Football: Thunder and Lightning backs don’t feel animosity

Despite sharing playing time at the running back position, junior Matt Glenn and sophomore Jim O’Brien feel no competition toward each other, even though they are the two primary tailbacks on the Washington University football team. In fact, they’re extremely close friends.

Glenn and O’Brien started to build a friendship at training camp two summers ago when O’Brien was a freshman.

“The group has always been a really tight group, so all of us are pretty [close]. In camp, nobody else is on campus, so it’s just us hanging out with football guys so…that’s where we started to go become friends, and it has just continued on ever since,” O’Brien said.

An integral part of the strength of their relationship is their contrasting personalities.

“We have our similarities and a lot of differences as well, but I think that makes us closer. We each bring something to the table. Jim is a little more on the laid-back and quiet side, while I’m a little more out-there and loud,” Glenn said.

Glenn explained how their contrasting personality traits are reflected on the field in their running styles.

“We’re almost opposite in a way. Matt is a much more powerful guy, like, ‘Look out for Matt; he’ll hurt you, he’ll run over you, he’ll destroy you.’ And then I’m more kind of trying to be elusive, a little bit. I think it’s awesome to have two people with different styles just because the defense doesn’t know. You’ll keep them guessing and keeping them on their toes,” O’Brien said.

Glenn agreed, saying, “I guess Jim is the faster, shiftier running back, and I’m more of the fullback, the more powerful back. We have two different running styles, but I think we both know our strengths and…we’re a good complement to each other.”

“Obviously having two talented running backs really helps, and it really helps that they complement each other so well. Matt is a really powerful runner between the tackles, [he] would just as well run over somebody as juke them out, where as Jimmy likes to get into the open field and make people miss, but he can also run over people,” said senior quarterback Buck Smith.

Even while sharing the position and playing time, however, there is no tension or conflict.
“They are the epitome of team players. They compete, and they support each other. They both want to play, but they are both supportive of each other,” Head Coach Larry Kindbom said.

“The fact that we are so different and can still get along makes it a lot easier. I mean, I’ve never really looked at it from the point of view that we’re competing for a spot. We both bring something to the table, and we’ll both have a use in the style of offense that we run so there’s never been any animosity toward each other. I think the fact that we’re really close friends also helps that too. It’s a lot more of a laid-back environment,” Glenn said.
Oddly enough, O’Brien and Glenn are both averaging 3.4 yards per run, a measure of their compatibility and similarity despite their differences.

The Bears battle No. 12 Case Western Reserve University for the UAA Championship on Saturday at Francis Field. Case Western comes into it at 9-0 and will be looking for its first undefeated season since 1984 and also to surpass last season’s second round appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

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