Senior Spotlight: Austin Baiardi ‘20

Hartford, Conn. — It was a play that iced the cake on a 16-game winning streak, giving the
Trinity College football program a 7-0 record and ultimately paved the path to the program’s
second straight NESCAC Championship. On the road against a 5-1 Middlebury program, the
Bantam offense was in full swing — 367 yards, including three touchdowns and 255 yards on
the ground.
Austin Baiardi, now a senior captain for the program, was just a sophomore that 2017 season. At
6’3”, 265, the Smithtown, New York, native has been described as one of the most agile, athletic
offensive linesmen that Trinity football has ever seen. With his team up 17-5 late in the third
quarter, he’d get a nod from the sideline, and would use that athleticism to find paydirt.
“We got stopped on the goal line a few plays in a row so when I saw the play call, I wasn’t
totally surprised,” said Baiardi. “But still, my first thought was, ‘I better not drop this thing.’”
“The play was designed to be more of a pass in man-coverage; we knew nobody would be
covering the tackle,” said Offensive Coordinator Mark Melnitsky. “It was a ball thrown to him
behind the line of scrimmage, and unfortunately our receiver didn’t drag his man — he just kind
of stood there. [Austin] saw two Middlebury guys in front of him, actually made a great move
around a defender and was able to dive in for the touchdown.”
“I remember catching it at like the eight-yard line, saw the safety, made a move inside, and then
all I remember is seeing my teammates jumping on me,” Baiardi said.
An offensive linemen scoring in a crucial game may have been one of the highlights of that
remarkable season, but Baiardi will look to put a fitting end on his fantastic career, joining his 14
other classmates as they get set for one more battle on Jessee/Miller Field Saturday afternoon.
“One could argue he has been the most talented offensive lineman that we have had at Trinity in
the past twenty years,” said Head Coach Jeff Devanney. “He was a top ranked recruit coming out
of high school and didn’t disappoint; he’s stepped up as a captain and provided strong leadership
for the program.”
Austin’s journey in a Trinity uniform is one that will not be soon forgotten. A four-year starter,
Baiardi has missed just one game due to injury; a cornerstone for an offense that has been at the
top of the league since his arrival, and part of an offensive line known for churning out All-
Americans.
“When he came in as a freshman, we had Chris Simmons, who was an All-American tackle and
a four-year starter,” said Melnitsky. “Having [Simmons] as quick tackle along the boundary,
Austin had an immediate impact as the field tackle. It was a year we went 8-0, and being able to
plug him into that offense was huge.”
“The last two years, we’ve been able to move Austin into Chris’s former position, and it’s been
incredible,” Melnitsky continued. “It speaks to how much he really understands the game.”
Adding Baiardi to the depth chart was an easy choice for the Bantams. After getting some looks
at the FCS level during his high school career, Austin chose to enroll at Trinity. “I really felt like
there was a family atmosphere here, where you were truly cared about and looked after by
everyone,” he said.
In four years, the captain has never missed the All-NESCAC standard; a second-teamer his
freshman year, he earned First-Team the last two seasons, and was named to the New England
Football Writers College Division All-New England Team. Prior to the start of his senior year,
he saw his name on the D3Football.com Pre-Season All-American Third Team.
Melnitsky, in his 14th season as an Assistant and serving as the Offensive Coordinator and
Offensive Line Coach for the Bantams, said that Austin’s contribution to his team off the field is
just as impressive as the accolades he’s gathered on the field.
“He’s a pretty quiet guy, but he’s really taken on a leadership role with this team. He’s been
helping run film with not just the offensive line, but the entire offense during the week, and I
always see him going through extra steps with some of the younger guys. He’s flown under the
radar, but the work he puts in behind the scenes doesn’t go unnoticed.”
As Baiardi and the Bantams look to cap the 2019 campaign with a Senior Day victory, it’s hard
not to look back at what will go down as an incredible chapter in Trinity football’s deep history.
“When I look back at my career here, I’ll remember watching [Max] Chipouras ‘19 run down the
sideline against Amherst at home last year to close that game out; I’ll remember celebrating the
Williams-Amherst game in 2017 in the locker room with the team, knowing we won the league,
and I’ll remember celebrating an undefeated season on Wesleyan’s field my freshman year.”