Athlete of the Week: Hempel Leads Football to Opening Win

Junior quarterback Conner Hempel had some big shoes to fill when he started against San Diego Saturday afternoon. But that didn’t mean he would prepare any differently.

“Honestly, having the opportunity to start and play at the college level, there’s no time for [nerves],” Hempel said. “My mindset didn’t change much. I know now that I have a bigger role than I did last year. But I prepared every game last year like I was going to be the starting quarterback so it’s just the same preparation as before.”

Although Colton Chapple ’13 graduated last year, Hempel didn’t think twice about replacing the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year. Instead, he remained calm and led his team to a 42-20 victory, totaling 383 offensive yards (345 passing) in the Crimson’s opener.

Hempel only played in three games last season, but he was used to leading a successful team when he arrived at Harvard. He started for the Ryle High School Raiders in Union, Ky., beginning his sophomore year and led the team to the state semifinals as a senior, when he tallied over 1,000 total yards.

Last season, the quarterback passed for 165 total yards in his few opportunities on the field, but the mentoring he received from Chapple prepared him for what was to come, and allowed him to understand how to lead the team while throwing four touchdown passes on Saturday.

“I learned a lot being his backup last year, having the opportunity to room with him his senior spring when I was going through spring ball, and we got to watch film together,” Hempel said. “I learned how he saw the defense, how he made checks, how he got us in the right play and I saw how he carried himself around the team and that has helped me a lot.”

Hempel has also learned how to lead his team off the field since being named a starter, making sure to approach each of his teammates differently.

“We have good chemistry on the team so I know how to get each guy going at practice,” Hempel said. “I think that verbal leadership is probably the biggest difference for me from last year.”

Being on the receiving end of two touchdown throws from Hempel Saturday, sophomore wide out Andrew Fischer recognizes how his quarterback has stepped up to lead the team.

“We’ve really come together and meshed as an offensive unit,” Fischer said after Saturday’s game. “He’s just a great offensive leader. I think that’s what makes our offense so strong: a strong leader at quarterback.”

Hempel doesn’t attribute his team’s victory last weekend to his own success though; instead he turns to his teammates to point out their accomplishments.

“Once I saw the numbers at the end of the game, it was eye opening for me,” said Hempel, who had a 73.5 percent completion rate. “I wasn’t thinking about [the numbers] during the game; I was trying to run our offense. Fortunately, the defense was giving us the look that we needed and we executed well. Our receivers did their job. Our offensive line did their job.”

As the Crimson looks forward to starting Ivy League play Saturday evening against Brown, the team’s performance in its first game serves as a learning opportunity as well as a look at the team’s potential.

“[The win over San Diego] definitely gives us a lot of confidence,” Hempel said. “There were question marks on our team, just like there is with any team for their first game. A lot of them got answered. The first game we kind of set the tone for how the rest of the season is going to be as far as what kind of team we’re going to be. We know now that we have a great team.”

The junior might not get nervous before his games, but he feels the pressure from the Crimson’s history to excel.

“If you’re confident and you’re ready for the game there’s no need to have nerves,” Hempel said. “There’s never been a bad quarterback here. There’s never been a quarterback here that hasn’t been excellent. I think that definitely brings pressure but I think pressure is a good thing. I think when players are pressured, it really brings out a reflection of their character. I’m excited to find out how I’ll react to that.”