KU Football announces 2010 team captains
- Aug. 20, 2010
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After losing many of their experienced veterans last year, the current members of the Kansas football team are looking for new guys to step into the role of team leader.
On Wednesday, coach Turner Gill guided some of that responsibility into the direction of five seniors as running back Angus Quigley, defensive end Jake Laptad, cornerback Chris Harris, offensive lineman Sal Capra and linebacker Justin Springer were all named captains.
These seniors have all been a part of the transition of a Kansas football program that went from unprecedented success three years ago to a complete rebuilding process this year.
“I’ve been here for five years, and you kind of stay on the path of doing the right things, and people respect that,” senior offensive lineman Sal Capra said. “You stay out of trouble and earn your way on the playing field.”
Capra, who was awarded the Gale Sayers Award for most courageous player last year, still wasn’t expecting to be named a team captain this year.
“I was a little surprised. There are a lot of great guys on the team that deserve to be captain, but I guess I was one of those guys also,” Capra said.
After having played with these seniors for at least one year and knowing what each of them is capable of, the players, excluding freshmen, took a vote to decide who would carry the distinguished honor.
“Besides being more of a vocal leader, I’m going to keep doing the same things I’ve been doing,” senior defensive end Jake Laptad said. “Obviously my teammates saw something in me that made them choose me as captain so I feel like I’m going to keep just working hard in practice and, you know, leading by example as well as being more of a vocal leader in practice.”
Others, despite not officially being named a captain, have already taken on responsibilities associated with the title.
“I’ve always seen myself as sort of a leader on the team because a lot of guys have come and talked to me,” senior running back Angus Quigley said. “Would I have thought a few years back that I could be a captain, probably not but like I said, I’m happy the guys trusted me as one of the leaders of this team in this 2010 campaign.”
Edited by Abby Davenport
