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The man behind the mustache: Dean Shaffer of Yale football
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The man behind the mustache: Dean Shaffer of Yale football



The man behind the mustache: Dean Shaffer of Yale football

Courtesy of Dean Shaffer

In a long list of 118 players on the Yale football roster, one linebacker stands out for his fierce gaze and furrowed brow; The picture is almost reminiscent of a mugshot.

This is Team 151's captain, Dean Shaffer '25.

20 years ago, a little boy stood in front of the television and watched Donovan McNabb secure the Eagles a spot in the NFL playoffs. He ran around as the cheers echoed through the warm family home. His mother prayed that he didn't break the beautiful china.

Dean began his athletic career at the age of four when his mother enrolled him in soccer. He started attacking kids on the field to get the ball from them. His parents realized his skills and size might be a better fit elsewhere.

“It’s time to play soccer,” he remembers his mother telling him.

The sport was love at first sight, Dean remembers. What started as a way to bond with his father soon turned into an all-consuming passion.

While other kids' parents stood on the sidelines, yelling at the coaches and keeping a close eye on their children, Dean's father instead focused on keeping the video camera charged and focused, documenting every game.

“My father introduced me to (football), but never forced it on me, coached me, nothing. I was always the one who went to him and said, “Hey, I want to do more.” I’m very grateful for that. He did a great job allowing me to do my own thing with football,” he told the News.

His home in Smithtown, New York, is in the middle of Long Island and, as Dean admits, isn't exactly known for its outstanding football. Smithtown High School's football squad included approximately 40 players. Dean played two positions – running back and linebacker – and excelled at both positions. In his second year, he focused on graduate recruiting.

After attending a few camps, the father of one of Dean's teammates gave him advice that would change his future: give up running and stick with linebacker. Division 1 schools immediately called.

An Ivy League opportunity is rare in Smithtown. Although Dean could have stayed close to home, he followed his parents' advice: “Never sacrifice your education just to play football.”

So Dean turned on the ringtone for calls from the Ivy League, which he described as “the best of both worlds: Division 1 football and the best schools in the country.”

When he decided to commit, the University of Pennsylvania seemed like a natural choice. Both of Dean's parents were born and raised in Pennsylvania and encouraged Dean to attend Penn. Dean decided to become a Quaker after they brought his family on an official visit.

All that was left were the courtesy calls to the other Ivy League schools, and then Dean could formally tell the coaches at Penn that he was ready to bleed the red and blue. The call to Yale's defensive coordinator, coach Sean McGowan, made him change his mind.

When Dean called and said he was committing to Penn, McGowan said, “No, you’re not. Come to campus tomorrow. Don't call Penn after this call. Give us another chance,” Dean recalled.

The visit changed Dean's mind immediately. Everything about Yale exceeded expectations – the food, the architecture, the people. Ignore proximity to home; Yale was as destined for Dean as he was destined for Yale. He is committed to being a bulldog.

Due to COVID-19, the Dean has taken the Spring 2021 semester off.

“It was hard, I mean it's hard being a freshman. You are such a young, immature person. So much changes during your time in college, especially at Yale. It was hard to get used to football – the speed of the game, the talent – ​​and also the school.”

The actual work began in fall 2021 when Ivy League sports resumed.

Dean says the drills led by head coach Tony Reno are “intentionally difficult” to maintain intensity so they feel slow and easy when games are underway.

He said football training is divided into phases: The first is skill-based, working position training. This is followed by group lessons, in which the defense works with the defense and the attack works with the attack. Finally, there are competitive phases in which offense and defense play against each other.

Courtesy of Ava Seymour

Now that the team is in season, scout teams, made up of younger players who want to help the team, will mimic opponents' plays so the offense and defense can practice battling them. That's relatively normal for most football programs, but Dean says: “The biggest difference between us is the intensity of the training sessions.” How difficult, how physical. I think a lot of schools make practice easy to make the guys feel comfortable playing, but I think we do it the other way around to make the games feel easier.”

On November 19, 2023, Dean was elected captain by his teammates.

Following this announcement, Reno told Yale Athletics, “There is no better person than Dean to bring Team 151 together. “I look forward to his development as a captain.”

Dean said he never sought the captaincy, even though it was “the greatest honor of his life.” Leadership qualities came naturally to him from a young age.

That's something his teammates recognize. Quarterback Grant Jordan '25 wrote to the News about Dean's impact on the team and on him, saying he was grateful to God for “intertwining their destinies.”

Grant and Dean were randomly selected as roommates in the first year.

“As a teammate, he has battled injuries, adversity and everything necessary to develop into a great leader and player on the field,” Grant wrote to the News. “More importantly, Dean's leadership off the field makes him special…I cannot imagine Yale football without Dean Shaffer, as I believe he embodies the definition of what it means to be a Yale football player.”

Grant described Dean as a “foxhole” guy – someone who will be there no matter the circumstances.

Defensive lineman Mitchell Tyler '25 echoed Grant's words.

“(Dean) loves being a leader,” Mitchell wrote to the News. “He loves relationships and believes that a close-knit group plays best together. I’ve never seen anyone lead something like that…I don’t know if we would be as close as a group without him.”

Midway through Dean's final year of football, he says he has “no individual goals. Zero.”

Instead, he sees himself as someone who can lead the team toward “vision,” an overarching goal that focuses on “the hay in the barn,” as Dean puts it—the work, not the result.

“For the team, we don’t think about results,” he said. “I could say 10-0 and a championship, but that’s really not the goal. The goal is: Can we have the best practice, the best lift and the best meetings we've ever had tomorrow? And just do it every day. If today were the only day we ever had, how great can we make it? My goal for the team is to continue to attack day by day and moment by moment.”

Every day, Dean and his graduating class reflect a philosophy that Reno has embraced since the beginning of his time at Yale: “Plant seeds in trees that you will never see grow.”

For Dean, planting seeds as seniors emerge means radiating positivity and bringing energy to the practice. For Dean, it is important that the younger players on the team understand their importance and feel valued.

“I have no doubt that as long as Reno is at the helm, the program will be successful,” he said. “As far as my legacy goes, I just hope people are proud that we’re on the same team.”

When asked who deserved credit for his success, Dean wasn't yet sure if he deserved to be recognized for his success. He said he and his team still have a lot to prove. However, he stressed that if anyone deserved credit for his success, it was his teammates.

“I would trade all the wins and all the trophies if it meant having the relationships I have now,” he said. “I love football, but the relationships are the biggest part of sport… The guys who will be at my wedding are on this football team, the same guys at my funeral. That’s exactly how it will be.”

Dean has seven games left in his college career.

MEREDITH HENDERSON




Meredith Henderson covers a variety of sports for the YDN. She is a sophomore at Saybrook College in Keller, Texas. She plays softball in college and studies psychology and English with a focus on creative writing.

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