Lehigh University Athletics
Living with no regrets
11/11/2016 11:25:00 AM | Football, Features
Lehigh Patriot League Champions Merchandise
By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Communications
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The day before his Senior Night game in high school, Nick Shafnisky's mother gave him a note, a powerful message that still resonates with him to this day.
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"Before every game, I read that note," said Shafnisky. "One of the last lines was, 'don't let it be too late.' Don't live with any regrets. If you're going to do something, go all out and be happy with everything you're doing."
Â
Shafnisky is certainly taking his mother's message to heart.
Â
On the football field, Shafnisky has accomplished something for the first time in his tenure, a Patriot League Championship. Whether he's on or off the field, a significant reason for his success has been living with no regrets.
Â
That mentality has been infectious with his teammates.
Â
"I've talked to coaches and figured out ways to make practice fun, just for a quick five-minute period," said Shafnisky. "It's important for guys to get that little kid energy back. People don't understand how taxing it can be, all the meetings and the lifts, then you're out to practice and you're hitting each other."
Â
That added, fun dimension has a ripple effect.
Â
"In practice, you want to try new things and make mistakes because that's where you can fix your mistakes," said sophomore quarterback Brad Mayes. "Other players look up to Nick and see him going out there and having fun, so everyone else knows they can have fun. It creates better practices, which creates for better Saturdays."
Â
Saturdays have treated the Mountain Hawks well this season. After an 0-2 start, Lehigh has won eight straight games to earn a spot in the national rankings, and most importantly, win a Patriot League Championship for the first time since 2011.
Â
One of the primary reasons Shafnisky came to Lehigh was because of the program's success, so his journey has come full circle, by bringing Lehigh football back to prominence.
Â
"As a senior, I've told the guys this is our last chance," said Shafnisky. "This is what we deserve for everything we've put in over the years."
Â
Shafnisky would have never imagined being where he is today, a standout student-athlete at a strong Division I football program. Always athletic, football was one of the last sports he expected to play in college. In fact, his favorite sport growing up was basketball.
Â
"I've been playing football, basketball and baseball since my dad signed me up, around age seven," he said. "I tried out wrestling a couple years in between there and competed in track my senior year."
Â
Playing high school football just down the road at Whitehall, Lehigh became interested in Shafnisky.
Â
"Coach Coen was actually at my district championship game my sophomore year," said Shafnisky. "Prior to that, I hadn't talked to Lehigh and barely even thought I could play football at Lehigh. Then I started to focus and work on football all offseason."
Â
Very close with his family, it was almost a no-brainer for Shafnisky to choose Lehigh.
Â
"Proximity to my family was huge, along with the academics of the school and playing Division I football," he said. "Lehigh seemed on top, not just in football, but also in life."
Â
Lehigh has helped Shafnisky get ahead in life. The turning point in his collegiate career, came in the spring semester following his sophomore season.
Â
"I was a whole different person," said Shafnisky. "I owe a lot to (former tight end) Chris Ruhl. All spring and summer, we were together and picked each others' brains because we thought so differently. He was more of a how to do it type of person while I was more why to do it."
Â
Shafnisky's best self began to emerge. He lived with no regrets and changed how he approached certain situations.
Â
"Sometimes, you have to lose out on something to put yourself in a higher position for something else," said Shafnisky. "To gain respect, you have to earn it. You earn respect by your actions."
Â
Shafnisky has focused on actions, maturing over the past two seasons and by doing the little things, he's put himself in a position for greater success as a player, and leader.
Â
"Chris always taught me to keep doing the little things right, like taking a younger guy and watching film with him, and it will add up," said Shafnisky. "People will start noticing."
Â
Lehigh's Leadership Academy has also played an integral role in Shafnisky's maturity as a student-athlete and growth into a transformational leader.
Â
"I've learned you don't have to be this vocal guy who's yelling all the time, but it's important to make sure the things you say are meaningful and impactful," he said. "You're speaking up because it's true to you."
Â
Shafnisky's development as a leader has been "light years," according to Lehigh head coach Andy Coen.
Â
"Nick has been a very positive, stable presence for our team," said Coen. "His teammates know how talented he is and they feel very confident that no matter the situation, Nick will exude confidence. Really good players have that ability, and he certainly does."
Â
Due in large part to the work of Shafnisky, Lehigh football has featured a culture shift, which has put the Mountain Hawks in the best possible position to win.
Â
"We always talk about family and 'link up,'" said Shafnisky. "Link up means there's a chain and a chain is connected by a bunch of links. If one little link breaks, one guy messes up and doesn't do what he's supposed to do, the chain doesn't work.
Â
"You're one of 11 on the field and everyone's got to care. Everyone needs to be bought in," he continued. "Never let your brother down. Never let the guy beside you down."
Â
It's not just words for Shafnisky, but most importantly, action. He has developed a brotherhood with fellow quarterback Mayes. While Shafnisky was out due to injury, he was Mayes' biggest cheerleader when the sophomore threw for a school-record 524 yards at Yale. On the flip side, Mayes is Shafnisky's biggest support system when Shafnisky is lighting up the scoreboard, like he has for most of the season.
Â
"I feel like with the relationship Brad and I have, that we're almost interchangeable," said Shafnisky. "If he has to step in, the guys trust him and respect him."
Â
"Being the backup, normally you'd suspect that I wouldn't like Nick because he's playing in front of me, but that's the furthest thing from the truth," said Mayes. "He's been my best friend since I've gotten here and he's been like a big brother to me since I'm so far from home. I think the way he's helped me off the field has helped us on the field. Neither of us cares who plays, as long as we're getting a win."
Â
In consecutive weeks earlier this season, Shafnisky threw for 461 yards vs. Princeton before Mayes followed with his 524-yard performance at Yale. The Mountain Hawks picked up two wins, scoring a combined 105 points in the process.
Â
The two are extremely successful QBs, but are also very different. They help each other in different ways.
Â
"Brad definitely wants to be a runner at times, and I know he can," said Shafnisky. "He's athletic, but he's more of a thrower. When he's in, I keep telling him to make sure you protect yourself and make sure you're smart. Don't take any square hits. If I'm out, there's a reason I'm out. We don't need you taking any hits."
Â
Within the Lehigh football team, Shafnisky and Mayes aren't the exception; they're the rule. There's an openness between teammates within the program, a healthy environment that allows ideas and issues to come to the surface.
Â
"Younger people can be afraid to talk to veterans and tell them they're messing up, but I told Brad to be brutally honest with me," said Shafnisky. "If my mechanics are going bad or I start compensating in one area, make sure you tell me."
Â
That openness is evident across the entire team.
Â
"Collectively, this is one of the tighter teams," said Coen. "You're always going to be tight with your position groups, but this group is tight as a full team, which starts with the leadership of our captains, Nick being one of them."
Â
Even though his collegiate career will end soon, Shafnisky is keeping his mother's advice in mind to not let it be too late. Nick hopes to give professional football a shot, whether it's in the NFL or maybe even the Canadian Football League.
Â
With the way he's played this season, people have noticed, which includes being selected for the FCS Bowl in Miami, Florida, an event which typically features numerous NFL scouts.
Â
"I definitely want to be given an opportunity, work my butt off and see what happens," said Shafnisky. "I don't want to give up football yet. Twenty years from now, I want to look back with no regrets. Life is about trying new things. Take new shots, take new experiences, experience new things and see new places."
Â
Shafnisky has the big picture in mind. He certainly hopes to be remembered for his play on the field, but even more so, for his impact off the gridiron.
Â
"I want to be someone who everyone looks up to," said Shafnisky. "If teammates need help, they come to me because they trust me and respect me. I think life's about having as many close people to you as possible while still taking care of yourself.
Â
"As long as I keep my head down and stay focused, have fun and love what I'm doing with my family and friends, I hope people see that and want to emulate it."
Â
As his mother's note said before his Senior Night of high school football, "Don't let it be too late."
Â
Shafnisky is still taking his mother's message to heart.
Â
By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Communications
Â
The day before his Senior Night game in high school, Nick Shafnisky's mother gave him a note, a powerful message that still resonates with him to this day.
Â
"Before every game, I read that note," said Shafnisky. "One of the last lines was, 'don't let it be too late.' Don't live with any regrets. If you're going to do something, go all out and be happy with everything you're doing."
Â
Shafnisky is certainly taking his mother's message to heart.
Â
On the football field, Shafnisky has accomplished something for the first time in his tenure, a Patriot League Championship. Whether he's on or off the field, a significant reason for his success has been living with no regrets.
Â
That mentality has been infectious with his teammates.
Â
"I've talked to coaches and figured out ways to make practice fun, just for a quick five-minute period," said Shafnisky. "It's important for guys to get that little kid energy back. People don't understand how taxing it can be, all the meetings and the lifts, then you're out to practice and you're hitting each other."
Â
That added, fun dimension has a ripple effect.
Â
"In practice, you want to try new things and make mistakes because that's where you can fix your mistakes," said sophomore quarterback Brad Mayes. "Other players look up to Nick and see him going out there and having fun, so everyone else knows they can have fun. It creates better practices, which creates for better Saturdays."
Â
Saturdays have treated the Mountain Hawks well this season. After an 0-2 start, Lehigh has won eight straight games to earn a spot in the national rankings, and most importantly, win a Patriot League Championship for the first time since 2011.
Â
One of the primary reasons Shafnisky came to Lehigh was because of the program's success, so his journey has come full circle, by bringing Lehigh football back to prominence.
Â
"As a senior, I've told the guys this is our last chance," said Shafnisky. "This is what we deserve for everything we've put in over the years."
Â
Shafnisky would have never imagined being where he is today, a standout student-athlete at a strong Division I football program. Always athletic, football was one of the last sports he expected to play in college. In fact, his favorite sport growing up was basketball.
Â
"I've been playing football, basketball and baseball since my dad signed me up, around age seven," he said. "I tried out wrestling a couple years in between there and competed in track my senior year."
Â
Playing high school football just down the road at Whitehall, Lehigh became interested in Shafnisky.
Â
"Coach Coen was actually at my district championship game my sophomore year," said Shafnisky. "Prior to that, I hadn't talked to Lehigh and barely even thought I could play football at Lehigh. Then I started to focus and work on football all offseason."
Â
Very close with his family, it was almost a no-brainer for Shafnisky to choose Lehigh.
Â
"Proximity to my family was huge, along with the academics of the school and playing Division I football," he said. "Lehigh seemed on top, not just in football, but also in life."
Â
Lehigh has helped Shafnisky get ahead in life. The turning point in his collegiate career, came in the spring semester following his sophomore season.
Â
"I was a whole different person," said Shafnisky. "I owe a lot to (former tight end) Chris Ruhl. All spring and summer, we were together and picked each others' brains because we thought so differently. He was more of a how to do it type of person while I was more why to do it."
Â
Shafnisky's best self began to emerge. He lived with no regrets and changed how he approached certain situations.
Â
"Sometimes, you have to lose out on something to put yourself in a higher position for something else," said Shafnisky. "To gain respect, you have to earn it. You earn respect by your actions."
Â
Shafnisky has focused on actions, maturing over the past two seasons and by doing the little things, he's put himself in a position for greater success as a player, and leader.
Â
"Chris always taught me to keep doing the little things right, like taking a younger guy and watching film with him, and it will add up," said Shafnisky. "People will start noticing."
Â
Lehigh's Leadership Academy has also played an integral role in Shafnisky's maturity as a student-athlete and growth into a transformational leader.
Â
"I've learned you don't have to be this vocal guy who's yelling all the time, but it's important to make sure the things you say are meaningful and impactful," he said. "You're speaking up because it's true to you."
Â
Shafnisky's development as a leader has been "light years," according to Lehigh head coach Andy Coen.
Â
"Nick has been a very positive, stable presence for our team," said Coen. "His teammates know how talented he is and they feel very confident that no matter the situation, Nick will exude confidence. Really good players have that ability, and he certainly does."
Â
Due in large part to the work of Shafnisky, Lehigh football has featured a culture shift, which has put the Mountain Hawks in the best possible position to win.
Â
"We always talk about family and 'link up,'" said Shafnisky. "Link up means there's a chain and a chain is connected by a bunch of links. If one little link breaks, one guy messes up and doesn't do what he's supposed to do, the chain doesn't work.
Â
"You're one of 11 on the field and everyone's got to care. Everyone needs to be bought in," he continued. "Never let your brother down. Never let the guy beside you down."
Â
It's not just words for Shafnisky, but most importantly, action. He has developed a brotherhood with fellow quarterback Mayes. While Shafnisky was out due to injury, he was Mayes' biggest cheerleader when the sophomore threw for a school-record 524 yards at Yale. On the flip side, Mayes is Shafnisky's biggest support system when Shafnisky is lighting up the scoreboard, like he has for most of the season.
Â
"I feel like with the relationship Brad and I have, that we're almost interchangeable," said Shafnisky. "If he has to step in, the guys trust him and respect him."
Â
"Being the backup, normally you'd suspect that I wouldn't like Nick because he's playing in front of me, but that's the furthest thing from the truth," said Mayes. "He's been my best friend since I've gotten here and he's been like a big brother to me since I'm so far from home. I think the way he's helped me off the field has helped us on the field. Neither of us cares who plays, as long as we're getting a win."
Â
In consecutive weeks earlier this season, Shafnisky threw for 461 yards vs. Princeton before Mayes followed with his 524-yard performance at Yale. The Mountain Hawks picked up two wins, scoring a combined 105 points in the process.
Â
The two are extremely successful QBs, but are also very different. They help each other in different ways.
Â
"Brad definitely wants to be a runner at times, and I know he can," said Shafnisky. "He's athletic, but he's more of a thrower. When he's in, I keep telling him to make sure you protect yourself and make sure you're smart. Don't take any square hits. If I'm out, there's a reason I'm out. We don't need you taking any hits."
Â
Within the Lehigh football team, Shafnisky and Mayes aren't the exception; they're the rule. There's an openness between teammates within the program, a healthy environment that allows ideas and issues to come to the surface.
Â
"Younger people can be afraid to talk to veterans and tell them they're messing up, but I told Brad to be brutally honest with me," said Shafnisky. "If my mechanics are going bad or I start compensating in one area, make sure you tell me."
Â
That openness is evident across the entire team.
Â
"Collectively, this is one of the tighter teams," said Coen. "You're always going to be tight with your position groups, but this group is tight as a full team, which starts with the leadership of our captains, Nick being one of them."
Â
Even though his collegiate career will end soon, Shafnisky is keeping his mother's advice in mind to not let it be too late. Nick hopes to give professional football a shot, whether it's in the NFL or maybe even the Canadian Football League.
Â
With the way he's played this season, people have noticed, which includes being selected for the FCS Bowl in Miami, Florida, an event which typically features numerous NFL scouts.
Â
"I definitely want to be given an opportunity, work my butt off and see what happens," said Shafnisky. "I don't want to give up football yet. Twenty years from now, I want to look back with no regrets. Life is about trying new things. Take new shots, take new experiences, experience new things and see new places."
Â
Shafnisky has the big picture in mind. He certainly hopes to be remembered for his play on the field, but even more so, for his impact off the gridiron.
Â
"I want to be someone who everyone looks up to," said Shafnisky. "If teammates need help, they come to me because they trust me and respect me. I think life's about having as many close people to you as possible while still taking care of yourself.
Â
"As long as I keep my head down and stay focused, have fun and love what I'm doing with my family and friends, I hope people see that and want to emulate it."
Â
As his mother's note said before his Senior Night of high school football, "Don't let it be too late."
Â
Shafnisky is still taking his mother's message to heart.
Â
Players Mentioned
Lehigh Sports Central: Football
Tuesday, December 02
MHT EP6 - Football
Thursday, November 20
Brown & Flight - Episode 4
Friday, November 14
Football Blitz
Friday, October 31
