Pop Lacey with family and friends after the Villanova game his junior year.
Family and Football
9/21/2019 8:29:00 AM | Football
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By Madelyn McAteer Special to UNHWildcats.com
For senior captain Pop Lacey (Reading, Pa.), football is a family affair. He grew up around football and it became a huge part of his life. With his family by his side every step of the way, his dreams of becoming a Division I player became a reality.
Lacey first stepped out on the field at the age of five. Beginning with flag football and then moving onto tackle, it was clear from the start that football is in his blood. The sport runs through his family as Lacey spent years attending his older brother's football practices, which his dad coached, and attended an NFL game with his older cousin, who was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars at the time.
"It's really just a part of my life and something I've been involved with for as long as I can remember," said Lacey.
Lacey had always dreamt of playing at the Division I level. "It was always something that I strived for and I didn't know how I was going to get there but I knew I wanted to do it," he said.
Though forced to take an unconventional path, Lacey didn't let his setbacks stop him. Coming out of high school, he didn't have any Division I offers. While disappointed, Lacey decided to attend prep school for a better shot. After putting hard work in at the Kent School in Connecticut, Lacey received his first DI offer from the University of New Hampshire. "I'm very thankful for UNH because they were my only Division I offer," he explained. "A lot of people don't know that."
Lacey was fortunate to come in his freshman year and play in all 13 games, with 11 starts, earn accolades such as CAA Rookie of the Week, and lead the team in tackles. Lacey with his parents Monica and Larry
Being from Pennsylvania, you may think that there would be a few games that his family wouldn't be able to attend. But that's not the case for the Laceys. "My mom and my dad are my biggest fans because they're at every single game," he said.
His dad is a sports fanatic, attending football games and his sister's basketball games regularly. "My dad has maybe missed two games out of my career," said Lacey.
When Lacey was told he was in the lineup for his first game freshman year at San Diego State, he called up his dad and told him the news. Despite having a fear of flying, his dad's response was, "Alright son, I'll be there." Lacey and his brother Freddy and sister Jo Jo
Lacey's mom is just as passionate about watching her son on the field. Being an organizer, she'll share Lacey's schedule on Facebook, arrange for groups of fans to come watch, and make shirts and fatheads. His junior year, UNH traveled to Villanova for their homecoming football game. With multiple UNH players being from Pennsylvania, it was a so-called "homecoming" for them as well. Lacey's mom organized a huge group of fans, consisting of friends and family, for the game. Lacey says that UNH had more fans than Villanova at that game, and smiled at the thought of the group of people holding up fatheads of his face.
"It's really who you play for, it's who you give everything to," explained Lacey, talking about his supportive family.
Ultimately, he sees both of his parents as his role models. He has watched his dad make a name for himself, starting out as a construction worker at the age of 18 and basically teaching himself the trade. "He tells me, if you put your mind to something, you can definitely do it," explained Lacey. "And he is the true definition of that." Lacey and his sister Alexis
Lacey admires his mom for her uphill battled to getting a college education. She finished college on her own to open up a new door for the entire family. Because of her hard work and dedication, college is thought of as mandatory in the Lacey family. She "made it out of the mud", as Lacey says, and he will forever idolize her for that.
With this being Lacey's final season of football at UNH, he thinks back on his two favorite moments, winning the Battle of the Musket at Maine freshman year and beating JMU his junior year. The nail-biting game against Maine had a final score of 24-21 and Lacey scored a touchdown on an interception. "There's nothing like winning your first musket," he said. Pop Lacey versus Maine as a freshman
The win over JMU was significant to Lacey because UNH was in a seemingly downward spiral at that point in the season, but beating the Dukes proved to the Wildcats how good they actually were, which is a feeling that sticks with Lacey.
If Lacey could go back and give his freshman year-self advice, it would be to stay uncomfortable. After an extremely successful freshman year, Lacey explained he got too comfortable sophomore year. "I got complacent," he said. "Nothing is guaranteed."
There's no doubt Lacey was tested that season- breaking his leg twice, in the same spot, both in the fall and spring. But that made him come back stronger, and more ready than ever to finish out his collegiate career on a high note.
Lacey is on track to graduate early, in December, and plans to use that extra time to train for the NFL. "I've accomplished my goals so far, so why not continue to try to achieve them?" he asked.
With that mindset combined with a hard work ethic, Lacey's possibilities are endless. The first 2,000 fans in attendance at Wildcat Stadium for Saturday night's University of New Hampshire home football opener against the University of Rhode Island (6 p.m., NECN) will receive a free 'Be the Roar' Wildcats bucket hat to celebrate Youth Sports Night, presented by Core Power High Protein Milk Shakes. The UNH/URI game, which represents the only night game of the season in Durham, will feature New Hampshire youth teams partaking in a pregame High-5 tunnel, halftime parade and postgame autographs with the Wildcats. • Get Tickets Here
