Football Captain Joe Azelby: From the Ivies to the NFL

It everything goes well, next fall Joe Azelby, the 110th captain of the Harvard football team, will be trading the red and white Crimson "H" on his helmet for the streamlined red, white, and blue buffalo of the NFL's Buffalo Bills.

Azelby, a 6-ft., 2 in., 235-pound inside linebacker, was drafted in the 10th round of the NFL's college draft May 1. He is the first Harvard gridder chosen in the NFL draft since quarterback Brian Buckley '81 went to the New England Patriots in the 12th round three years ago.

Earlier this month, Azelby attended a minicamp for Bills draft choices in Buffalo, where he underwent the intensive, high-technology evaluation common to all NFL clubs. He'll report back in late June or early July.

Pumping Iron

"We didn't do that much," Azelby said of the minicamp. "The first 10 days they got us on a lifting plan." Along with the iron pumping came films and lectures on the Buffalo defense. The minicamp ended in three days of scrimmage and practice.

The theoretical adjustment wasn't that big, Azelby said, explaining that Harvard's 5-2 defense is almost identical in practice to the Bills' 3-4 set. The biggest difference was the players.

"Everybody's big. Everybody's fast. Everybody's strong. Everybody's as good as anyone you've played against," Azelby said.

He signed a contract, the terms of which he chose not to disclose. "They gave me a signing bonus," he said, but he chuckled that his was "substantially less" than the seven-figure package hauled in by Buffalo's, first-round pick.

Did being from Harvard make Azelby a curiosity? "They're kind of interested," said the inside linebacker who took three final exams in Buffalo. "When I tell them we don't have spring football and we don't have scholarships, it blows their minds."

But though he's not from a football powerhouse, the New Jersey native brings a lot of experience and an impressive set of credentials to the Bills. At the end of his senior season, he won the Bulger-Lowe Award, given annually to the best defensive player in New England.

The two-time All-Ivy and All-ECAC first-team selection earned ECAC Defensive Player of the Week honors following the Crimson's contest against Princeton last year.

As a junior, Azelby was named to the Associated Press Division I-AA All-America squad (second team). As a sophomare he was second team All-Ivy and second team All-ECAC.

In his three years in the Crimson backfield Azelby was intensely involved in the defensive effort. He led the team in tackles and assists every year, and he ranked among the leaders in interceptions, tumble returns and sacks. "Any time there was a big hit, you'd just assume Joe'd be there," said defensive back John Dailey.

Besides Azelby's obvious physical skills, his attitude and intellectual gifts have been integral to the success of the Crimson. "He's a quick study," says defensive coordinator George Clemens. "He goes to football meetings as if he were going to a class. He is a true scholar of the game." Azelby was the man responsible for calling the defensive signals throughout his junior and senior seasons.

Well-liked by the coaching staff, Azelby is also admired by his teammates. "Joe was the easiest choice for captain that we've had in a long time," Dailey said. "Sometimes we had to vote on three or four ballots, but it only took one with Joe. He's basically a player's type of captain. Everybody likes the kid. He deserves everything he's received so far."

If Azelby survives the final cut in Buffalo, he'll be joining the ranks of other Harvard pros: Dan Jiggetts '76 of the Cicago Bears, Pat McInally '75 of the Cincinnati Bengals and Dave Sauve '82, who how plays in the Canadian Football League.

What will it take for him to make it? "A lot of hard work and a couple of breaks," Azelby said. "The decision's not in my hands." But he thinks he's on an equal footing with the tens of hopefuls, from top picks to free agents, looking for a chance. "Whether you're 10th round or first round, you've still got to make the team."