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By Patrick Maloney ’02
At only 6 feet tall, captain Ari Confesor ’04 (Providence,
R.I.) is not the ideal wide receiver on paper. However,
there isn’t a soul on the Holy Cross football squad
who would want to have anyone other than Confesor catching
passes on Fitton Field for the Crusaders this season. “I
was always told I was too small to play football,” says
Confesor, “but what really counts is what is in your
heart and your God-given ability. You cannot teach that,
and that is how I am proving people wrong.”
Besides his heart and ability, Confesor has another advantage
over the opposition—fancy footwork. Confesor has
been taking dance classes regularly since the age of 12. “I
guess I got into it in school around the sixth grade or
so,” admits Confesor. “I really love music
and dance, and I was eager to continue when I saw Holy
Cross had dance classes. It really does relate to football.”
Confesor has wasted no time putting his dance moves to
good use on the gridiron. “Dancing requires a lot
of concentration,” he says. “It has a team
mentality that’s similar to football. If one person
messes up the routine, it affects everyone, and the overall
result is not good. It really reinforces the team concept.”
Of course, Confesor is not the first football player
to take dance classes to fine-tune his ability. Names like
Lynn Swann of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers teams and Hershel
Walker of the Minnestoa Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and
Dallas Cowboys in the ’80s and ’90s come to
mind. Swann was described as having “gazelle-like
speed,” which helped him garner Super Bowl MVP honors
in 1975. Upon his induction into the NFL Hall of Fame,
Swann recalled, “I was always smaller and younger
than the other kids. My game had to be a mental one. I
had to outsmart and out-quick the other kids and take advantage
of mistakes.”
Walker used the skills he learned to dance to the Heisman
Trophy in 1982 and an All-Pro NFL player in 1986. “I
did not know about Swann, but I had heard Hershel took
dance,” Confesor says. “But I did not do it
to copy him. It is just something I like to do.”
Confesor had a breakout performance in the season opener
last year, when he racked up 327 all-purpose  yards in a
30-21 upset over the Black Knights of Army, only 10 yards
shy of the all-time record set by Gil Fenerty in 1983.
With Holy Cross trailing the Cadets 21-17 late in the third
quarter, Confesor received a kickoff at the five-yard line,
artfully dodged a few tacklers and tiptoed down the sideline
through the Army special teams to return the kickoff for
a touchdown. The score swung the momentum of the game to
Holy Cross for good and propelled the Crusaders to a 30-21
victory and their first win over a Division I-A opponent
since 1987. The win also made Confesor the Crusaders’ most
potent weapon on offense.
“
I would like a performance like that every game,” says
Confesor. “I knew nothing was going to stop me that
day. My teammates always gave me the feeling that I could
do something like that. They have always had confidence
in me, and even though I might have surprised other people,
I did not surprise myself, my teammates or my coaches,
because they always knew I could do it.”
Confesor continued to put up impressive numbers game
after game last season. Against Harvard, he caught four
passes
for 57 yards with a touchdown and also returned a punt
85 yards for another touchdown. Against St. Mary’s,
he ran a reverse for a 20-yard romp to the end zone. He
caught 12 passes for 132 yards and four touchdowns in the
Dartmouth game. Thanks to outings like these, he was given
the nickname “Mr. Excitement” by fellow captain
Steve Fox ’04 (Fairfax, Va.).
But Confesor is not the College’s only wide receiver
to earn that nickname. Mark Gallagher ’91 was another
atypical target for Purple quarterbacks during his four
years at Holy Cross. Similar to Confesor, Gallagher stood
only 5 feet 9 inches tall and also specialized in kickoff
and punt returns. Both names are peppered throughout the
College record book and have remarkably similar numbers
in categories of receptions, yards receiving, and punt
return yardage.
“
It is great to be mentioned with great players like Mr.
Gallagher,” says Confesor. “It shows you how
much hard work pays off. It is quite a reward and blessing
to have it pay off like that.”
As far as the upcoming season is concerned, Confesor cannot
wait to get started. “I have never been happier.
I am very optimistic entering the season this year,” Confesor
says with a smile. “I want to go out and win the
Patriot League—that is our goal.”
After leading the Crusaders in nine offensive categories
last season, one wonders if there is anything he can do
to improve on his 2002 season. “There is plenty I
can improve on this season, especially in the receiving
game,” Confesor interjects. “I want to have
100 yards or more receiving every game. I know I have the
tools to do it. I just have to step up. I want to excel
in all parts of my game this year, and I know if I just
do my best, that is all I will need.”
If Confesor can improve on last season, he will be sure
to have Crusader fans dancing in excitement along with
him. Patrick Maloney ’02 is the assistant director of
athletic media relations at Holy Cross.
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