Four BSU Gridironers Named to 2012 Hampshire Honor Society

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Bridgewater State University seniors Jacob Curren, Justin Fuller, Matthew MacFadzen and Michael Nazzaro have been selected to the National Football Foundation (NFF) 2012 Hampshire Honor Society.

A total of 721 players from 232 schools qualified for membership in the society's sixth year, marking this year's class as the largest since the program's creation in 2007.  To be nominated, student-athletes must have been a starter or significant contributor in their final season of eligibility while achieving at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and meeting all NCAA-mandated progress towards degree requirements and graduation.

Curren, MacFadzen and Nazzaro all played on the defensive line for the Bears while Fuller competed on the offensive side of the ball at running back.  All four just recently graduated from BSU with degrees in criminal justice (Fuller, MacFadzen), history (Curren) and psychology (Nazzaro). 

"The growing number of students involved in the Hampshire Honor Society each year shows that football student-athletes not only play at the highest level but that they are some of the best students on campus as well," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We salute each one of these young men for their commitment to education and their leadership on and off the football field."

The NFF Hampshire Honor Society capitalizes on the NFF's current National Scholar-Athlete program greatly expanding the number of scholar-athletes the NFF can recognize each year. The program further strengthens the organization's leadership role in encouraging academic performance by the student-athletes who play football at the more than 700 college and universities with football programs nationwide.

Jon F. Hanson, the chairman and founder of The Hampshire Companies, provided the endowment to launch the NFF Hampshire Honor Society in 2007. He made the contribution as part of his legacy to the organization after serving as NFF chairman from 1994-2006. He currently serves the organization as a chairman emeritus. Each player awarded with membership in this year's Honor Society will receive a certificate commemorating their achievement.

"Thanks to the generosity of Jon Hanson, we have honored more than 3,000 student-athletes in the last six years," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, "The Hampshire Honor Society allows us to showcase how much football matters in building tomorrow's leaders, and we strongly encourage every football-playing school in the country to get involved."

Curren notched 22 tackles in 2011 with six and half tackles for loss as well as a pair of sacks.  In 39 games over his three seasons with the Bears, Curren registered 82 tackles, including 16 for loss, four sacks and an interception.  He also forced three fumbles and recovered one.

Fuller carried the ball 143 times for 681 yards and nine touchdowns this past season.  In 22 career games over three seasons, the Berkley, Massachusetts native rushed for 2,372 yards and 32 touchdowns.  He ranks fifth all-time at Bridgewater State in rushing and eighth in scoring (198 points).

A four-year member of the Bears’ football team, MacFadzen notched 30 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, in 27 career games.  He also recorded a sack and recovered a fumble.

Nazzaro, who also played four seasons in a BSU uniform, started all 20 games at defensive tackle in 2010 and 2011.  The Boxford, Massachusetts product wrapped up his career with 79 tackles, including six for loss, four sacks and a forced and recovered fumble.  In 2011, Nazzaro ranked third on the team in tackles with 45 and returned his only career interception for a touchdown.

MacFadzen (3.58 GPA) and Nazzaro (3.37 GPA) are both three-time honorees on the New England Football Conference (NEFC) All-Academic Team, while Curren (3.44 GPA) and Fuller (3.36 GPA) are two-time selections.

The Bridgewater State football team posted a record of 7-3 during the 2011 season including a 5-2 mark in NEFC Bogan Division play.  The Bears competed in the ECAC Northeast Bowl in their season finale at home against Alfred University.