Thank You, Bryant: George Gill
Bryant Athletics will feature "Thank You, Bryant" letters from senior student-athletes over the course of the next two weeks.
George Gill (Cork, Ireland) - Men's Soccer
I think it is only right that I begin this letter by thanking the people at Bryant University. Bryant is a truly special place and I think that anyone that is lucky enough to go here will definitely agree with me. Leaving home for the first time, I was a nervous wreck if I am to be truthful, but from the moment I arrived, I knew I made the right decision. Everyone from the students, professors, athletics staff, maintenance crews, the people working in Salmo, and everyone else in between, thank you for making the Bryant Community what it is. I will always be grateful as to how the people at Bryant welcomed me with open arms.
To the athletic community, I cannot thank you enough for the last four years. There is a lot of work that goes on in the background that allows us athletes to go out and play the sport we love every day. The effort and commitment to excellence allowed us to focus on improving ourselves and the team. Thank you to the media team for always supporting us athletes by promoting us in fun and positive ways. Thank you to the strength and conditioning coaches for always being available to put us to work. Thank you to our groundskeepers for having the game field and training field in immaculate condition each week. Thank you to the people who worked in the athletic training room over the past four years. Not only do you do an incredible job in keeping us physically healthy, but you keep us mentally sane when times are tough both in and out of season. In particular, I want to say a huge thank you to Melanie Gran who has been my athletic trainer the last four years with the men's soccer team. Mel goes above and beyond for us to make sure that we are healthy and ready to compete. I know that I am speaking on behalf of many athletes, both on the soccer team and on other teams, in saying thank you for the work that you do for us!
To the Bryant Men's Soccer family, no matter what I write I do not think it will do it justice as to what you boys mean to me. We have been through it all, from losing a lot of games my first two years to turning it around the last two years and being a top team in the conference. But what stands out to me the most, is that no matter if we were winning or losing games, we always stood true to ourselves and who we were. We worked and we worked, but we always made sure to have some fun in doing it. I have made memories both on and off the field that I will hold on to forever, and I want to say thanks to each and every one of the boys that I have played with for making it a special four years. I want to say a big thank you to Seamus Purcell for taking the chance on me and sticking with me. I know I might not have been the easiest to manage at times, but I think we made it work in the end! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to both play and to captain the Bryant University Men's Soccer team.
Finally, to my family who made this opportunity possible for me. You helped me achieve my dream of playing and attending college in America. Without your support, I know this would not have been possible and I cannot thank you enough for this.
To all at Bryant, and the graduating class of 2020, thank you for the best four years anyone could ask for and good luck to all of you in the future.
George Gill