"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.