Feb. 14, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senior Quarterback Matt Bassuener (Port Edwards, Wis./John Edwards-Western Reserve Academy) has earned an opportunity to continue his football career after four seasons on the Hilltop, having signed to play with the Louisville Fire of the Arena Football League 2 (AFL2) this week.

"I've been pursuing an opportunity to continue playing since right after the season," Bassuener said. "The coaching staff has been supportive the whole time. Anytime the staff heard something or got a link from someone they would pass it along. Coach Jim Miceli sent me some links, Coach Kevin Kelly sent me some links and the opportunity in Louisville just worked out for me to continue my dream."

Bassuener earned the starting quarterback role four games into his junior season, flourishing after the promotion. Starting the final 10 games of his junior season, he completed 144-of-209 attempts for 1,359 and 15 touchdowns. As a senior, Bassuener improved on those numbers, throwing for 1,874 yards, completing 66.8 percent of his passes (211-of-316). He added 308 yards on the ground, while accounting for 12 touchdowns. He hopes his improvement will continue in Louisville.

"It's a good situation, the Louisville Fire have a winning program, a good fan base and the ownership and coaching staff is good," Bassuener said. "The coaching staff said I'm in there to compete right away and that from having seen my film, they feel I can contribute early. The AFL2 is a developmental league, so they don't want me to be there for five years. Their goal is to move you up to the AFL, CFL and NFL."

Bassuener has twice earned Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week honors. In 2007, he set a single-game school-record with 33 completions against Fordham on October 13, breaking the record of 31 completions set by David Paulus against Bucknell on October 26, 2002. As a junior, Bassuener earned Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week honors, after coming off the bench against Columbia to complete 17-of-22 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing eight times for an additional 52 yards. Bassuener knows there will be an adjustment, but is eager to learn.

"I've never played the indoor game, so there's a little adjustment to where you place balls on certain routes and being quicker with your reads," Bassuener said. "You're playing on a field with 75% of the players, but 25% of the space, so you have to be extra quick with your reads, but I think the arena game will suit my skill-set."

During his four-year career on the Hilltop, Bassuener has played on both sides of the ball, beginning as a defensive back his freshman season, before moving to quarterback during his junior season. Bassuener, a culture & politics major, is carrying a 3.67 grade-point average and has earned a spot on the Patriot League Football Honor Roll two times during his career, including 2007.