Cornerback Tyson Maugle knows his captaincy designation is ephemeral, passed annually and non-transferable in the brutal economy that awaits the Class of '09.
Thankfully, the third-year starter has a plan to trade in the "C" for another, more practical title: M.D.
Since high school, he has aspired to be an orthopedic surgeon, initially taking an interest in the field because of its connections to athletics.
"When football players get injured, that's who they go to," said Maugle, who was recently forced into the patient's role after suffering a facial injury in Saturday's game against Dartmouth.
"You see guys out here getting injured and you try to see what goes on medically."
As he nears the completion of his Biology major, Maugle has spent a good portion of the past year preparing for and taking the MCAT - "I got to my goal [score]," he said - and applying to 12 medical schools, including Penn, Pittsburgh, Temple, Drexel and Georgetown.
Indeed, while the jump from DB to Dr. will be exceedingly difficult, Maugle is no stranger to tricky transformations.
After playing quarterback in a three-way option system in high school, Maugle was asked to learn the cornerback position upon arriving at Franklin Field. In his first two years as a starter, he amassed a total of five interceptions and was named honorable mention All-Ivy each season.
"His sophomore year, he came out of nowhere to catapult himself into a starting role," coach Al Bagnoli said. "To [adjust] that quickly, it's a tribute to him - his athleticism, his make-up, his focus, his ability to learn. Since then, he's been getting better and better."
Strong safety Jordan Manning, perhaps more than anyone else on the Quakers, understands the true depth of Maugle's versatility.
A cohort of the defensive backfield and one of Maugle's best friends on the team, Manning has been enrolled in several of his teammate's classes as a biological basis of behavior major himself.
According to Maugle, the two have studied together often over the years - though not always with tremendous efficiency.
"Jordan and I were studying a couple weeks ago at the Wharton building and we were going over the homework for this Cellular Neurobiology class," Maugle said. "And the only thing he was worried about was trying to get free food. They had Greek Lady in this one room, and we were trying to get work done, but the only thing on his mind was trying to get the Greek Lady."
Despite the swipe - a clear breach of safety-corner confidentiality - Manning has faith in his study-buddy's medical prospects.
"I'd let him take the knife to me," he said. "He'll be a good doctor. He's a personable guy. He's got jokes."
Bagnoli, for his part, would likewise trust his captain with the scalpel should he require medical attention, but takes slight issue with the hypothetical.
"He'll do great," said Penn's chief pigskin practitioner. "But what am I going under the knife for?"
