Benning refuses to give up
11/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
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At an age when most toddlers have just learned to walk, BJ Benning was taking on the streets of his neighborhood. At the ripe age of two-years old Benning hopped on his bike with the help of training wheels. Without a fear in sight, he insisted the training wheels be removed and in no time he was popping wheelies, riding through ditches and breaking his arm only to get back on again. It would seem a youngster would be scared to get hurt again, scared of the pain. But fear has never stopped Benning-- not then, and not now.
As a leader of the defensive line, Benning’s fearlessness has resulted in an array of accomplishments. He is an All-America candidate. As a junior he was a First-Team All-Patriot League selection and recorded a career-high eight stops in the win over arch rival Lafayette. Benning finished second on the team his junior year with 6.0 sacks and a career-best 3.0 sacks in the win over Fordham.
Today Benning has traded conquering the terrain of his neighborhood on his bike for defeating anyone who comes his way on the football field. Still, completely fearless. “When you’re on the field you cannot fear the other guy. You have to make sure he fears you,” he says.
Instilling fear in guys wearing a different colored jersey doesn’t come easily, it requires being quicker, stronger and more prepared than they are. Benning knows that the way he trains is the reason for his excellent performance on the field. “Training is half the battle,” Benning says. “If you want to be the best you have to push yourself to another level both mentally and physically.”
Benning’s teammates and coaches agree that he trains and works harder than anyone on the team, with no fear of what physical pain might be in store during those times.
“BJ is the first guy to arrive to a workout, and the last guy to leave. Every minute counts, maximum effort from start to finish. He comes out to practice every day ready to work. He never complains, only encourages. He goes 100 mph in every drill and expects the same from everybody else,” teammate Ben Harden explains.
Benning’s intensity and energy has allowed him to become a great leader, according to head coach Andy Coen. “He has a great work ethic, hardest working guy we have,” he says.
His work ethic and fearlessness have translated into great success and leadership on Saturdays. Benning takes his role as a senior leader of the team very seriously and says it’s important to show others that you cannot take a back seat in doing the right thing, in working harder than the next guy-- lessons he says he learned from his dad, Orville Benning.
“He is the man I want to be,” Benning says of his father. “He has incredible mental toughness and professionalism. You can see it in the way he carries himself. He does the right thing every time.”
Benning says his dad has had quite the influence in the type of player he is and the legacy Benning will leave for Lehigh Football. “It is up to you to be who you want to be. If you want to be a great athlete, you have to work hard, you have to push yourself to be that person.” Benning says.
And Benning has surely become a person and player that others will have a hard time emulating. “BJ pretty much set the bar for all defensive linemen that want to be successful in this program.” says Will Rackley, Benning’s teammate. He has set an example of leadership and work ethic that is visible to everyone who enters the program. It is the type of behavior that according to Harden, gets passed from class to class making the team even more successful.
On Saturday Benning and his teammates close out the 2009 season when they play host to archrival Lafayette in the 145th meeting of college football’s most played rivalry. Kick-off from Goodman Stadium is set for 12:30. The game is sold out but will be shown live on WFMZ-TV, FCS-Central and Lehighsports.com with Steve Degler and Mike Yadush ’93. Matt Kerr, Kody Fedorcha ’00, ESPN Radio’s Matt Markus and Tom Fallon will deliver the game on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 with pre-game coverage getting underway at 11:30 am.
Story written by Maxie McCoy ‘09
