At Union Endicott, though, Kacyvenski once had 31 tackles in a single game and was the school record-holder for single-season and career tackles--seemingly a theme in his football career.

"At 11, he said at his brother's graduation, 'I'll go to college by means of a football scholarship,'" Dave Kacyvenski recounted. "The only reason that Harvard looked at him was because of football, but he had great grades, a 98.6 his senior year."

"When he left for Harvard, when he was 18, I repeated the stories to him," Dave Kacyvenski added. "He said, 'Dad, I knew we were poor; I didn't want to be, and I knew the only way I wouldn't be was to get an education.' That's pretty far-sighted for a 9-year old.

"I said, 'Isaiah, I feel sorry you knew you were poor.' He said, 'Dad, don't worry. Without that, I may never have had any drive or incentive to do what I've done.' He took lemon and made lemonade out of it."

At Harvard, Kacyvenski concentrated in Environmental Science and Public Policy and took pre-med classes. Not many NFL players have experience working in a medical school lab, where Kacyvenski worked last summer.

For now, however, he is totally dedicated to fulfilling his dream of playing in the NFL--something in his mind ever since the 1986 Super Bowl between the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots.

He is currently at minicamp and is encouraging his former teammates who are also trying to make it in the NFL, Chris Eitzmann (Patriots) and Mike Sands (Steelers). Kacyvenski has the best shot of the three to make the roster because he was drafted, rather than signed as a free agent after the draft. His contract has not been worked out yet but should be in order by the beginning of July.

"I haven't talked to Seattle about my role yet," he said. "I'm just going to be excited with anything I do, and I'm not above anything. I'll be excited to do anything. To run down the field and crush someone, that's what I'll be excited to do."

Choosing Kacyvenski as the Male Athlete of the Year was an easy decision. Based purely on his on-field accomplishments, he shone as the best defensive player in the Ivy this year and demonstrated improvement in all four seasons. His hard work enabled him to develop an NFL body, and Kacyvenski was on the minds of every offensive coordinator and running back Harvard played.

However, to judge Kacyvenski solely by what he does between the stripes is to ignore the incredible discipline and foresight he showed from a very early age to get to this point. He is a success as much for his personal story as for his football exploits. Now, he has a very good chance to become the second active Harvard NFL player, along with Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Matt Birk '98.

"This is what I want to do," Kacyvenski said. "This is what I've wanted to do my whole life. Right now, this is it."