The Captains Of The #UPrising

by Mike Kern, former Philadelphia Daily News writer

How do you define a leader? Or, more to the point, how do you identify one? “Leader” is a word that’s often used with reverence, particularly when it comes to sports. And inside the Penn Football program, things are no different.

Selecting the Quakers’ captains in any given season is no minor detail. The beautiful thing about leaders is that they can emerge in many forms. Some are loud, while others may exude a quiet confidence that’s more from within. Many times, as you’d assume, they are among the most talented on the field... but it’s not necessarily a requirement. The one thing they all have in common? The rest of the players look up to them, and the coaching staff looks to them to serve as an extension of their message.

Which makes them almost like a bridge between the two – an essential component to the equation which hopefully results in not only success on the field but in an impact that goes well beyond.

There are certain qualities that are common in a captain. It’s an ability to motivate a group of people. It’s the combination of personality and influential people skills that makes others want to follow in the same direction. They can become the difference-makers. As in, going above and beyond.

This season the honor – and responsibility - of serving as captain falls upon senior running back Karekin Brooks and senior defensive back Sam Philippi. A second-team All-Ivy selection last season, Brooks rushed for 268 yards in the second game of 2017 at Lehigh – one of three career 200+ yard games for Brooks to set a Penn record. Three years ago, Philippi set the ultimate humanitarian example by donating bone marrow as part of the “Be The Match” program to help save somebody’s life. A somebody he still has not met, as the guidelines sometimes dictate. A two-time second-team All-Ivy Leaguer, he came back for a fifth season after his 2018 journey ended in the first game when he dislocated his hip.

“You have to be ready for anything that’s thrown at you,” Philippi said about the role of captain. “Guys are asking you questions every day, about almost anything. That’s what it comes down to. You’re the one that really must help shape what goes on in our program.

“If we all follow the standard, and do the right things … That starts with the captains. I think about how I should act in certain situations, so others will look at me and not have to think about what they must do. I can’t say what those guys are thinking. I’m just trying to do as much as I can, all the time, to make this team better. And hope it rubs off, especially on your younger teammates.

“Maybe it’s just being there for them that counts the most. There is motivation in this being our last year as seniors. You always want to be giving 110 percent, set that standard and don’t let anyone think they can slack off. So, you show up not only on every single play, but in everything you do. That’s the toughest part. But it’s also the most rewarding.”

“It’s part of how you build your foundation. Some take the intensity to another level. But they have to stay in their own lane. You don’t want to be something you’re not. Do it the best way for you.”

And now, two more in a lengthy lineage are striving to do exactly that.

“I think the team watched how hard Sam worked to get back,” Priore said. “He did it not only for himself, but for the team. He had to regain what had been taken away. But he has an ability to relate to everybody. He’s incredible that way.

“KK is a young man of few words, but he can get more vocal when then appropriate time comes. I think they both felt like part of that leadership core as underclassmen. You saw what they were doing as young contributors and it made an impression on everyone around the program.

“They represent and live the standard of the team. We sort of communicate that standard, and it’s their job to echo it. It means more coming from them. And you hope it rubs off year and year after year.”

#UPrising

#FightOnPenn