|
| Brees Segala, left, and Brett Segala, right, were destined to be quarterbacks from the time they were named after some of the game's great signal-callers. Provided photos |
By Joe Sager
D3sports.com
Brothers Brett and Brees Segala were born to be quarterbacks.
Literally. It’s on their birth certificates.
Brett capped his stellar career at Cortland in 2019 with numerous passing records, while Brees, a senior, is in his first season starting at quarterback for the 2-0 Red Dragons.
It certainly seems like destiny for Cortland to have a Segala under center. However, their roads to leading the Red Dragons’ offense were quite different.
The name game
Their father, James, was a four-year starter at quarterback for Gallaudet in the late 1980s and is a member of the school’s hall of fame. He’s worked as a football coach and referee in the Rochester area for numerous years.
When the first son of James and Karen, who was a cheerleader, was born, they named him after former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
“My father grew up in Massachusetts and was good friends with (former Packers tight end) Mark Chmura. Mark played with Brett and my dad was friends with both,” Brees said.
When the Segalas’ second son was born, he was named after former San Diego Chargers/New Orleans Saints star quarterback Drew Brees.
“When I came along, my parents wanted to go with another name beginning with ‘B-R-E.’ When my mom was in the hospital, Drew Brees was playing at Purdue and my mom liked Brees, so she was the one who picked that out,” Brees said.
“It turned out pretty well; we were named after two iconic quarterbacks, so that’s not bad.”
Brett followed in his father’s footsteps throughout his youth football career.
“Growing up, when my dad was a coach at our high school and we’d be around. Everyone knew Brett was going to be the guy,” Brees said.
“My dad put a football in my hands the second I was born, I think,” Brett said with a laugh. “I always wanted to play quarterback. As time went on, Brees evolved into wanting to be one, too.”
Initially, though, Brees preferred to use his legs and not his arm.
“I was a running back my whole life and I loved to run,” he said. “I actually quit football in eighth grade to play soccer. But, when I saw my brother play on Friday nights, that’s when I knew that’s what I wanted to do, too. So, I returned to football my sophomore year of high school when he was a senior.”
Cortland calls
Initially, Brett went to Division II Seton Hill, but transferred to Cortland the next year. The move paid off as he set Red Dragons career records with 6,518 passing yards, 467 completions, 59 touchdown passes and nine 300-yard passing games. He finished second with 6,847 career total offensive yards despite playing in just 26 games, 24 as a starter. A two-time All-Empire 8 selection, he established a school regular-season record with 2,671 passing yards in 2018 and he threw for 2,716 yards and 22 touchdowns in 11 games, including one postseason contest, in 2019.
Brees had a first-hand view of Brett’s performance once he came to Cortland in 2018.
|
| Brees Segala has stepped into the starting quarterback role and has helped Cortland get off to a 2-0 start. Photo by Scott Greenwald Photography for Cortland athletics |
“Coming out of high school, I wasn’t expecting to play college football. I was 5-11 and 145 lbs. I was smart on the football field, but couldn’t really throw the ball over 40 yards. I had a good senior season, though, and thought it could be a possibility,” he said. “I got the chance to talk to Cortland and I asked myself if I really wanted to do this. When I visited, the tradition, the family and the school itself were perfect fits. Having my brother there with the great relationship we have is a real bonus.”
Brees just tried to learn from his older brother.
“Coming into college, I was undersized; I was a JV guy and watched him,” he said. “Brett is a straight-up baller. He could throw the ball like no other. Being on the sideline watching and learning from him is cool. Being under him and seeing how he handled himself on the field – I took things from him that I now do better because I saw how it affected him. People will see me do little things on the field like he did. My parents notice it.”
“We got him in the building for a visit in mid-February and he committed that day,” Brett said. “It was a huge day, not only for him, but for our family. My parents and grandparents don’t miss a game of Cortland football.
“My four years went pretty well. Both Brees and I have the attitude to go out and just do our job. I think the credit goes to both our parents. That’s the way they raised us. We both put our head down and work. For Brees, the transformation from his freshman year to now has been tremendous. I can’t even put into words how proud I am of him. He just put his head down and worked and didn’t let anything outside of what he can control dictate how things went for him.”
A cool Brees
Adjusting to a new head coach (Curt Fitzpatrick) and a new offensive system, Brees won the starting quarterback job and has excelled. He led the Red Dragons to road wins at Wittenberg (38-16) and The College of New Jersey (49-6). He’s completed 41 of 59 passes for 559 yards and six touchdowns. He’s run the ball 24 times for 61 yards and another score.
“They were two road wins and not short trips, either. I am really happy with the start we have had,” Brees said. “Sure, my name has been in the paper, but people don’t realize how good our defense is. Being a quarterback on this team right now is a quarterback’s dream. We get so many great opportunities because of the situations the defense puts us in. I could go on and on about all those guys on defense; they are elite. For the 2-0 start, they are a huge, huge part of it and I can’t wait to watch them the rest of the year.”
Fitzpatrick has been pleased with how Brees has performed and led the team as one of its captains.
“First, he is very smart and has great leadership skills. Any time you have a quarterback that intelligent with the ability to process information so quickly and is a good leader, that’s a pretty good place to start before you look at any of the physical tools,” he said. “He has really embraced learning our new offense. He is like an extra coach on the field for us and he’s really helped himself and our offense have success.
“He definitely makes my job easier and more enjoyable. He has been great. He has done everything I have asked him to do and more. Out on the field, I know that he’ll stay poised and remain calm and be a real glue guy for our offense.”
Brett is back
When Fitzpatrick got the job, he was thrilled to offer an assistant coaching spot to Brett, though he’s coaching the running backs and not the quarterbacks.
“I knew he wanted to teach and coach. He was a great player here and knows Cortland and loves Cortland. Meeting him, he has the same personality that Brees does and I thought he’d be a good fit for our staff,” Fitzpatrick said. “He knows the ins and outs of the program and school. I am still trying to learn more and more about the university and Brett is a good resource for me. He’s done a great job with our running backs, so far. He has a bright future ahead of him.”
Now, the roles are reversed. Brett is the one on the sidelines cheering on his brother.
|
| Brett Segala made 24 starts for Cortland and threw for 6,518 career passing yards. Photo by Darl Zehr Photography for Cortland athletics |
“It’s been great; I can’t thank Coach Fitzpatrick enough for bringing me back. I love Cortland,” Brett said. “I played with a really huge chunk of this team. So, making the transition from player and teammate to coach has been interesting. I am lucky to be along for the ride with a great group of guys and a great coaching staff, which has taught me so much since January.
“When I was playing, it was great to have him on the sideline supporting me,” he continued. “Now, I can do the same. Since I am not the quarterbacks coach, I don’t really coach him. It’s just about being there to support him and help him achieve the goals he wants to achieve.
“His journey has been anything but a steady road. There have been a lot of peaks and valleys. He is having success on the field. Off the field, to see the transformation and work he’s put in and the leader he is on the field is so great. There’s a reason why he is one of our four captains – even I look up to him. A lot of people, while growing up, would say, ‘Hey, that’s Brett’s brother.’ Now, it’s flipped a little. I am Brees’ brother. And, I am so proud to be Brees’ brother.”
So, could Brees follow Brett once more and get into coaching once he graduates in the spring?
“He is very talented in pretty much anything. He and I have talked about a few different career paths,” Fitzpatrick said. “Brees is a very engaging, personable and smart guy. Whatever field he goes into, he’ll be successful at.
“If it’s coaching, he’ll probably take my job one day.”