The play seemed to end shortly after the quarterback’s snap count, with Lake Forest College’s Casey Urlacher flying up from middle linebacker and stopping the Beloit ball carrier at the line of scrimmage. But the action wasn’t quite finished.
“He got up, looked at me and said, `Nice play, Brian,'” Urlacher said, trying to suppress a smile. “Then he said, `Oops, I forgot, you’re Casey. You’re definitely not Brian.'”
It happens.
“Against Grinnell earlier this season, their defense stopped us on fourth-and-2 when I was carrying the ball,” Urlacher said. “Immediately I heard trash talk about not being as good as Brian. Some guys are actually pretty funny and can get a laugh from me. But I just get back in the huddle without it having any sort of effect.”
Being compared to older brother Brian is an honor for Casey Urlacher, a 6-foot-1-inch, 234-pound senior linebacker. Had the Bears not taken Brian with their first pick in the 2000 draft, Casey would not be leading 7-1 Lake Forest toward a Midwest Conference championship and a berth in the Division III playoffs.
Both should be decided Saturday when the Foresters travel to DePere, Wis., to meet perennial conference power St. Norbert College.
It was Brian who convinced Casey to go back to school after he’d dropped out following two years at New Mexico Military Institute and had gone to work for an electric company. Now Brian picks up the tab for Casey’s education and provides slightly more extravagant living quarters than most collegiate seniors dream of–a two-bedroom “suite” in the basement of Brian’s Lake Forest home, complete with big-screen television and bar.
At 23, Casey is only a year younger than Brian, but they view their relationship as more like father and son.
“He’s always asking me for money,” Brian said with a laugh. “No, he’s really a good guy.
“As long as he takes care of his school work and does the right things, I’m always going to be there for him. But he’s a good kid, so I don’t think I have to worry about that.”
The story behind Casey Urlacher’s arrival begins with Pat Dunne, Lake Forest’s all-conference placekicker from Marist High School. He received a call three summers ago from his brother, who had read an article about Brian looking for a college for Casey.
Dunne took the news to his coach, Chad Eisele, who was cutting the lawn at his home. Casey enrolled shortly thereafter, following a meeting with Eisele and Brian.
“I wish I was this great recruiter, but the fact is Brian lives 5 miles from campus, so it works out great,” Eisele said. “We had graduated two of our linebackers, so Casey coming in was a godsend. He’s a natural leader.”
After setting a school record with 125 tackles last season, Urlacher leads Lake Forest with 94 tackles, 17 for loss.
“Casey is a little faster and a little stronger than last season and definitely has gotten better at reading things on the field,” Brian said. “He just goes out there, flies around and has a good time.”
Urlacher also plays in the backfield as part of the Foresters’ jumbo package, producing 130 yards on 23 carries and six touchdowns, including a 67-yard TD run to seal a victory over Illinois College two weeks ago.
“I’m pretty beat up and tired by the end of the game,” Urlacher said.
“That’s the way things go sometimes if you want to be successful.”
During the summer, Casey, Dunne and receiver Mike Fitzgerald accompanied Brian to Chip Smith’s Competitive Edge Sports in Atlanta, where they worked alongside pro players such as Garrison Hearst and Keith Brooking to improve their speed, strength and explosiveness.
“Brian and Casey have always been willing to help anyone here,” Dunne said. “Everyone should know how levelheaded and modest these guys really are.”
The sessions also rekindled Casey’s dreams about his own NFL career. His 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash could help make up for his being slightly undersized.
“I want to get an invite to the Senior Bowl, then the combine and then an NFL training camp,” Urlacher said. “I don’t know if it will be the NFL right away, but I’m not giving up if I don’t make it. There are other options like NFL Europe, Canada or the Arena League.”
One non-football option is using his business degree. In December, Casey will become the first Urlacher to graduate from college. He might also earn a training-camp invitation because of his famous last name, but then it’s up to him. Casey is up for the challenge.
“When we beat Ripon, one of their defensive backs said, `Brian must have paid off the referees for this one,'” Urlacher said. “I just answered, `He must have because we won.’
“That’s really all that matters right now–working hard for victories, the conference title and getting into the playoffs.”
