Cal Poly's band of brothers

Sibling rivalry seems to consume every aspect of life when we are younger. Whether it is fighting about getting a smaller serving of potatoes or not wanting to clean the windows, it is a part of everyday life. But in sports, it seems rivalry becomes automatic.

Luckily, with age, rivalry blossoms into support. For Kyle and Ryan Shotwell and Kenny and Tim Chicoine, playing football with their brothers is nothing but another reason to love the game.

“I love all my teammates, but my brother is blood, so it’s different,” Kyle Shotwell said.

For Kyle Shotwell, a senior middle linebacker, it is great to have his brother playing with him after he has been away from him for three years.

“When you’re away at school you realize how much you miss your family,” he said. “In that time he’s definitely become one of my best friends.”

He also said he’s closer with his brother because the age difference doesn’t seem as drastic anymore.

“When you’re six and nine it’s kind of a big difference,” Kyle Shotwell said. “But the older we got we really became close because we were at the same maturity levels.”

Ryan Shotwell, a freshman defensive end, said he and his brother never had the opportunity to officially be on the same team.

“When we were little you could find us playing every sport you could think of against each other, although we were never on the same organized sport team until now,” he said.

For Kenny and Tim Chicoine, playing sports together is a common occurrence.

“We played pretty much every single sport together when we were growing up,” Tim Chicoine said.

Kenny Chicoine, a senior free safety, remembered Little League the best and said he and his brother were always ahead of the other players.

“Our dad tried to raise us as athlete studs,” Kenny said. “We were pretty much the only kids who could catch.”

Tim Chicoine, a junior punter, said the benefit of having his brother with him is that he feels in tune with him on different levels than with the other players.

“I know exactly what my brother is thinking at the exact time,” he said.

Along with this comfort of having a sibling near, comes competition.

“I feel there is good healthy competition between us but it’s always in love,” Ryan Shotwell said. “We really are proud of one another and support each other to the fullest on and off the field.”

Kyle, being three years older, said he tries not to give his brother advice unless he really wants it.

“I feel like for a while he was in my shadow and I didn’t want to put any pressure on him that he didn’t need,” he said. “I’d give it to him if he ever does ask for advice, but I just try to tell him he’s doing a good job and not criticize him.”

Kenny and Tim Chicoine also said they have engaged in healthy competition their entire lives.

“With girls, with life, with sports, with school. We love competing, but then again we love to have each other’s backs,” Tim said.

They also use each other as sources of motivation.

“We’re rooting for each other but we both push each other really hard,” Kenny Chicoine said. “When (Tim) is there I find myself working harder to do better.”

The brothers all agreed that having their brother on the field is a good thing, even if the competition extends beyond the field.

“The worst thing is trying to get enough tickets to accomodate all the people from back home who come and watch us,” Ryan Shotwell said.