Football Co-Captain Scott Carmichael ’27 has built his leadership on presence, inheriting a voice that commands respect and brings out the best in his teammates. At the early age of seven, Carmichael was naturally drawn to the physicality that the sport offered. His mother played an instrumental role in his early development, driving him to camps and practices to ensure he had every resource to become the best player he could be. Carmichael spent many early years training, growing into a disciplined and technical player by the time he entered Andover.
During his Upper-year season, a torn ACL sidelined Carmichael from play. Despite the setback, Carmichael persevered, attending every practice and continuing to support his teammates during recovery. Now healthy again, he has returned with a renewed focus on leadership, working to communicate directly with the team through the ups and downs of the season. Carmichael explained that he continues to be a vocal leader, aiming to build an even stronger sense of community that reflects his own experience playing football.
“It’s my second year as a Co-Captain, and I really want to try to be a more vocal leader and take the reins from the previous Seniors. I felt like a wide-eyed captain, not knowing what to do in certain instances. With an extra year of experience, I will really be able to understand the underclassmen and talk guys through their emotions,” said Carmichael.
Giovanni Rosenfeld ’27 described Carmichael’s impact on the team, including his ability to address mistakes without weighing the team down and how he remained a key leader while being injured.
“Whenever one of us makes a mistake or one of us messes up, he’s very vocal. He tells us what we do wrong, but he’s also uplifting and motivating, so he’s one of the more vocal captains. [After] he tore his ACL, I remember him showing up to every practice, even though he couldn’t play, showing up and being there,” said Rosenfeld.
In addition to his responsibilities of leading the team throughout practices and during games, Carmichael takes the time to welcome and mentor younger players who are new to the team. Fellow Co-Captain Thane McCormick ’27 described Carmichael’s approachability, which ensures that every player feels part of the community.
“He’s a more experienced guy, so he’s helping some of the younger guys. We have a [Junior] who just came onto the team, around 15 years old, and he’s learning the offense. Having Scott next to him, teaching him along the way, is big. Whether that’s in the circle or the huddle before practice, lifting up his teammates, he gets after it and he’s super supportive of the guys,” said McCormick.
In an effort to build a team culture rooted in genuine connection, Carmichael works to demonstrate his enjoyment of the game and to share that energy with his teammates. He explained the values that guide him and the example he strives to set as a Co-Captain.
“With the team this year, it’s a really good group of guys. It’s a really strong second family. Everyone gets along really well. There’s always a ton of inside jokes, which makes the team super fun and fresh every practice. Everyone has a really great bond and connection, and with football, it’s such a violent game, so when you have a really fun group of guys, that contrast with such a violent sport makes for a really great environment,” said Carmichael.
