By Landon Gilbert ’26
The Crusaders are almost finished with what is said to be one of the most historic seasons in Brother Rice history. But when you look closer, there is something even more powerful that helps schools like Brother Rice. It is something called legacy. At Brother Rice, every touchdown carries the weight of a family name passed down through generations.
Legacy at Brother Rice is like a strong family tree. Many players grow up with fathers, older brothers, cousins, uncles, or even grandfathers who once wore the Brother Rice colors. These boys come to the school already knowing the traditions, already loving the program, and already dreaming of playing under the Friday night lights. This gives them a head start before the season even begins.
Coach Casey Quedenfeld said, ¨I think they’ve kind of witnessed what their siblings had gone through … whether that they learned from their mistakes or want to uphold the previous standards.¨
Walk through a Brother Rice practice, and you hear players say things like, “my dad played here,” or “my brother was a captain,” or “my uncle was in the state playoffs.” These stories matter. They push players to work harder because they want to make their families proud. They want to keep the family name strong.
Some notable players who came from legacy include Christian Pierce, Donovan Brown, Kris Love, Emeir White, Colin Goggin, Peter Hosty, and many more.
This kind of bond is something that cannot be recreated. You cannot take it from another school. It was built over many years. It is passed down like a torch. When a player runs onto the field knowing that someone in his family once did the same, it gives him a special kind of fire. Legacy creates pride. Pride creates effort. And effort creates success.
Senior Michael Fitzgerald said, ¨My brothers along with my father played for this program and loved this program, expanding it into our family from that point on.”
At Brother Rice, the real advantage is the generations of families who come back again and again. They come because it feels like home. They come because they want their sons and grandsons to be part of something bigger.
Junior Brian Goggin said, ” Growing up with two brothers who attended Rice. It was always Maroon and Orange throughout the house, so when it came time to go to high school, it was a no brainer.” They come because tradition is strong.
In the end, family is what builds success at Brother Rice. Senior Peter Hosty said, “Being able to share this season’s experience with my brother being a coach and even my mother (taking pictures) on the sideline, will be a memory we will share forever.”
Legacy keeps the Brother Rice football program moving forward. Every year brings new players and ongoing legacies.
