Congratulations to our April Alumnus of the Month, Brett Walcott! Brett played from 1999 to 2002 as the team transitioned from a combined college team and men’s rugby club to solely consisting of students at the University of Michigan (with the men splitting off into the Michigan Rugby Football Club, who still play today). Congratulations, Brett!
When did you play?
First, let me say I consider one of the greatest honors and privileges from my time at the University of Michigan was being a part of the rugby team. I would have never thought when I was unpacking my bags in my dorm room at Mary Markley Hall freshman year that I would be under the lights at Elbel Field that night playing rugby for the first time. I played from the time I stepped on campus the fall of 1999 to the day I graduated in December of 2002 and as most reading this know, it was a time period that saw a tremendous growth in the program.
What positions did you play?
I started playing in/out center my freshman year, moved to winger in the middle and finished my career at fullback. I was lucky enough (not skilled enough) to start in every A-side match of my career (and most B-sides when we didn’t have the numbers). In the beginning it was purely a numbers thing, we were just trying to get 15 healthy to the road matches. By the end, Livanos and Marcus probably just couldn’t tell me no. I even handled the kicking duties at Notre Dame in 2000 when Marcus was injured.
What got you started?
A skilled rugger, Mark Bradburn (who had played at Forest Hills in high school) happened to be moving in across the hall from me. After some Canadian beverages and movie marathon he had convinced me to come out for rugby. I was more of a football, basketball, and baseball guy in high school, but “get ball, run with ball” sounded appealing. As luck would have it, Mark “Flounder” Benton was also in our hall in Markley and we forced him out soon after.
Any honors or awards?
I don’t believe I ever received any honors or awards. If they gave one out for recruiting on and off the pitch, I would have been up there (right behind Mr. One-up Barlow). I was able to bring either directly or indirectly such names to the program as Dogger, Flounder, Tarlea, Brennan “Nelly” Nielsen, Chris Mazzola, Kurt Sacks, Keith Bowen, Mike “Pup” Dahlgren, and Comfort. I probably also got the award for longest tenured and best Union worker, thanks Perps! And worst worker, sorry Hagan!
What are your favorite memories/teammates?
My fondest memories of rugby probably come off the pitch. Every bus ride to an away match, different from today, came with its own stories of valor and triumph against all odds. I remember the post game socials, home and away. It still boggles my mind how a sport with so much violence and competitiveness, has the greatest camaraderie and social gatherings between opponents post game. The parties at BOB Dewey followed later by the shenanigans at the Hill House can never be forgotten. Dueling Banjos.
One of the most memorable on-pitch moments that comes to mind was the redemption game against Bowling Green. After they beat us about 84-6 in 2001, they immediately got on their chartered bus and went home (no social). The next year we gave them all they could handle, still a close loss, but helped to pave the way for what the program would become in just a few short year. Also: The GVSU game where Marcus scored in the waning seconds, vaulting us into the playoffs. The inaugural game with Coach Lugosi at the Midwest Sweet 16 in Dayton was a highlight as well. And I can’t forget my final match as a senior, scoring two tries in the 1st half and then being called off along with all the fellow seniors to raucous applause.
I’d be remiss not to mention olde boys Stulberg, Perp, Masso, Tom Clark, Adrian, Tuttle, Gaylor, Punisher, Marlboro and LaFevre as instrumental in teaching an 18 year old the ins and out of rugby, and to Livo, Marcus, Bradburn, G, Scrumpy, One-up, Dogger, Lukaff, Cavnar, Bender, Craig, Wes, and Jeb to name just a handful, for all the memories on and off the pitch.
What have you done since Michigan Rugby?
After graduating I entered Dental School at Michigan and retired from rugby, something I still regret. I married the captain of the cheerleading team and went on to serve on active duty in the U.S. Navy for the six years following dental school graduation, and I still serve as a Commander in the Reserve. I have a private practice one mile from campus and spend my days coaching my three kids in youth sports.
