During his freshman year, the UNH Football Media Guide simply stated: "Should be ready to start by his junior season." Jesse D. Showerda knew that his time would come, and prepared himself for the opportunity.
Showerda was on campus as a redshirt freshman and watched as UNH made an NCAA semifinal run in 1992. During his freshman season, he was on UNH’s 1993 NCAA quarterfinal squad under head coach Mark Whipple and saw limited action. He remained an understudy in 1994 as well, throwing a combined 47 passes in those seasons.
Those years of preparation put the signal caller in line for what would turn out to be a pair of stellar seasons en route to the Hall of Fame.
Showerda took over the starting quarterback role for his final two seasons and led UNH to a 17-4-1 record during that time - including a 10-1-1 mark in 1995. That season as a junior under head coach Tony Sparano, Showerda guided UNH back to the national stage as the Chargers advanced to the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals and a No. 5 final national ranking.
One of the 1996 team captains, he threw a school-record 280 straight passes without an interception, and was the NCAA Division II passing efficiency leader with a 165.6 rating. He threw for 2,625 yards, 31 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Included in his 31 touchdowns were seven that came in a single game against East Stroudsburg, a record that stands to this day. That season, he was also ECAC Player of the Year, an AFCA Division II All-America selection, and a finalist for the Harlon Hill trophy, which is awarded to the best overall player in Division II.
A native of Meriden, Conn. and a graduate of Platt High School, Showerda completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 5,703 yards, 57 touchdowns and just 17 interceptions in his four seasons at UNH.
Showerda still ranks among the school's all-time leaders in a number of categories. His 2,625 passing yards in 1996 remains the sixth most in a single season, while his 31 touchdowns that season remains the second most in one season. Overall, he is fifth all-time in passing yards, third in passing touchdowns and fourth in total completions.
