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Tiger Football Co-Captain Kirby Grows Into a Defensive Standout
by Bill Alden
Tim Kirby experienced plenty of growing pains during the fall of 2000 when he started his Princeton University football career.
As an undersized defensive end tipping the scales at just 215 pounds, Kirby was easy meat for the 300-pounders who make their home on the offensive line in the Ivy League.
Taking a beating, though, only hardened Kirby's resolve as he gained the strength and maturity to develop into a second-team All-Ivy performer last season.
With the Tigers kicking off their 2003 campaign by hosting Lehigh this Saturday, Kirby will be expected to inspire his younger mates as one of the team's co-captains in addition to meting out plenty of punishment to the Tigers' foes.
For Kirby, the hard lessons he learned as a freshman laid the foundation for the player and leader he is today.
"I played nine games as a freshman at about 215 pounds, I'm not going to lie to you, I got tossed around quite a bit," said Kirby, who now carries 270 pounds on his 6'4 frame.
"It became a work ethic thing for me. You see the guys who are seniors and you see how big and mature they are, and you say I want to be like that in four years. I wanted to be one of the leaders out there. It was a maturing process the last four years, both mentally and physically."
The San Mateo, Calif. native is taking a mature approach to his role as team captain. "It doesn't mean that much because we have so many leaders on this team, like Joe Weiss, Blake Perry, and Kevin Manning," said Kirby, who's a leader in the classroom as well, having been named as a District II Academic All-American last year.
"The main thing that I felt was that I was flattered that the guys would've chosen me as the guy they want representing them. We have so many leaders, I'm just the face of the team. I guess if practice tempo isn't what it should be, I'll try to get it up as much as I can."
With the Tigers having lost three key defensive stars, linebacker Zak Keasey and defensive backs Jay McCareins and Brandon Mueller, Kirby knows that he and fellow senior and first team All-Ivy defensive end Joe Weiss must set the tempo for the defense.
"It's a great feeling having Joe out there," said Kirby. "Joe and I have some uncanny similarities. I know that side of the line is safe and I can take care of my job."
Princeton defensive coordinator Steve Verbit is expecting big things from Kirby and Weiss. "We saw Joe and Tim come in here as 220-pounders four years ago and get taught lessons that first year," said Verbit.
"They got bigger and stronger and started to teach other people lessons. They're pretty good bookends. Their work ethic is phenomenal, what they try to do is to make themselves better. I expect both of these young men to have pretty good seasons."
As Kirby eagerly anticipates the start of what he hopes will be a memorable season, he is helping to instill an incremental approach to the team's ultimate goal of winning the Ivy League title.
"This year we're trying to look at it as a practice-to-practice, game-to-game thing," explained the economics major.
"Have a great practice today, have a great pregame, have a great first half then have a great second half. If we do that and concentrate on the small things, the larger goals will take care of themselves."
Following the blueprint of improving step by step has helped Kirby achieve his goal of becoming a leader his teammates can look up to.
