Biography

As a starting tackle and defensive end he celebrated Bishop Feehan's first Super Bowl victory at Boston University in 1997, and, as a captain of the Green and Gold, he christened McGrath Stadium in the fall of 1998. He was as humble and unassuming off the field as he was aggressive and tenacious on it. Like so many of his “brother lineman” from high school to the NFL, he labored in anonymity and obscurity, yet ask any coach the rhetorical question where games are won and lost and the answer is obvious. Durable, competitive, and strong, Brett Svendsen was a true (Sham) rock whose quiet example and leadership 

produced 15 wins over the two years that he played.

At 6'1", and 215 pounds, he started both ways in his junior year on a team considered one of the best in the football history of Bishop Feehan. Whether opening holes for running backs Renato DePaolis, Joe Gazzola,and Chris Okunfolami or protecting QB Justin McGowan as dropped back to pass, Svendsen manhandled opposing lineman in allowing the offense to flourish. Feehan gained over 100 yards rushing in every game, and in four of those games the total was over 200 yards including an astounding 347 against Duxbury in the Super Bowl. Just as impressive, Svendsen teamed with Mike Cataldo, Tyler King, and Jeff Laroque on defense in holding Dartmouth to 59 yards rushing, Attleboro to 56 yards rushing, Somerset to 67 yards rushing, and, in a dominating Super Bowl, Duxbury to 44 yards rushing. Teams just could not run the ball on the Shamrocks.

In his senior year, on a team seriously depleted by graduation, Captain Svendsen, along with fellow captains Dave Nighelli and John Traversi, led a young squad with a new head coach to a more than respectable 5-3-1 record. Starting out 1-3, The Shamrocks rebounded with three straight wins including a major upset over powerhouse, Whitman-Hansen. Svendsen led a defense that held opponents to one TD or less in four games highlighted by a shutout over EAC rival Somerset. In his final game against Malden Catholic on Thanksgiving at McGrath Stadium, Feehan overpowered the visitors 42-6. Whether blocking for running backs John Stanovitch and Scott Connolly, who accumulated over 300 yards on the ground, or stuffing Malden Catholic's running and passing game, Svensen was an immense contributor to the victory and to a winning season.

Brett Svendsen was recognized as an All Conference and All Sun Chronicle All Star in both the 1997 and 1998 seasons. He went on to play at Assumption College with fellow Hall of Famer, Chad Carges, where he served as a two year captain. He was further recognized as a Northeast 10 Conference All Star and received Honorable Mention as a Division 2 All American.