STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Four days after undergoing surgery to repair a season-ending knee injury suffered during the second game of his senior year at Division II Stonehill College, Sean Cassidy attended the Stony Brook football team's riveting comeback win from a three-touchdown deficit against No. 13 Villanova on Sept. 29, 2018.

Wearing a hefty knee brace while watching from the Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium stands with his parents as Jack Cassidy stood on the sideline as a backup quarterback, Sean concluded he ought to complete his collegiate career as his brother's teammate.

"I thought, 'It would be sick if I could play here. I still have a year left. I don't know if they'll take me. But I can definitely play here and compete,'" Sean said.
 
"The first thing I did, I said I would talk to Coach P," Jack said, referring to Stony Brook football head coach Chuck Priore. "I went into Coach P's office and said, 'My brother has an extra year. Would there be a chance for him to play here?' Coach P was all for it."

One year later, when the family gathers on Christmas Day at their childhood home in Bohemia, the brothers — who are separated in age by less than 17 months — will have extra special memories to share.

Although Sean ended up redshirting this season due to a second surgery on his left knee, the brothers experienced being teammates at Stony Brook — their first time in uniform together since overlapping one season on varsity at Connetquot High School. They each have one season of eligibility remaining, so they again will be teammates next season with the Seawolves.

The brothers are so close, they have shared the same bedroom in their family's Bohemia home their whole lives. They are one of two sets of brothers on the football team, along with defensive linemen Brandon Lopez and Ryan Lopez.


Sean (34) lines up in the backfield with Connetquot High while Jack (7) awaits the snap in 2014. 

Jack appeared in seven games at quarterback for the Seawolves this season and recorded his first career touchdown pass against Utah State. He is on track to earn a bachelor's degree in health sciences in May. He then intends to enroll in graduate school at Stony Brook in the fall, with an ultimate eye toward studying nursing or going to medical school.

During Sean's career as a strong safety at Division II Stonehill, he appeared in 26 games and recorded 46 tackles and one interception. He earned his undergraduate degree in accounting from the Easton, Mass., school back in May. He currently is a graduate student at Stony Brook pursuing a master's degree in liberal studies and is weighing becoming a CPA versus coaching or working as a fireman.
 
"It's always been a family atmosphere at Stony Brook," Jack said. "Having my brother playing with me adds even more family feeling to the program."