You'll find several definitions of the verb "tackle" in the
dictionary. There's one where ropes and pulleys are involved.
There's another about dealing with problems. And then there's the
one that relates to football: to seize, to grapple, to stop an
opponent.
One of the best in WPI football history at seizing, grappling,
and stopping is Brian Learned. As a defensive back during his
four-year career, Brian amassed 282 tackles, 18 pass breakups, 4
interceptions, and 14 tackles-for-loss.
But it was as a senior, when he served as a co-captain, that he
put it all together. He was credited with an amazing 159 tackles in
just 10 games-a single-season record still unbroken. Tackling
statistics were not kept on a national basis back then, but
undoubtedly he would have been listed among the top leaders in the
country.
That same season, Brian accumulated 9 pass breakups, 2
interceptions, 9 tackles-for-loss, and 1 sack, which propelled him
to many honors. He was named a Football Gazette Division III Second
Team All-America. He was also named Football Gazette Division III
First Team All-East, First Team All-ECAC, First Team All-New
England, First Team All-Freedom Football Conference, and First Team
All-Worcester Area Football Coaches Association.
And there was more. He was named GTE/CoSIDA District I Academic
All-America; he was a Robbins/ECAC Scholar-Athlete; and he won the
Burger King College Football Scholar Athlete Award. He also won the
National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar
Athlete Award within the Central Massachusetts Chapter.
In 1995, as a junior, Brian totalled 89 tackles, captured a
prestigious Gold Helmet Award from the New England Football Writers
Association, and won WPI's Robert Pritchard Award for his
outstanding Homecoming game performance.
On campus, he was a member of Skull and Sigma Phi Epsilon
fraternity, where he served as rush chairman in 1995. He won the
Varsity Club Award-WPI's top senior athletic award-in 1997.
For his superb achievements, it is with great pride that WPI
inducts Brian C. Learned into its Athletic Hall of Fame.
