BIO

When it came to moving mountains, few offensive linemen in the vaunted history of Barnstable High School could match his prowess. To put it simply, Pat Ryan was born to move things out of his way. Blocking for the likes of Jim Murphy and Brian Reid his freshman year (1979), and such all-time great BHS running backs as Lee Emmanuel and Buster Donalson his senior year (1982), Pat played under coaches Don Dorr and Mark Titus with equal success, helping lead the Red Raiders to the SMC Co-Championship his freshman season and to a successful 7-3 campaign his senior year. But few victories hold forth a greater glow in the annals of memory than defeating Falmouth all four varsity seasons he played or defeating the vaunted Bourne Canalmen in 1982 to the tune of a 46-19 thrashing.

Ryan’s gridiron success in the early 1980s has proven to withstand the test of time along these sandy shores, as his blocking and bone-jarring hits remain the stuff of legend. A hulking youth his freshman season under Coach Dorr, Ryan was shifted to outside linebacker his sophomore campaign and then back again to offensive and defensive tackle his junior and senior years. The Red Raider staff, it seemed, knew precisely how to handle this talented and powerful young man, putting him in prime position to open holes and take no prisoners. Those talents did not go unnoticed as he was offered and accepted a football scholarship to play at Colorado University where he lettered all four seasons (1983-1986).

On the Red Raider track each spring, Ryan was no less intimidating to opponents, where he was situated in the shotput event – as he recalls – in an attempt to try and match or at least mirror the legendary track successes of his predecessor Red Raider, John Ellis. While Ryan may not have matched the estimable Ellis, of this there can be no argument: he was one of the all-time greatest football linemen in the history of the Red & White.

A native of Hyannis, Ryan is now an administrator at Northwestern University and he lives in Chicago with his wife of over 20 years, Alyson. He was inducted into the BHS Athletic Hall of Fame, Nov. 29, 2014.