, however, since our team struggled to match the aspirations we set at the beginning of the season by losing three games and ending the season in disappointment.
What is the best thing about being on the football team?
What I love about being on the football team is the camaraderie and the relationships I've built. It's tough to be great friends with every single person on a team that has a roster of 65 players, but every member of the team knows that they have a special bond with one another and can go to each other for anything. The players here are on the team because they enjoy the game of football and enjoy playing it, and being able to play it on a college level is a special thing.
How is the team looking?
Like I said, we have a lot of great athletes and talent on this team. The talent is spread out on both sides of the ball. We have a lot of players coming back on offense so the preseason was a matter of getting rid of the rust and trying to pick up where we left off last year and then continuing to get better as a unit. On defense a lot of new guys are getting chance to play and they are excited about it. From playing against these guys in the preseason it is evident that there is no doubt this unit can play the game. It is always interesting to see how guys respond when they get their first chance to step up and make an impact, but these guys have paid their dues and are clearly ready to take on the opportunity. As long as we continue to improve as a team as the season goes on I think we will be tough to beat.
What are your chances against Williams?
The loss to Williams last year was tough to digest. We did not play our best game and they just completely outplayed us the entire game. They have most of their players coming back this season so we know they will be hungry to knock us down again. Although the game isn't our priority right now, we still have that bitter taste in our mouths from last year and it will linger in the back of our minds until November rolls around the corner.