Dintino Closes Out Football Career At Massachusetts Maritime

October 20, 2011

By Rich Maclone, Mashpee Enterprise

They say that time flies when you’re having fun, and Mashpee resident Chris Dintino can attest to that.

Dintino is prepping for his last-ever home game at Clean Harbors Stadium on the campus of Massachusetts Maritime Academy tomorrow at noon as the Buccaneers take on Maine Maritime Academy in the 39th annual Admiral’s Cup game. Maine has prevailed in the last seven meetings, but the Bucs look to put an end to that run on their home field.

The Mashpee High School alum, who was pleased to see that the Falcons had defeated Abington a few days earlier, said that his time in Buzzards Bay has flown by.

“It went by pretty quickly. The first season seemed pretty long, but since then it’s been fast,” he said.

Dintino has been starting since his rookie season on the offensive line for MMA. He begins the home stretch—his final three games for the team—tomorrow with the last game his class will participate in on their home field. After that, tilts with Westfield and Bridgewater State remain as MMA tries to score a league title. Both teams come into action with 4-2 overall records and 2-2 marks in league play.

When the teams take the field, Dintino will line up at left guard for MMA next to his longtime teammate and friend Lenny Simmons, a New Bedford resident, who plays left tackle. The pair earned their way into the starting lineup as freshmen, midway through that season, and have anchored the left side ever since.

Dintino said that the offensive line for MMA is a tight group.  The other three starters joined the rotation last year and they all have been working together since.

“I think we work well together, and we’re all friends, too, off the field,” he said.

MMA is averaging 124 yards on the ground, behind that blocking, and about 150 through the air. Dintino said that he personally prefers to run the ball because “I get to hit someone,” but as long as the team is moving the ball he’s happy.

“Whatever will help us win the game is what we like to do. Pass protection is a little more passive, but if it’s working, that’s fine.”

It hasn’t been just about football at MMA for Dintino. Being on the water is something that he has always enjoyed, and he is pursuing a degree in marine engineering. He has loved the opportunity to travel the world, thanks to his education, and looks forward to life after college when he hopes to find a boat to work on full time. He’s had two terms at sea while at MMA and spent last summer interning on a tugboat.

When classes ended last spring, he immediately hooked up with his summer internship and was on the boat the day after classes ended. The next 60 days were spent at sea. For the most part the trip had been uneventful, until the very end. Just hours before his internship was supposed to end, a head gasket blew on the tugboat which delayed his exit for several hours.

“We were almost to Providence; I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

Dintino helped to get the boat mobile again, although it was not close to being at full speed when it finally arrived in port. He was happy that he was not required to serve out until the repairs were finalized. “It took them another two or three days to get it right,” he said.

Six days later he was back at MMA for the start of football practice. Since that day it has been all about fi nishing classes and winning football games.

“We want to win (the Admiral’s Cup).  It’s a pretty big deal. We haven’t won it in a while and it’s a league game,” he said. “I definitely think we can get it as long as we don’t beat ourselves.”