July 27, 2006

Washington, D.C. - Georgetown senior offensive linemen Liam Grubb (Massapequa, N.Y./Chaminade) said that his bosses have introduced him as a bodyguard or secret service throughout the course of his internship this summer.

It makes sense. It's one thing to see Hoyas 6-7, 290-pound guard lined up opposite a defensive lineman in the Patriot League, it's entirely another thing to see that same 6-7, 290-pound guard sitting across the table from you during a meeting of the Republican Policy Committee somewhere in the United States Capitol.

"That's the one thing, I get a lot of looks from people walking around the building," Grubb said. "My boss, he'll walk around and say that I'm his bodyguard or that I'm secret service. I guess it just comes with the territory of being a giant."

Grubb, like his teammate and fellow co-captain Alex Buzbee (Chester, N.J./Seton Hall Prep), is working as an intern on the Capitol this summer. He has been under the direction of Florida senator Adam Putnam, the Chair of the Republican Policy Committee.

"I'm a registered Republican, so that's been right up my alley," Grubb said. "It's a lot of paper-pushing, like Alex, but at the same time I have a lot of responsibility, just like he does. "

Grubb works four days a week, Monday through Thursday. The final day of the week for him tends to be the longest, as he needs to be in the office at 7:30 a.m. to prepare for weekly committee meetings. While he has been doing his share of "paper pushing," he's also been relied on to do research for different senators when they are preparing policy. A full-time staff member had been doing the task before Grubb arrived, but those duties were passed on to him upon his arrival. He's done a great deal of research on tax reform, immigration, minimum wage and, most recently, the conflict in the Middle East.

"I've found that the research I'm doing is stuff they rely on for their speeches," he explained, "so I know that I need to be on top of things when I'm putting it together. As a government major, I thought I knew about how things pretty much went, but I've learned a lot about the inner-workings of the government."

Grubb has also had the chance to see what is ahead for the party, as each week he has sat in a meeting of various republican senators to discuss bills they have proposed and will be proposing in the future. Grubb is the only intern for the committee, so he's been given the opportunity to do his fair share of work. "It's cool because I have a lot of responsibility," he said. "The research they're giving me to do is stuff they will need. I don't mind doing it and I don't mind not being paid. Just this experience is priceless."

One person who wasn't phased by Grubb's size was former Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne, who the senior was able to meet briefly at one point. "I just met him in passing and only had a few seconds to speak with him, but that was pretty cool," Grubb said. "They still call him `Coach."

Pretty soon, Grubb will be back at the Multi-Sport Field getting ready to work with first-year Head Coach Kevin Kelly and the Georgetown staff. "I feel bad saying it because I know I've worked hard all four years, but I think I'm putting even a little more into this year just because I know it's my last," Grubb said.

Grubb's schedule has made for some tiring times this summer. The team has met in the weight room nightly at 6:15 p.m. to lift and he, like Buzbee, has gone from the Capitol to Yates Field House. In addition, the offensive linemen have met as a group to go over plays each Wednesday night.

What has impressed Grubb most is the number of players who have been around this summer. "A lot of the younger guys were here too, and that's great," Grubb said. "We had a scrimmage this week at Maryland and they made some big plays. We're going to need them this year to be successful."

One of the things any team needs to be successful is unity, and the large number of players who spent their summers on the Hilltop has helped. "The workouts are important, don't get me wrong," Grubb said, "but there are a lot of intangibles. The bonding and camaraderie does make a difference. We've become close already. We live together and see each other every day. We've become a family already."

And any family needs a leader, something that Grubb is ready to do. "It's (being a captain) made me more responsible," he explained. "I'm representing my school and my team. They're (his teammates) looking at me and Buz (Buzbee) for guidance and leadership. We can't lose our composure on the field and during practice. I hope the guys look up to us like we did to our captains when we were younger."

The players will be getting used to a new coaching staff as well, but Grubb said he's really excited to get going this season. "One of the things I will regret is not having Coach Kelly and Coach (Jim) Miceli for another year," he said. "They know we're going to do well and they've instilled that in us. They've been great and I'm really looking forward to this year."

Grubb knows that this will be his last on the Hilltop, but it's an experience he's enjoyed. "Being here and playing football has meant everything," he said. "We come here and we're all here to get an education, but to have the chance to play football means a lot to me. The best experience of my life has been coming here and I can't imagine it without football. I owe everything I've gotten to this team, past and present."

The Hoyas open the 2006 season on Saturday, September 2, hosting Holy Cross in a Patriot League match up. Kickoff at the Multi-Sport Field is slated for 12:30 p.m.

This is the second in a series of features on Georgetown football players leading up to the team's first practice on August 8.