Curran going for rare fourth letter at BVA
At the end of this upcoming scholastic football season, Belle Vernon senior offensive guard/defensive tackle Grant Curran will find himself in some prestigious company. Come November, second-year BVA coach Aaron Krepps will present Curran with his fourth varsity letter.
“It’s not common at Belle Vernon for a freshman to be affiliated with the varsity football team,” Krepps said. “Prior to this year we ran a ninth grade program and freshmen gained valuable experience in that way, but there is no ninth-grade team this year. As a result, freshmen will find themselves playing on either the junior varsity or varsity teams.”
And when he receives that fourth letter, Curran isn’t quite sure how he will celebrate. But he isn’t ruling out dancing either the Twist or Mashed Potatoes for his teammates, dances in which he specializes in the BVA locker room.
“Grant comes ready to work every day,” Krepps continued. “He is a great leader. He is a vocal player with a great personality and the kids gravitate to him. He’s one of our captains and his leadership ability sets him apart. We saw that leadership develop last year. You know all week what you will get from him Friday night. He is a fun person to be around. He’s carefree and he can be a comedian and he’s good with team spirit and morale. He’s happy-go-lucky off field, but he provides a good mixture. He will clown around and dance for the players in the locker room. He is out there moving, having fun. Grant likes to have his fun but when it’s time to get serious, he has it all.”
As the only returning starter on the Leopards’ offensive line, Curran finds himself in an unusual position.
“I was always the youngest player and I was always asking the older players for advice,” he said, noting that three years ago he was the only frosh on the varsity squad. “But this year it’s different. Now I’m the oldest and I’m trying to make sure everyone else knows what to do. I see myself as one of the team leaders. I lettered as a freshman and with my experience it’s my job to help the underclassmen.”
Having coached Curran for only one season, Krepps likes what he has seen, recognizing the work ethic and attitude of the 6-0, 235-pounder who benches 330 pounds and squats 450 pounds, both tops on the team.
“Grant has a great understanding of the game and a high football IQ,” Krepps noted. “He is not just one of the strongest players on the team, but he is an athlete and great to coach. He enjoys the game and we have watched his progress from day one last year. He is still learning and progressing. When we brought in a new system, Grant saw and understood the coaching change and adapted very well.”
And what Krepps found in Curran was a consistent effort and consistent play on the field.
Curran admits to liking to joke around with everyone, players and coaches alike, such as the time he showed up for an away scrimmage dressed in a hospital gown or another time when he was wearing spandex.
“I love football and like to have fun and like to keep football fun,” Curran said, “but when it’s game time, it’s time to get serious. I’m not as nice a person to the opposing team.”
But what about the dancing in the locker room?
“When they turn on the music, I start dancing and everyone gathers around,” he laughed, adding that he specializes in “some older style dances, like the Twist and Mashed Potatoes that I learned at weddings from my grandmother, Betty Curran. Those are some dances that some of my teammates aren’t familiar with, but they like them just the same.”
With his senior year awaiting him, Curran, a high honors student, is uncertain about his future, but is contemplating becoming a physical education teacher and football coach.
“Right now, I’m looking forward to a good senior year,” he said. “I want to have fun and help improve our record (5-5 overall, 3-3 in conference play) from last year and do well in the playoffs.”