Revere and beyond: Murphy wraps up successful Endicott football career

By Dom Nicastro

The Endicott College football team out of Beverly has been ranked nationally and having historic seasons recently. And a few Revere former standouts dot the Gulls’ roster: Jonathan Murphy, Max Doucette and Augusto Goncalves.

The Revere Advocate caught up with one of them, senior defensive back Murphy, for a Q&A. Murphy was on the roster the past four seasons and this past fall played in five games, racking up two tackles and three assists.

Name: Jonathan Murphy.

Grade: Senior.

Age: 22.

Major/minor: Double major in business management and entrepreneurship.

Advocate: Endicott has been amazing the last two seasons. What has it been like being part of a nationally ranked team?

  Murphy: The team has been something special all four years that I’ve been here, and to see where the program was when our class of 2020 came in during the Covid season and to see where we are now when we are leaving the program as players has been a huge step for the program and school as a whole. Watching the team and the guys grow each year and seeing how passionate everyone is to play that next game is something that everyone bought into and wanted to be there, which always makes it easier.

Advocate: What particularly made this year’s team so strong?

  Murphy: The bond that we all had with each other personally was one of the reasons we were so strong. Being in the playoffs three years straight and seeing how much we wanted to keep going really showed how much this team cared and loved being together. When it all came to an end you were able to tell the seniors that have been here from the start the effect this program has had on them, and it goes to show how much hard work has been put into this over the years.

Advocate: What was the atmosphere like getting that huge win over that nationally ranked Hardin-Simmons Texas team (37-10 on Sept. 22)?

  Murphy: Beating a nationally ranked team was a huge step for us and the program. The win finally gave us the chance to get the national exposure that we deserved. We all knew as a team what level we could play at, and hearing everyone doubt us … this was something we wanted to prove.

Advocate: Looking back at your time at Revere, what and who shaped you into the collegiate athlete you are today?

Murphy: Mainly I want to thank my parents for always being the ones driving me to every practice and game whether it was football, baseball or basketball. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be the man I am today. It’s not easy having to give up weekends and even weekdays to get me to these games/practices, which meant they had to sacrifice their time they could’ve been spending with family/friends or even working.

Next, I would like to thank my brothers (Brian and Daniel). They have always taught me right from wrong whether it was in life or on the field and have helped lead me down a successful path. Also, they were the two who have always been there for me when I needed someone to talk to and also the ones who always kept me company when I needed it – whether it was going to play catch outside or play video games in the house or even just going to get a coffee together once in a while.

Lastly, I would like to thank all my coaches who have coached me along the way no matter what sport it was. To my high school football coaches – Lou Cicatelli, Paul Norton, Vin Degregorio, Jose Escobar and Kyle West – thank you so much for paving the way throughout high school football and helping me become the man and player I am today. If it wasn’t for these coaches, I’m not sure if I would be the man I am today.

One thing my dad always instilled in me was “Once you start something, you finish it.” This quote has stayed with me from when I was younger to now. The meaning of this quote to me is even if something isn’t going your way or you don’t want to do something, you started it, so go finish it. There are people out there who would love to be able to do the things we do every day, and some aren’t as fortunate so you can’t take it for granted.