"Without a doubt Clare is our best player," sophomore quarterback Barry Wahlberg said. "He never misses a rep. The last spring game he played with a broken nose and probably broke it four times last year. He's out there competing with his blood, sweat and tears."

It all comes with the territory of being captain.

"I lead by example," Clare said. "I'm a loud guy and don't shy away from getting in people's faces to let them know what I expect from them. I've kind of taken the best from the captains I've played under. [Chris Eitzmann '00] was quieter and led by example. [Brendan Bibro '98-99] was just loud and out of control."

But to assume the captaincy from the position of left tackle requires more than a hulking body and a pair of vocal chords to match. His teammates can draw inspiration from the progress Clare has made as a player. Clare knows firsthand the fruits of a player's labor.

As the lone underclassman on the line his sophomore year, he had an instant measuring stick for his performance, and by the time junior year rolled around, he was ready to claim All-Ivy status.

"Last year was an eye-opener for me," Clare said. "I realized I could be a dominant player when guys who might've gotten the best of me sophomore year, I handled easily."

His shining moment came in the Crimson's 13-6 win over Princeton. Clare was matched directly with Tiger defensive lineman David Ferrara. Ferrara, who would be named First Team All-Ivy, was held without a sack and Chris Menick '00 was able to rush for 165 yards.

But unless Clare is matched up with a premier lineman like Ferrara, his efforts often go unnoticed. Murphy frequently remarks that the team "takes him for granted," but that is the nature of his position. And despite his verbal flourishes on the gridiron itself, Clare would just as soon keep it that way.

Clare does not respond to questions concerning his NFL prospects and he does not allow football to consume his daily life. He lives in Adams House not with his teammates, but with his entryway mates from Lionel. And given his druthers, he would rather brag about his ability to dunk a basketball than his wars in the trenches.

That's right, Clare can dunk and plays A-League intramural basketball to boot.

"If all I did was football 24-7, I think I would go crazy," Clare said. "Basketball has always been in my blood. I love going to Mather Courts on the weekend and seeing how astonished all the guys are that someone my size can dunk and grab rim with both hands."

When those hands are not palming a basketball, they often are working with a young child. Clare volunteers at the Mission Hill After School Program, where the 5- to 7-year-olds look way up to him as their gentle giant.

During the last week of school he hosted a sleepover with about 20 kids from the program and he gave them free reign over his dorm, with all of the PlayStation games, movies and CDs contained therein.

"Going down and being able to hang out with the little kids that just look up to you makes you really appreciate being at Harvard," Clare said. "My little guy is Quentin and every time I got there he was like, 'Can you walk me home?' And I asked why, and he answered, 'Because my mom loves it because you're big.'"

Harvard can only hope that Clare dwarfs his competition like he does little Quentin. Just as Clare comforts Quentin's mom by placing her son in his shadow, his presence reassures the Crimson that the offense--and the team--is under his protection.

"We like to get at it and go hit people," Clare said. "As long as we get a hat on a hat and play till the whistle, we'll be fine."

Back in 1996, a legend invited the captain to Harvard. New legends, of course, can always be made.