Coming into the 2006 season, Georgetown University football student-athlete Alex Buzbee knew he would draw a lot of attention — not only for his skill, but also because of his jersey number 35 and what it represents.

Former Georgetown student-athlete Joe Eacobacci also wore No. 35 before he died in the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

In the five years since commercial airliners slammed into New York’s World Trade Center Towers, the Pentagon and a rural Pennsylvania field on that day, the number of former NCAA student-athletes who were among those who gave the ultimate sacrifice has been well chronicled. Institutions have honored those fallen heros in a multitude of ways, but Georgetown chose a unique method of recognizing one of its own through the Joe Eacobacci Memorial Jersey.

Eacobacci was a standout football student-athlete for the Hoyas from 1992 to 1995. A tri-captain during his senior season, the well-known and well-respected Eacobacci went on to become an energy trader for Cantor Fitzgerald and worked on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. Like thousands of others in the towers, he perished in the 9/11 attacks.

Rather than retire Eacobacci’s jersey number, Georgetown chose to honor his memory beginning with the 2003 season by annually awarding one football student-athlete the opportunity to wear No. 35 for the season.

Presented to the player who shows extreme dedication to the Georgetown community and the football program, the recipient is chosen by the Hoyas coaching staff in conjunction with Eacobacci’s family. Eacobacci was survived by his parents, an older brother, a younger sister and a longtime girlfriend.

Most of the debate over each year’s honoree takes place after the season is concluded, and the winner is revealed at the football awards banquet in January. Buzbee follows previous winners Matt Fronczke and Michael Ononibaku.

Buzbee never met Joe Eacobacci, but the senior defensive end remembers being introduced to him through the large-framed memorial that hangs in the football building.

"When I walked in freshman year, the first day I saw what it was all about. I told myself it was really something I wanted to strive for. I think it’s a neat way to keep Joe’s spirit alive and represent him and who he was," said Buzbee. "It’s an extreme honor."

An honor, true enough, but Buzbee recognizes the truth in the testimonial written by Fronczke, the first Georgetown student-athlete to wear the jersey, that whoever wears the jersey will be in the spotlight on and off the field. Said Buzbee, "It’s a lot of responsibility because a lot of people look up to you and you have to lead by example."

The standard for the bearer of the jersey is high, but the path is well marked. Fronczke was the first two-time captain of the football team since 1986 and finished his career with 243 tackles, the third-best total in program history. Although Ononibaku was the second player to wear the memorial jersey, he was the first one to do so consecutively. The first-team all-American captained last season’s team and finished his career second all-time with 29 sacks and sixth all-time in tackles with 212.

A co-captain of this year’s Georgetown squad, Buzbee already has 111 tackles, including 78 solo, and 22 sacks to his credit in three full seasons with the Hoyas. He is a four-year starter at defensive end fresh off his second straight season as a second-team all-Patriot League selection.

"People know that players who wear the jersey are the better players on the team so opponents may be out for me," said Buzbee. "I’m just going to go about my business like I always do. I know every Saturday that I put on that jersey I’ll think of him and do my best to represent him and the program."

Buzbee also has distinguished himself off the field. This past summer, the government major and psychology minor spent three days a week as an intern on Capitol Hill for Pete King, a Republican from Long Island, New York, and the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.

Buzbee aspires to pursue a career in government or law enforcement.