Senior Danny Van Camp is a member of the LF Varsity football team and is the quarterback. Danny is one of the best quarterbacks that has been a part of the program, and he gives his perspective on this coming season as well as the training and accomplishments he has achieved in the last few years. 

How long have you been involved in football and which team have you been a part of?

“I’ve been playing organized football since around the start of fourth grade which is a very long time— around eight years or something like that. I was part of Junior Scouts since I was old enough to be in the program. I also played flag football at the Rec Club. I’ve been playing football for as long as I can remember and taking every opportunity that I could;it’s always been my favorite sport.”

Have you always been a quarterback? If not, what other positions have you been?

“I have not always been a quarterback. I’ve always been bigger for my age so I was a lineman. I’ve also played center, fullback, quarterback and defensive line. I have basically been on all sides of the ball.”

Who have you admired in the football industry?

“I’ve grown up being a Tom Brady fan, and also a big Michigan fan, so Brady always had a special place in my heart and meant a lot to me. Watching him play was so fun and inspiring. That’s who I wanted to be as a quarterback; I always looked up to him and tried to recreate how he played.”

Who on the team in the present or past have you looked up to as a leader?

“One of my best friends, Tim Dan, works harder than anyone I know and is more dedicated than everybody else. I always try to emulate what he does because it’s so important. It’s really cool to see how far he has come as a player and a leader, and his impressive work ethic, especially as a captain. He’s someone I truly look up to as a friend and a teammate.”

When was a time that a player in the program truly made an impact on you? 

“My freshman year, Leo Scheidler was a senior and was the quarterback for Varsity; he was my role model that whole year. I got to know him pretty well which was really cool because I was a freshman at the time and he had such a great impact on me, even shaping me into the player I am today. When he went to Notre Dame, I wrote him a personal letter and I got an email back; it was beyond special and meant so much to me.”

How do you think the new team is coming along this year?

“I think we are going to be really good this season. We have a lot of playmakers and a lot of guys that have been on the team for some time now. We’ve also had a lot of Varsity representatives and some experiences there as well. I truly think this is going to be one of the most fun years we’ve had in a while. It’s looking really good right now and I’m so beyond excited for this upcoming season.”

Which new Varsity players do you think have the most potential on the field and as a leader?

“I think Jimmy Scheidler is a really promising player. Aedan Cassidy, who played on the team as a sophomore, is also promising. Now, as a junior, he has stepped into a defensive role that we’ve needed him to. He’ll be a great leader as well. 

A sophomore who has been getting numerous reps on varsity is Jack Burger. He looks great and I think he has a lot of talent to be one of the best wide receivers Lake Forest has had in the program; I am excited to see what he does.”

What is your prediction for the upcoming season?

“I think the playoffs are a possible site for us, if not guaranteed. I believe that any team on our schedule is beatable for our team, but it always comes down to the time and place. I also believe that we could make it really far in the playoffs as long as everybody keeps their focus, a positive mentality and a goal as a team to work together and achieve those victories.”

What are you looking forward to most this season? 

“Being a senior and having the opportunity to be looked up to as a leader, just like how my freshman year I looked up to the seniors on the team. This is our last year and the goal is to have as much fun as possible while, of course, keeping a football mindset and going out there winning as many games as possible. This will be the last time playing these teams in our conference and I want to make those times as memorable as possible, as well as it being the last time I play football due to me playing Lacrosse at Rutgers. I just want this year to be so special and be able to look back on those moments and be thankful and remember all the good times that we had as a team and how I got to celebrate these times with some of my best friends.”

What do you think is going to be the biggest challenge this season?

“I think the biggest challenge this season will be to focus and fix the mentality of the team because if we win a game, we’re going to think we can definitely win the next one. Just because we won one game doesn’t mean we are guaranteed to win the rest and, without hard work, dedication and always having a fresh mindset – working to get better everyday instead of settling for mediocre or just going off of the past game – we will not be victorious.”

If you were to give a piece of advice to a younger classmen in the program what would it be?

“Have fun everyday, even if practice is challenging and not super exciting. Or, if the coach screams at you a good amount, don’t let it bring you down too much. It goes by fast and before you know it, it will be your senior season and four  months later it’s over; you never get those moments back and it’s something special that not everybody gets to be a part of. Just save your every moment, always keep your head up and have fun while pushing yourself and becoming the player you truly can become.”

Anything else you want to say?

“COME PACK THE STANDS AND BE THERE FOR A GREAT SEASON!”