BY LOU SOMOGYI
U
pon learning on Aug. 27 that
he had been selected as one
of Notre Dame's five captains
for the 2015 season, fifth-year
senior safety/nickel back Matth-
ias Farley's first call went to older
brother Nathan.
As a sophomore tight end at
Coastal Carolina in 2005, Nathan's
budding football career was abruptly
terminated after a series of concus-
sions led to the discovery of a tumor
on the back of his brain.
Such a situation usually would be
a cautionary tale of warning to not
engage in the sport. But for younger
brother Matthias, just entering his
teens and emerging as a soccer star,
it was a calling to finish what Nathan
had started.
"I don't know if I would have
played football if it wasn't for him
having it taken away," reflected an
emotional Farley, who needed about
a minute to compose himself after
breaking down in tears. "He's had
such a huge impact on my life and
everything I've chosen.
"He just yelled a lot. He was all
excited. He started crying. I started
crying. It was awesome."
Such closeness is ingrained in the
Farley clan of eight children, which
lost its youngest member, Titus, on
Sept. 19, 1996, 30 minutes after birth,
because of internal blockage. Each
of the seven siblings had a chance
to hold him before his passing, and
from that derived a lesson to cherish
and maximize every day.
An eclectic, multi-talented family,
from oldest brother Timon playing
professional basketball in Italy to
sister Joy doing modeling work, to
youngest brother Silas passing up
attending Harvard in order to take
an apprenticeship with the New
York City Ballet, Farley's captaincy
is not so much about being one of the
team's premier players as it is a re-
flection of the type of leadership and
representation needed to construct a
formidable team.
In fact, despite having the fifth
HIS BROTHER'S
KEEPER
Matthias Farley's captaincy
goes beyond just his impact
on the playing field
