Brendan Kurie, a sports writer for the New Bedford Standard Times, recently spoke with Bentley senior linebacker Blaine Hopwood after he was named the Defensive Player of the Week in the Northeast-10 Conference. His story appeared in the Oct. 30 edition of the paper and online at www.southcoasttoday.com

By Brendan Kurie
bkurie@s-t.com 

A year ago, Blaine Hopwood had to decide if he wanted to play football again.

In the second week of his presumed senior season at Bentley University, Hopwood tore his hamstring, suddenly ending his season. After careful consideration, he decided to delay a couple of classes and return for a fifth year.

He's not regretting it.

"I had to come back," he said. "Coming back from injury can be discouraging sometimes, and I was coming back in a whole new system. It's all about perseverance and really wanting something. If you want it, and you put in the time and effort anything can happen."

Returning has been an unqualified success for the New Bedford High graduate, whose eight tackles and two sacks on Saturday earned him Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Week honors for Bentley University.

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