Making history the McGeoy way
11/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
When it’s all said and done, senior linebacker Tom McGeoy will go down as one of the better football players in Lehigh history. The history major will also have earned a grade point average of at least 3.0 in every single semester while at Lehigh. McGeoy will be remembered for many things, like his leadership, his uncanny ability to make those around him better, his soft-spoken demeanor, and his passion for the game of football. But one thing that Tom McGeoy will not be remembered for is telling you how good he was at anything.
McGeoy is not one to brag or boast, but he is one to work his tail off and get every bit of potential out to be the best at whatever it is he is doing. “Tom leads by example in meetings, in practice and on game day. His work ethic and attention to detail, more so than his athleticism, put him in position to be successful consistently,” says head coach Pete Lembo. It is this attention to detail that will help McGeoy after graduation as he begins his journey towards becoming a teacher and a coach.
But as defensive coordinator Tom Gilmore explains, the journey has already begun. “Tom is already like a coach to the younger guys. He is always showing them ways to improve on something, like technique or positioning, and is really like having another coach on the field.” Gilmore continues, “Usually teams have the safety take all of the calls from the sideline and set up the defense, but all of our stuff runs through Tom. We count on him to make many calls, and he usually doesn’t disappoint by making the right decision.”
Coach Lembo adds, “Tom has as much responsibility on his shoulders, in terms of recognition, as our quarterback (Chad Schwenk) does, but his presence out there gives the players and coaching staff a tremendous sense of confidence that all of the assignments will be executed properly.”
McGeoy says that he has always been a leader and is just doing what brings him enjoyment. “Some people call me old-school because I am not flashy, I just go out and play hard. I give 100% whenever I am out there, or in whatever it is I am doing.” McGeoy adds, “I just try and lead by example.”
Gilmore says that McGeoy picks and chooses his spots when to speak, but when he does, everyone listens. “Tom isn’t a talker. Some guys today are talkers, but not Tom. He opens his mouth when he needs to, when he feels a sense of urgency, and people listen because he is such a smart guy.” Gilmore adds, “This is just a real down to earth person, he relates very well to others, he picks up whatever we throw at him very quickly and his time here at Lehigh has provided him with a great stepping stone for his career.”
McGeoy feels that his experiences at Lehigh will only benefit him once he makes the transition from pupil to educator. “I didn’t really know much about Lehigh when I came here, didn’t know about the winning tradition they had here. But then we went undefeated my first two seasons and I learned a lot about having a winning attitude and how hard you must work to stay on top.” McGeoy adds, “Last year was obviously tough for us, but I think I learned how to deal with adversity and this year we’re determined to get back on top of the Patriot League and make some noise in the NCAA playoffs.” McGeoy adds, “Coupled with the outstanding education I’ve received here at Lehigh, I feel as though I am very prepared for a successful teaching and coaching career.”
You would have to be very naïve to think that Tom McGeoy won’t be successful once his time in South Bethlehem is over. If he hits a few rough spots along the way, he’ll just outwork or even outsmart the guy next to him. And in a few years, who knows? Maybe McGeoy will take a fledgling football program and turn it around. But you better keep your eyes and ears open, because Tom McGeoy definitely won’t be the one telling you about it.
