Shaw brothers go from backyard football competitors to college football teammates at Coe

CEDAR RAPIDS — Football has always been a family affair for the Shaws.

The sport continues to be a popular discussion topic at family get-togethers. It also led to a Thanksgiving Day tradition of a pickup game in the grandparents’ backyard before a feast and professional football on television.

They are taking it to a new level this fall. Brothers Jack, Nick and Sam Shaw and cousin Clay Krousie are part of a Coe football program that went 7-3 overall last season and was third with one first-place vote in the American Rivers Conference preseason poll. The Kohawks open the season Sept. 2 against Cornell at Mount Vernon.

This marks the first season all three brothers are on the same team. Jack returned for a fifth year, Sam is a senior and Will is a freshman.

“We never practiced or anything together,” Jack Shaw said at the team’s annual media day Wednesday at Clark Field. “It has been a really cool opportunity to come back for a fifth year and play with him. Having Clay, too, it’s just the whole family coming together.”

The trio is taking a step from their dad, Scott, and uncle, Jeff Shaw, who played together at Simpson in the mid-1990s after playing at Cedar Rapids Washington.

“It means everything,” senior Sam Shaw said. “We’ve grown up with football in all of our futures. We all envisioned that but didn’t see ourselves all playing on the same team.

“When Jack went to college, I thought it was an easy choice to follow him to Coe. Do something that my dad and Jeff did. That was cool.”

Coe Coach Tyler Staker said he isn’t sure if he has ever had three brothers on the same team. He said the rarity is a “cool” dynamic. Each brings a little something to the table.

“We’re real excited to have Will. He’s going to be a great football player for us. Jack really improved himself last year as one of the top defensive backs in the conference. Sam is a guy who continues to get better every time he steps on the field. I think Sam is going to have a breakout season for us this year.

“They’re great people, first and foremost. They work extremely hard. They love football and being competitive. They’re great teammates and all the things you look for in a football player.”

Jack was the first Kohawk. Sam soon followed. An older sibling embedded in the program was invaluable to Sam, who called Jack the course of his biggest motivation.

“Having an older brother there and being able to play on the same football field as him is what has driven me all four years I’ve been here,” Sam Shaw said. “He always works hard. He always makes the weight room. He does all the extra things he needs to do to get better. I’ve kind of taken that from him.”

Will grew up watching his older brothers play in high school and has been a regular at Clark Field for Kohawk games. Since his brothers had good experiences at Coe, he wanted to follow them.

“We’re tight,” Will Shaw said. “I think going to college made us tighter because we used to fight and bicker when we were younger. Now, I don’t think I’ve argued with my brothers for a couple years. It’s been really nice.

“We always have a good time with each other. We push each other. It’s a good thing to have. Being able to work out with your brothers, have the same goal and be on the same team is awesome.”

Football was second nature for each of them from an early age. Jack recalled the excitement when they finally entered fourth grade to become eligible for the Metro Youth Football Association. Each were standouts for Benton Community. Now, they could take the field together in a regular-season game.

“It’s phenomenal,” Will Shaw said. “This is a good opportunity for us to play together. If I keep working hard, I’ll get some varsity reps and hopefully we all get on the field at the same time. … It would be surreal.”

The Shaws are a long way from those battles in their grandparents’ backyard and the adjacent neighbor’s lot. Like many brothers, the full tackle contests could get heated with bragging rights at stake.

“We’d get in some of the neighbors,” Jack Shaw said. “It got really competitive. That was the pre-meal tradition. Then, go in and eat and watch some NFL after. It’s always a big thing for us. They were always competitive.”

Sometimes the competitive nature ran a little too hot, causing adults to settle everyone. They always made up well before mealtime.

“I think the parents had to come out a couple times,” Sam Shaw said with a laugh. “Jack and I, it was usually us two, causing the parents to come out. Usually, we got along afterward.”

Jack is one of six returning all-conference performers, earning first-team honors as a defensive back. The 6-foot, 195-pounder is expected to be a key factor in the Kohawks’ secondary.

“Jack brings a lot of experience,” Staker said. “He brings a lot of leadership.”

Sam, 6-2 and 215, is a linebacker. He was a special teams standout last year and has dabbled in each linebacker position. Staker has seen hard work pay dividends.

“Sam is probably the most athletic of the entire bunch, but he didn’t come in that way,” Staker said. “He has really worked his butt off in the weight room. He has grown and developed because of hard work and putting in the time. It’s cool to see his growth has been phenomenal here.”

The youngest of the three is also the biggest. Will is listed as a linebacker with possible time at defensive end.

“I’d say coming in Will is much more locked in,” Staker said. “He is much more disciplined.”

The Kohawks return 18 starters and 24 seniors, including first-team all-conference defenders Alex Aitchison and Jay Oostendorp and all-conference players Dom Shepardson at wide receiver, lineman Noah Theriault and running back Ray Seidel.

“I feel like we’re pretty solid,” Staker said. “The league is going to be really tough. It’s going to be extremely competitive this year. In my 18 years, it’s probably going to be one of the most competitive seasons we’ve had. I expect it to be a dogfight week in and week out.”

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