Overview

Five Country School Alums Named High School Football Captains

Five members of the New Canaan Country School class of 2013 attribute their roles as captains of their high school football teams to the leadership skills they learned at New Canaan Country School. John Fox, Rory Tait, Emerson Logie, Jackson Quinn and Charlie Erdmann—all still close friends—have learned important life lessons both on and off the field, and continue to bring those lessons forward at their respective schools. 

Emerson Logie of New Canaan, a tight end and defensive end at Deerfield Academy (4-3), said that he learned to become a leader at Country School. "NCCS made sure that every kid was a leader in some way."
 
Rory Tait of New Canaan, an offensive tackle at Choate Rosemary Hall (8-0), credits the ninth grade year in particular for his leadership skills. "Ninth grade year put you in a position to lead. Everyone had to find a place where they could excel."
 
NCCS varsity football coach Carl Brodnax ‘80 is not surprised that these student athletes are team leaders. "They all had a strong work ethic. I could see them as role models back then." The players credit Brodnax, as well junior varsity coach Andy Johnson for having had a lasting impact on them.
 
John Fox of New Canaan, a linebacker at Brunswick School (6-1) who will attend and play lacrosse at the University of Virginia in fall 2017, enjoys mentoring younger players by getting them involved and excited. "I like to get them charged up.” He has taken the sophomore quarterback under his wing. “I tell him to forget his mistakes and move on."
 
Jackson Quinn of New Canaan, an offensive guard and defensive end at Hopkins School (3-5), said that he has learned that balancing academics and football requires time management. He uses his experience to help underclassmen, "It is important to me to be a helpline for the younger student athletes."
 
Brodnax says that all the boys were excellent athletes. He does not think, however, that their athleticism alone is reason for their leadership roles. He credits  "coach-ability" as the key to their success. "The boys listened to and respected their coaches. They were never too smart or too loud. They also understood roles and the team dynamic."
 
"Every individual has to do his best which contributes to the success of the whole team,” says Tait, who applies this same philosophy as online editor of Choate’s student newspaper. Tait will attend and play football at Brown University in fall 2016.
 
The friends all agree that adversity has tested their leadership skills. "It is really easy to be a leader when you are winning games, but it’s tougher when you are losing," said Tait.  Fox had a tough loss to Salisbury School earlier in the season, "I had to help the team regroup and move on."
 
Charlie Erdmann of Norwalk, a fullback and outside linebacker at Berkshire School (7-1), did not graduate from Country School. He left early to go to Windward School. His struggle with dyslexia has taught him persistence and grit. "I always tell myself, 'Do your best, never give up.'" He will attend and play lacrosse at the University of Vermont in fall 2016.
 
In addition to leadership, the boys have learned about forming lasting friendships. "I learned about friendship at Country School," said Fox. "We all bonded over sports and built a chemistry." Logie describes their friendship, "These guys are my closest friends. We haven’t missed a beat."
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New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.