When Chris Laskowski came to FAU he was a bit of a “lost soul” who didn’t know what he was doing. However, confident in his abilities and determined to succeed, Laskowski joined FAU’s brand new football team as a walk-on and soon earned himself not only a starting position, but a reputation as an integral part of the FAU squad-the heartbeat of the defensive unit. Football became his driving force, and four years later, it still is. Laskowski, who graduated in December, was one of the last players who have been with the FAU football program since its beginning in 2000.
Over the last four years he has seen the program grow and change, culminating with an application to enter Division IA. Laskowski looks back on those four years amazed. “I can’t even put it into words,” he said. “The changes. The things we have all done and been through together. I cherish those times and friendships. They are going to last a lifetime.”
Laskowski feels lucky to have been on the ground floor of this football program. He believes it was a great experience and wouldn’t have had it any other way. According to him, the difference between being part of a new program and an established one is opportunity.
“At established programs new guys don’t really have an identity until the third or fourth year-you don’t play much,” he said with a laugh. “With a new program, all us new guys got the opportunity to play from the beginning. We were able to establish a foundation. It made you become tough and mature. It made you become a leader.”
Laskowski did just that. A linebacker, he played every game during his four years on the team, the program’s first 47 games, including several with a broken left hand in his junior year. He was named the team’s MVP his sophomore year, Co-MVP the following year, and garnered many other state and media honors. He finished his four-year career with a total of 295 tackles, an FAU record – an average of 74 per season and 6.3 per game. His number of tackle is the stat he is most proud of. “Just being around the ball is what it’s all about,” he said.
Laskowski’s maturity, toughness, and natural rapport made him a leader from the beginning. He believes that good leaders need integrity and honesty. They must truly like helping people. “Leaders aren’t born they are made,” he said. “You have to lead by action, then voice; make your actions speak.”
Football has always been a family affair for Laskowski, whose played high school ball under his father Larry, the offensive coordinator at Rockledge High School. Speaking of his father, Laskowski said, “He is my hero because of the way he is – his faith, his integrity, the things he’s done, and, most of all, the way he treats people.” Laskowski also wrestled and played baseball at Rockledge earning many honors in each sport. He chose football in the end because he figured it was his best chance.
Many smaller Division I and II teams, mostly northern schools, but he knew that he had what it took to be better recruited Laskowski. He decided on FAU for two reasons: it was near his grandmother and he liked the coaches here. Laskowski took the field for the first time in FAU uniform against Slippery Rock. He still remembers the feeling he had that day as he went through the tunnel at Pro Player Stadium for the first time. “It was a heck of a feeling and a great learning step,” Laskowski said.
The feeling was similar when Laskowski, along with his teammate Jared Allen, got an invitation to the Hula Bowl, which took place last Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Maui, Hawaii. This nationally televised game, played in an East vs. West format, is an all-star game for the top senior football players in the nation. The players were chosen by the American Football Coaches Association and get to showcase their skills in front of scouts from all NFL teams. In addition, they played for some of the top coaches in the profession, including East’s coach Mark Richt, head coach at the University of Georgia.
How did he feel about this invite? “I was surprised,” says Laskowski. “It’s been a great ride, just a thrill. But I wasn’t really expecting this.”
People may know his stats, his number, and even that he was a walk on, but what most people may not know about Laskowski is what he plans to do now that he has graduated. Will he go pro? “We will see how things go in Hawaii, then go from there,” he said. “I plan on riding football as far as it goes.” If professional football isn’t in his future, Laskowski, a History major, may go to graduate school or become a teacher like both of his parents and coach football at the collegiate level. Although he does not know what his future holds, Laskowski is sure of one thing, football will always be a part of it.
As for the future of the FAU football program, Laskowski predicts that it’s only going to get better and better. “Coach Schnellenberger is great. I don’t doubt anything he can do,” he said. “The possibilities are endless.”
