This week, I sat down with Dominick Pierre '14, the starting running back and one of the football team's three captains, to reflect on his career at the College and his hopes for the remainder of the season. Last week, he was named the Ivy League player of the week for his efforts in the Homecoming game against Yale University, in which he totaled 167 yards on the ground and eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark for his career.
How does it feel to earn player of the week for the second time in your career?
DP: It feels pretty good. It is always a great achievement to have. I don't think too many people have gotten it multiple times.
What was the team like after you beat Yale on Homecoming?
DP: It felt pretty good of course, as it always does after the win. We celebrated in the locker room together. We have our post-game rituals after wins, so it was great to get back to doing those.
What do you think is the best part about Homecoming?
DP: Definitely the alumni coming back and seeing all the old guys you've played with, and seeing the older alumni who have been in your shoes before way back when and how they talk about how things haven't really changed much.
Do you guys do anything with the old players who come back?
DP: They hang out a lot after the game, and after the game we have an alumni tent where we can go eat dinner with a bunch of past football players.
What do you think has really enabled you to be so successful this season?
DP: Probably just passion for the game and wanting to be successful, not letting anything stand in my way. I'm thankful enough to be healthy and God has blessed me with great training staff, great coaching so they all play a great role.
What are your predictions for the team for the rest of the season?
DP: Win them all. We have a great opportunity. This is definitely the best team I've been a part of here at Dartmouth and we have the opportunity to win in every single game, so we're just going to have to do it.
What has it been like being a captain this year?
DP: It's been pretty cool, not as stressful as people would think. I'm not the most vocal person so I just kind of be myself. They chose me to be captain for a reason I don't have to change my ways or the way I act.
What kinds of new responsibilities do you have?
DP: Probably being a little more vocal and knowing when to say different things and step up because I know that they respect what I have to say.
What do you think you'll miss most about football once the season is over?
DP: Probably just seeing the guys every day and every hour. It will be a lot different since that's what I've been doing for the past three, almost four years now. It'll be really strange, but I guess I'll just have to get used to it.
Is there anything that you've always wanted to do at Dartmouth but haven't been able to?
DP: I'm really passionate about wrestling, but there is no team here. Unfortunately, they got rid of that before I got here. But I've yet to go skiing so hopefully I'll be able to try that this winter. I've just never gotten around to doing it.
What is your favorite thing about the football team?
DP: The people just how well we all get along. We are truly like a family and it's a great atmosphere. That is one of the reasons why I came here, because there's no segregation or division between offense and defense.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
