FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2012
Courtesy of The Boston Globe, Written by Marvin Pave
Danny Guadagnoli (pictured) set every passing record at Framingham High and then helped direct Phillips Exeter Academy to the New England Prep Class A championship in 2009 with late-game heroics.
When Guadagnoli arrived at Bentley University, however, he found Bryant Johnson, dynamic, athletic and highly respected as a leader, firmly entrenched as the starting quarterback. And so the last two seasons, the former Globe All-Scholastic from Framingham had to wait his turn.
This fall, Johnson, a three-time captain, is back with the program but as the quarterbacks coach, and Guadagnoli, a 6-foot-1, 199-pound junior, has a good shot at succeeding him on the field, according to coach Thom Boerman.
Bentley, 6-4 last fall, will open its 10-game schedule Aug. 31, hosting Northeast-10 Conference foe Pace University.
“It's neck and neck. Both Danny and Luke Zahradka had excellent spring games,” said Boerman at midweek. “So right now, I'd say Danny is 1A and Luke is 1B. Danny is an excellent runner with a great knowledge of the game, and Luke is a big [6-5, 215 pounds] senior with a very strong downfield arm.”
Guadagnoli was thrust into a pressure situation last season when Johnson suffered a knee injury in the second half against conference rival Merrimack, a 33-29 loss.
It was a rough afternoon. Guadagnoli was intercepted three times, and felt that for the first time since he was calling signals at the Pop Warner level, he lost his poise and confidence.
Both Johnson and his coaches reminded him of the positives from the outing.
“I was rushing things and not making the right decisions, especially after the first pick,” recalled Guadagnoli, who vowed it would never happen again. “It's in the past, but it motivates me.”
This summer he worked out with his Bentley teammates in 7-on-7 scrimmages against players from defending Ivy League champion Harvard, which built his confidence.
“Camp has been extremely positive in every way. I consider Luke and myself to be leaders, we push one another, and I'm not taking anything for granted,” he said.
