Bibro Remains Team Leader

He is a hulking figure who wanders up-and-down the sidelines. Sometimes he yells out to the field, while at other times he is silent and stoic. There is nothing in his appearance nor in his demeanor which emits weakness aside from the crutches which hinder his motion.

Brendan Bibro, Harvard's 124th football captain, will not be playing in The Game tomorrow, but that doesn't mean he won't be a major factor.

After four long years including two knee surgeries, more than 20 Harvard losses and most recently a season-ending broken foot, Bibro's very presence on the Crimson sidelines is testament to his pertinacity and dedication.

"He could have rolled over, but you can see how happy he is for us," said senior guard Mike Shreve. "He looks at it like a challenge and he just won't let it get him down."

Beginning his freshman year, it has been a constant uphill battle with few reprieves for Bibro. After only one game in a Crimson jersey, the senior defensive tackle suffered a torn ACL which signified the end of his rookie season. Therefore after only a few weeks of collegiate football, Bibro's afternoons of practice were gone, replaced by monotonous, frustrating days of rehabilitation.

It wasn't until his sophomore year when a full season became a reality, but even then the constant sharp pain in his knee would not allow him to forget his first season.

Despite the discomfort, however, Bibro started in nine games that year and amassed 34 tackles--three of which were for losses--and led the team in sacks with three.

Unfortunately following that disappointing 2-8 season, Bibro returned to the doctor that winter and underwent yet another surgery--this one arthroscopic. With only two years left in his career and very little left of his knee, rather than resign himself to retirement as others might have done, Bibro returned his junior year and topped his previous year's totals with 47 tackles. His performance spearheaded a defense which ranked third against the run in the nation and 18th overall.

But it wasn't just his statistics and play that year which led the externally quiet--he tends to shy away from interviews--and reserved Pennsylvania native to achieve the position of captain. It was something less tangible, yet more powerful.

"He has had to battle through so many injuries and he has never surrendered, never given up," said senior defensive end Chris Smith. "He is an essential figure on our team."

And for a while things were falling into place and Bibro finally appeared to be reaping the benefits of a long, three-year struggle. After years of frustrating, sub-500 seasons, the Crimson had catapulted to the top of the league and was en route to an Ivy title and perhaps its first perfect Ivy season.

But on a cold, blustery Saturday against Holy Cross, everything came crashing down once again for Bibro.

This time his knee was fine--it was just that his foot was broken and his playing season was over.

"It was disappointing because he has given more to our program than any other individual on our team," Smith said. "He deserves to play more than anyone else."

And where the Crimson is situated now is on the doorstep of an undisputed Ivy title. How a program that was once seemingly strapped to the Ivy League cellar is now a champion stems a great deal from its four-year leader.

"I remember at Holy Cross when he broke his foot," Smith said. "He was obviously in a lot of pain and suffering, but he still came over and encouraged us and rooted us on. That just epitomizes his exceptional leadership."

Bibro's worth to the Crimson was perhaps illustrated best when Coach Tim Murphy asked his captain to dress in full uniform for each of the remaining game.

"I suggested that he still dress for games because I felt what he brought to the game is something we couldn't afford to lose," Murphy said. "It gives us a lot of inspiration when the kids see someone in a cast looking like he's ready for battle."

And despite the fact this right foot is bound, he still hobbles to midfield for each coin toss and yells direction and encouragement towards the field.

"It's huge," said Shreve about his blockmate's physical presence on the sidelines. "I remember the first game after he got hurt I asked him who was going to take the coin toss and he said that he was. So we just watched him crutch to and from the coin toss and it was great. If he didn't it would really mess up the chemistry of the team."

Indeed, Bibro can only be seen as the glue which holds this juggernaut together whether on the field or off.

"His role since the injury has become the spiritual leader of our football team," Murphy said. "I don't think that an injured player can play a bigger role than Brendan Bibro."

There is no question that Brendan Bibro will not play in The Game. But as he has shown throughout his four years, his presence and his attitude is worth much more than an extra body on the field. "He is our captain and he will always be our captain," Smith said. "We wouldn't be where we are right now without him.

"I suggested that he still dress for games because I felt what he brought to the game is something we couldn't afford to lose," Murphy said. "It gives us a lot of inspiration when the kids see someone in a cast looking like he's ready for battle."

And despite the fact this right foot is bound, he still hobbles to midfield for each coin toss and yells direction and encouragement towards the field.

"It's huge," said Shreve about his blockmate's physical presence on the sidelines. "I remember the first game after he got hurt I asked him who was going to take the coin toss and he said that he was. So we just watched him crutch to and from the coin toss and it was great. If he didn't it would really mess up the chemistry of the team."

Indeed, Bibro can only be seen as the glue which holds this juggernaut together whether on the field or off.

"His role since the injury has become the spiritual leader of our football team," Murphy said. "I don't think that an injured player can play a bigger role than Brendan Bibro."

There is no question that Brendan Bibro will not play in The Game. But as he has shown throughout his four years, his presence and his attitude is worth much more than an extra body on the field. "He is our captain and he will always be our captain," Smith said. "We wouldn't be where we are right now without him.