Army senior Connor Finucane is making the best of a fifth season on the offensive line
As Army closed out a thrilling 17-11 football victory over Navy last December, senior Connor Finucane had the realization that his college football days were over.
“I thought the safety that (quarterback) Bryson (Daily) took to ice the game against Navy was the last football snap I’d ever play,’’ he said. “That’s like a completely different life change.’’
Not so fast.
Finucane was prepping paperwork for his commissioning as an officer when it was determined he had to take medical leave from January to May, away from the Academy – that meant he would not be completing his final semester at West Point, and a rare fall semester would be needed to fulfill his December graduation requirements. That also meant he would be eligible for a fifth year of college football, like all of the other college athletes who had to endure the COVID restrictions that started in 2020.
So with the blessing of Academy and West Point athletics officials, Finucane has returned to action, providing a stabilizing force and effective presence on an offensive line that is putting up historic numbers.
“There's really no better feeling to be back and hanging out with the guys, be back in the program,’’ Finucane said. “Where I thought I played my last snap, I get a whole other season.’’
In spring preparation for transitioning from a behemoth football player to a more lean officer and soldier, Finucane dropped more than 50 pounds, down to 245 – he said it’s the only way to succeed in air assault school and complete the required cadet obstacle course training.
But then the news came that he could play one more season, and Finucane jumped at the opportunity. He had to get back into the weight room and started powering high-caloric drinks and dairy – in two short months, Finucane is back up to 295-300 pounds.
Even though he’s been playing the sport since he was a kid, Finucane also had to get used to playing football again. He had not participated in Army spring practice and other summer football training, so when he joined the team again, he needed a couple of plays to shock the system, and he started out working with the fourth-team members, usually reserved for program newcomers.
There are reasons why Finucane made 38 career starts and served as a team captain for the 2023 season. His inherent skills began to take over, and even though he moved from the right side of the offensive line to the left, he has assumed a starting job once again.
In last Thursday night’s win at Temple, Finucane – wearing his familiar No. 60 – was clearly seen leading the way for Daily and others on a couple of significant run plays.
Army has won its first four games of the season, and the offense has amassed 400 yards in each game, the first time that has happened in the 11 seasons with coach Jeff Monken at the helm – a large portion of that is a nation-leading 371.3 yards of rushing, nearly 50 yards better than any other school in NCAA Division I.
“This is a great opportunity to come back,’’ Finucane said. “It’s just feelings of joy, to be honest. Everybody wants to play football for as long as they can, especially when you get to be in the Brotherhood again.’’
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“I think for the locker room to have someone like Connor Finucane come back and be part of this team again for another year is tremendous,’’ Army defensive coordinator Nate Woody said. He said Finucane’s journey back is an inspiration and lesson for others about leadership and overcoming obstacles. “I’ll always have an admiration for Connor Finucane,’’ Woody said.
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This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army senior Connor Finucane thrilled to be back playing football
