Spicer, the Mules’ starting rover, was born on Feb. 29, 1980, making him a rare Leap Day baby. Although Spicer says he celebrates his birthday on either February 28 or March 1, “whichever is more convenient,” his last true birthday came following his sophomore season.

Fortunately, Spicer gets to celebrate more often than that on the football field. In his first season as a starter, he is currently third on the team with 36 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss. His last-minute interception sealed Muhlenberg’s 22-14 win against Johns Hopkins last week. As a junior, playing mostly on special teams and as the nickel, he recorded 21 stops and received the “Big Hit” Award from the Muhlenberg coaches three times.

All this despite the fact that the deciding factor in Spicer choosing Muhlenberg over Fairfield University was his desire to play quarterback. Several looks at Michael McCabe, who graduated as the school’s all-time leading passer last May, convinced Spicer that a position change might be in his best interests. He switched to wide receiver midway through his freshman year, then jumped to defensive back in the offseason.

“Now that I play defense I couldn’t even imagine playing offense again,” Spicer commented. “Defense for me is so much more fun than playing offense. On offense you have a specific thing you have to do on every play. On defense, especially my position, I can step up at the snap of the ball and pretty much flow to the ball to do what I have to do.”

What he has to do on most plays is give run support. Whereas the other three defensive backs have pass coverage as their primary responsibility, Spicer says hePs about 50-50 run-pass.

“I’m happy in the position that I am,” said Spicer, whose nickname comes from an old English variation on his birth name, Christopher. “I like playing the run. Usually by the time I get there someone else has him wrapped up and I get to hopefully bring a big hit on him.”

And despite his previous life, Spicer has no reservations about leveling the quarterback. “It’s almost a little more fun to hit a quarterback,” he noted. “For the most part quarterbacks aren’t looking to take those hits.”

Spicer also hopes to receive some “hits” this fall, as he has put his resume online in pursuit of an entry position in either investment banking or management consulting. A double major in economics and business administration, Spicer interned the last two summers with Honeywell and A.G. Edwards.