Growing up in pigskin-obsessed Winchester, Ohio, Sean Tracy relished playing high school football on Friday nights before capacity crowds of spirited fans. A three-year starter, he excelled on offense, defense and special teams.

“Every game was packed with people just going crazy,” Tracy recalls. “It was a lot of fun to go out and play on Friday nights.”

With the move to Cambridge, though, the thrill of Friday night gave way to the uncertainty of Saturday, as Tracy spent his first three years with the Crimson watching from the sidelines and waiting for his chance. Now, after abiding in relative obscurity as a reserve safety, the senior is proving that he can energize those Saturday afternoon crowds as well.

In Harvard’s most recent contest, a convincing 38-23 road win over Lafayette, Tracy was the linchpin for a defensive unit that forced three turnovers and stymied the Leopards when it mattered most.

For his efforts against Lafayette, Tracy was honored as Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week. In that game alone, he logged fourteen tackles, two interceptions—one that set up the Crimson’s initial score and one late in the fourth quarter—and a ruthless 11-yard sack. His 29 total tackles and two picks are tied for the team lead.

His reemergence into the football spotlight has coincided with the team’s brisk run to a 3-0 record.

“I’m just glad that I’ve been able to make a solid contribution to the team,” Tracy says. “I’ve been waiting to fill that role, and I’m glad I could step into a position where I can make a difference to help us win games.”

His team-leading numbers are a far cry from last season when, as a backup,

Tracy notched only eight tackles in nine games and according to Harvard defensive coordinator Kevin Doherty, “was in the mix but wasn’t ready to play.”

The 2003 defensive unit, however, lost several starters to graduation and Tracy won a starting spot entering fall practices.

Assured of playing time and comfortable with his status on the team, he was free to become again the playmaker he had been in high school.

“It was a matter of me getting from a point where I was playing not to mess up to where I’m playing to make a difference,” Tracy says. “It was a different mindset and a different confidence level.”

It’s that confidence level that leaves Tracy unsurprised by his own success.

“I’ve always felt like I had the ability,” Tracy says. “The biggest thing this year was I had the opportunity and I knew the role that I had to fill.”

Senior middle linebacker—and Tracy’s roommate—Bobby Everett concurs.