GAME

Academic Integration and Competitive Excellence in Division I Athletics
harvard Football News 2016
football and academics.”
Ahern almost found his way to another Ivy League school
before coming to Harvard. He had originally committed to
Cornell, but after the coach that recruited him left Ithaca for
another job, Ahern re-evaluated his situation.
The continuity with Harvard, and specifically the Thomas
Stephenson Family Head Coach Tim Murphy, is what ultimately
led Ahern to Cambridge.
“Sean is the total package as a student-athlete,” said Murphy.
“Tough, smart, skilled and a proven leader. Our belief is that
Sean will be the top corner in the Ivy League.”
During his time on campus, Ahern has earned the trust and
admiration of his teammates, which led him to being elected
as the 143rd captain in team history.
“I was amazed and honored by my teammates for trusting
me in the next step of this program,” said Ahern. “I thought
about all the guys who had been captains before me and it lit
a fire in my belly.”
“It’s a tremendous honor being in the same category as guys
like Matt Koran ‘16 and Norman Hayes ‘15, two of my best friends.”
When you talk to Ahern’s current teammates, you get
glowing recommendations.
“Ahern is a great kid,” said senior offensive lineman Max Rich.
“The most experienced on the team, a two-time All-Ivy League
guy who is just a fantastic player and knows everything that
is going on.”
Senior defensive lineman James Duberg has similar feelings.
“There’s a couple of reasons why he’s captain,” said Duberg.
“His intensity with every football event, the leaderships
skills he possesses and the way guys rally around him. He
leads by example.”
As the 2016 senior class comes to the end of their Harvard
careers, they have one last chance to take the field in The
Game against Yale. A rivalry that many players didn’t realize
the importance of until they saw it first hand as freshmen.
“I honestly had no idea about the scope of Harvard-Yale,”
Ahern explained. “You start to figure it out when you see all
the alums coming back and showing their pride.”
What makes this game stand out from the rest?
“Every play you’re trying to bring it as hard as you can, more
than any game on the entire schedule,” said Ahern. “You know
the [Yale] guy across from you is doing the same. I don’t want
them to catch a single ball all game.”
Recently for Harvard there has been the added importance
of a championship being on the line against Yale, which only
increases the excitement and passion.
“There’s nothing to leave out on the field at all, especially
for the seniors,” added Ahern. “We see guys do things they
haven’t done all year. The effort given is second to none.”
Being an athlete at an Ivy League school is more than just
a four-year commitment, it’s a legacy that can last forever,
and for Ahern he has a specific way he would like to be
remembered.
“I want to be remembered how I remember Norman [Hayes]
and Matt [Koran],” said Ahern. “Intense, fun guys that were a
pleasure to be around every day.”
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