The Remarkable Student-Athletes of Morehouse & Colgate: Tommy McHale
Introduction
Archer’s Raiders is an organization that seeks to unify politically progressive fans, students, and alumni of Colgate University & Morehouse College through the passionate support of our sports programs. The namesake of this organization is Samuel “Big Boy” Archer Sr., one of the first Black football players to play for Colgate University and Morehouse College’s 5th President.
What follows this introduction is the ninth of many interviews I plan to host that are designed to showcase the nuance and intellect of current and former Colgate and Morehouse student-athletes. People often have the misconception that athletes are one dimensional; lacking the range to speak on different important issues facing the country today. But the fact is that pro and college level athletes are often intimately connected to their communities and the challenges facing them. These athletes have a unique platform to speak on these challenges and raise awareness about a host of important political issues.
Through these interviews and profiles, you will find that Colgate and Morehouse student athletes all have remarkable stories — and that each of them represents the values that our schools stand for in their own unique ways. Hopefully, the Colgate and Morehouse communities enjoy reading the profiles and watching the interviews as much as I enjoy putting them together.
Tommy McHale
In America, perhaps no single trait is more often associated with great leaders than charisma. Indeed, the historical moments that stir our national conscience are typically marked by incredible displays of individual charismatic leadership. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is one such example of this; John F. Kennedy’s 1961 Inaugural Address is another. But, while charisma is central to the leadership approaches of many great men and women — it is far from a necessity. In fact, the broad, sustainable historical movements that have driven profound, progressive change were often led by individuals who eschewed charisma completely.
For example, while everyone knows the “I Have a Dream” speech, few are aware that the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (the march at which Dr. King delivered the speech) was organized by A. Phillip Randolph and Bayard Rustin — both of whom were critically involved in the labor movement, and were fighting and organizing for civil rights long before Dr. King was appointed to lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1960.
Ella Baker, another leader whose involvement in the Civil Rights Movement was essential to its success, also dismissed charisma as a necessary trait for effective leadership. From 1938 to 1966, she played a pivotal role in the development of the NAACP, SCLC, and SNCC; and, perhaps most significantly, she pioneered the strategy of nonviolent direct action (within the American Civil Rights Movement) that was at the foundation of the protests and sit-ins that led to the end of Jim Crow in the Southern American states. But, again, most Americans have no idea who she was; and non-violent direct action is almost exclusively associated with Dr. King.
The purpose of these anecdotes is not to minimize the influence of Great Men of History like Dr. King — instead, they serve as reminders that impactful leadership is not limited to the charismatic individuals that appear in the limelight. The fact of the matter is that in any successful endeavor within every industry there are those who are unseen by the general public, but whose impact is essential to achieving the goal of the collective.
And so, it must be said that for every charismatic leader at the helm of a movement, organization, or team; there are several leaders behind the scenes serving as the glue to keep everything together. Within the Colgate University Rugby program, one of America’s oldest and most prestigious collegiate rugby clubs, that role is played by one Thomas (Tommy) Albert McHale Jr.
Tommy is the oldest of 3 children born to Tom and Jeannette McHale in the comfortable suburbs of Kensington, Maryland — a quaint city in the southern portion of Montgomery County. Tom is a co-founder and managing partner at Gritstone Asset Management, a position he has held for just over five years; and Jeannette is a former political fundraiser who currently works as a yoga instructor. Their personalities dovetail one another nicely — Tom is logical, even keel, and concise with his words; while Jeannette has an infectious personality — outgoing and optimistic with a consistently positive outlook on life. Growing up, Tommy had a great relationship with both of his parents, and he remains very close with them to this day.
Tommy has always looked up to and admired his father, and, from a young age, he aspired to grow into the man he knew his father to be — a man of great integrity, humility, and determination. Tom instilled these traits in his son, directly and subtly, throughout his entire life. And the primary vehicle through which he conveyed said traits was none other than rugby.
Tom McHale was first introduced to rugby during his college days at Georgetown University. He was invited to play by a friend who belonged to the Georgetown Rugby Club, and fell in love with the sport shortly thereafter. That passion for rugby was passed down to Tommy when he was introduced to the game at the tender age of 6 by his father.
As a boy, Tommy started playing for the Potomac Athletic Club — the same organization that his father played for recreationally after graduating from Georgetown. The Potomac Athletic Club boasts one of the more well-regarded youth rugby programs in all of the DC Metropolitan area. Indeed, many of the boys that learn the game at Potomac go on to play in high school for top high school rugby programs, such as those at St. Johns, Good Counsel, and DeMatha. In Tommy’s case, he took his talents to Georgetown Prep — an intimate private school known nationwide for its phenomenal academics.
Georgetown Prep is an all-boys, Jesuit, college-preparatory school located in North Bethesda, MD with a tiny enrollment of 500 students. Many of the boys who attend Georgetown Prep have known one another for years, going through elementary and middle school together. As such, the community is tight-knit — almost like a family. But, as one might imagine of a school with the pedigree of Georgetown Prep, the academic competition is fierce. All in all, Tommy enjoyed his time in high school immensely — he made great friends, received an excellent education, and, of course, he played a lot of rugby.
Tommy’s sophomore year at Georgetown Prep was a pivotal point in his rugby career for two reasons — first, he started every game of the season; and second, his father took over as head coach of the team. Tom’s approach to coaching the Hoyas was heavily informed by data — from game-to-game starting lineups and playing time; to decisions about the tactical elements of the game; Tom was transparent, honest, and direct regarding his management of the boys.
Tommy took note of his father’s approach, and, when he got the opportunity to lead the team as captain during his senior year; he effectively became an extension of the coach on the field. Over the course of his senior year, Tommy mastered the art of delivering effective, direct feedback and instruction to his peers. Through trial and error, along with an admirable level of humility, self awareness, and critical reflection, he learned that feedback must take different forms to meet different situations and contexts. Tips and advice given on an individual basis must be chunked — no more than two instructions at a time for no longer than a couple of minutes; any more than that is difficult to process for the recipient. Team talks must be tailored to meet the unique character of the collective. And the captain must always be aware of the words, phrases, and initiatives that inspire the team; whilst discarding approaches that discourage or dishearten them.
On the field, Tommy’s role as captain, and position as fly-half, required yet another form of leadership. In rugby, the fly-half serves as the control center of the team. On offense, they are the primary playmaker and quarterback — tasked with identifying gaps in the defensive line, communicating their observations to their teammates, and then exploiting the weaknesses through quick, coordinated passes. On defense, they are responsible for organizing the system and plugging holes in their defensive line — either through the instructions they give to their teammates, or through proactive direct action on their own. As one might imagine, these essential roles require a great deal of verbal communication. And so, while Tommy’s leadership approach off the field is concise, on the field he is required to always talk. This constant communication serves as a safety net for his team — he always has their backs and, when they make mistakes, he possesses the game recognition and skill to cover for them.
Towards the end of his time in high school, Tommy’s hard work, dedication, and relentless improvement resulting from constructive self analysis and reflection culminated in one of the most memorable moments in his rugby career thus far. During his senior season at Georgetown Prep, he and his teammates pulled off the unthinkable — they earned a draw against national powerhouse Gonzaga, a rival they’d lost to on countless consecutive occasions, by coming back from down 19–0 at halftime. Despite the deficit, the team stayed confident — for they believed in the leadership of their coach, their preparation on the practice field, and their ability to execute under pressure. And, in the end, their belief was warranted as the game ended in a tie with a score of 26 to 26.
Upon graduating from Georgetown Prep, Tommy had achieved all of his goals. He excelled in the classroom, earned the opportunity to play rugby at a collegiate program with a long history of success, and was well on his way to developing into a man that could live up to the standards embodied by his father. Now, as a rising junior at Colgate University, Tommy has taken the lessons he learned during his youth career in high school and applied them to his role as the youngest captain on the Raiders rugby team. Under the tutelage of rugby program director David Chapman, Tommy has taken on more responsibility than ever before. While in high school, Tommy served as a coach on the field, his role now requires him to play an integral part in developing the offensive tactical approach of the team. And, if history is any guide, Tommy is more than ready to meet the moment.
It’s hard to put into words how much I enjoyed talking to Tommy over the course of two days. I was particularly struck by his humility, desire to improve as a student, athlete, and person; and his altruistic spirit. It is very unusual to find a young person with such self awareness. These traits are evident in the short account provided above. But, if you’re not convinced yet, I’d like to leave you with one final anecdote. As part of the application process for Georgetown Prep, all prospective Hoyas are required to choose an item or object as a metaphor for their core values, and then write an essay about why they selected that item. Tommy chose glue — because it plays a critical role in everything it’s a part of, but it seldom receives any of the credit for the value it brings to a structure. This is what Tommy aspires to — he wants to help others achieve their goals, but, regardless of the impact he has on the success of the individual or broader project, he doesn’t want any of the credit. Over the coming years, I look forward to watching Tommy continue to develop on and off the rugby field, because, given his remarkable character and integrity, I know he’s destined for greatness in all of his endeavors.
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For the first profile and interview of this series featuring Morehouse College basketball legend James Walker, click here.
For the second profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University basketball player Jeff Woodward, click here.
For the third profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University basketball player Oliver Lynch-Daniels, click here.
For the fourth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Max Edelstein, click here.
For the fifth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Bobby Foose, click here.
For the sixth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Alejandro Coury, click here.
For the seventh profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Mason Pahule, click here.
For the eighth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University rower Noha Shahba, click here.
For the tenth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Cason Stafford, click here.
For the eleventh profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Rory Brookhart, click here.
