Daelan Menard heard a familiar voice that caused him to stop in mid-sentence in one of his first interviews since being named the starting quarterback for the University of New Haven football team.
While looking ahead to his first start since his days at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School in Hollywood, Florida, the player introductions were being played on the video board at DellaCamera Stadium.
As he glanced over his shoulder at the video board, a quick laugh followed as his was the first of the intros. If it hadn't hit home before, it became real at that moment that he will lead the Chargers offense onto the field when New Haven welcomes Frostburg State to town in the first night home football game in program history. The game is set for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
"I waited for that news for a while," Menard said. "I have been waiting for the past four years."
Menard was on the Boston College team for the last four seasons but didn't throw a pass in an official game for the Eagles.
He will get his chance on Thursday as he won a battle that began with four transfers fighting it out. Returnee Jack Chandler (Oviedo, Fla./Hagerty).
Chandler was the first player that Menard mentioned as helping him make the adjustment since arriving on campus as the competition was intense, but still involved supportive teammates.
Having two elite pass catchers in receiver Dev Holmes (Troy, N.Y./Troy) and tight end Kevin Foelsch (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) and Christopher Ais (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton), a 1,000-yard running back last season, will help as well.
"Every day he is getting better so I am really excited to see what he can do," Foelsch said. "I know he is amped up for the game. It is his first game as a New Haven Charger. He has amazing arm talent, he is really starting to get the offense down. I have full faith, full trust that he is going to get the job done."
The 5-foot-11 Menard brings a different style to the quarterback position after the 6-foot-6 Connor Degenhardt (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) played QB for the Chargers over the last two seasons.
"He gives us the best chance to win and we are going to structure our offense to move around a little bit," New Haven football coach Chris Pincince said. "He has a long ways to go with learning what we are doing, a long ways to go with gaining experience in college football.
I thought his athleticism and his ability to make plays out of the pocket is hopefully something that pays dividends."
This will not be the first time Menard will be in attendance at a New Haven football game. His father Dave was a defensive end for the Chargers from 1995-98 before embarking on a pro career.
He has come back with his dad to check out where his father went to college and played his college football.
"My dad played here in the late 90s so this place is very special to him with Coach Sparano," Menard said. "He learned so much from here and this played a big part in his life and he has told me that from a young age."
So what happened when he told his father where he would be playing his final two seasons of college football?
"He was ecstatic," Menard said. "He couldn't believe it. He is coming up Thursday, it is going to be awesome having him back here at his home and put on a good show for him."
It should be quite the extravaganza in what should be an unforgettable 2023 season opener.
"Right now you can feel the energy, it is pretty tangible," senior defensive end Jack Quander (Gainsville, Va./Patriot) said. "It is a cool setup, first night game ever, 50-year anniversary [of the start of the football program], there are a lot of firsts going on."
New Haven is receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association Division II poll and Frostburg could easily have picked up votes as well so it is a matchup fitting of the prime-time start.
"It should be pretty alive, we have a couple of high schools bringing their entire teams and I hope that the student population comes out," Pincince said. "I would anticipate a sellout and a pretty good atmosphere."
There are some tickets available. There could be a large walk-up crowd, especially among the students as it is the first week of classes for the fall semester.
