Mount Everett

Two weeks ago, a man garbed in Cornell apparel stood high in the bleachers of Schoellkopf Field, watching the Crimson defense shut out the Big Red for three and a half quarters before he couldn’t take it anymore. He finally hurled his frustration down to the sidelines, desperately screaming, “Will somebody please block No. 43?”

Saturday, the Princeton offense knew exactly how that guy felt.

Junior linebacker Bobby Everett—No. 43—posted the biggest game of what has become his breakout season last Saturday, collecting 15 tackles (3.5 of which went for a loss), a sack and a quarterback hurry in Harvard’s 43-40 overtime win over the Tigers.

Everett also made one of the biggest stops of the game, wrapping up Princeton tailback Jon Veach and shoving him to the ground for a small gain on a crucial second-and-nine during the opening possession of overtime.

“When we talk during the week, we always prepare for that situation where it’s going to come down to a defensive stop,” Everett said. “You’ve got to be ready for that at all times.”

And Everett was ready on Saturday.

In limited playing time last season, Everett posted only 10 tackles, but his athleticism has never been questioned. During annual testing, it wasn’t a receiver or running back that had the Crimson’s best time in the pro agility test—it was the 6’1”, 210-pound linebacker.

That athleticism has shown up in spurts this season—most notably at Cornell when Everett had 1.5 sacks and three TFL—but it was on full display Saturday.

With the Princeton offense putting up big play after big play, chewing up over a third of a mile in total offense, Everett was the calm amid a storm of scoring. He seemed to will his way towards the ball and the ball carrier at the most crucial points of the game.

It was electrifying and comforting all at the same time.

As Everett solemnly said in the post game press conference, “When it came down to it, we knew we weren’t going to lose that game.”

If for no other reason than Everett just wouldn’t let it happen.