Munster senior Beckett Gideon’s passion for football is undiminished.
The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder was slated to occupy prominent positions on both sides of the ball for the Mustangs but is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee over the summer.
Gideon also missed the final four games last season, save for some kicking duties, with a broken left ring finger that required three screws to be inserted during surgery.
“Anyone thinking about playing football should do it because it’s great,” he said. “I’ve gotten injured. It’s been unfortunate. But it’s shaped who I am, this sport. A lot of my personality, what I’ve done, has been shaped by football. Even though things didn’t work out the way I wanted, what I can take away from it is still really valuable.
“Dealing with failure. At Munster, being the underdog, being undersized. Just pushing through, giving your all when you don’t think you can. Football is one of the best sports for teamwork and camaraderie. It really builds connections. You struggle together, bleed together. It’s just a great way to build relationships, a great way to be healthy. It’s just a great sport.”
Even if Gideon hasn’t been able to compete this season. In mid-June, during the third week of summer camp, he said his knee “exploded” when he made a cut while running a route. He had surgery in early July.
After dedicating a ton of time in the offseason, after two promising weeks of training, his season was over before it started.
“I was supposed to be really good this year,” Gideon said. “I was very strong. I was really focusing on getting faster. I was going to have a lot of roles on the team — defense, offense, running, blocking, leadership.”
Munster coach Romison Saint-Louis attested to the high expectations for Gideon, a team captain, running back/H-back and linebacker/defensive end.
“He put in a tremendous amount of work this offseason,” Saint-Louis said. “He was going to be a big weapon for us.”
So Gideon’s loss was a blow to the Mustangs. Senior cornerback Evan Dennis said it was “really rough, really bad” when the team found out Gideon was sidelined.
“He definitely was a keystone player with the offense and the defense,” Dennis said. “Once he got hurt, you could tell the team morale definitely took a hit, having to find someone to take his place and do it well too. He’s big, fast, strong. He’s what we wanted.”
Gideon wanted nothing more than to contribute for the Mustangs this season.
He began playing football in eighth grade at the urging of baseball teammate Jake Foerster, who is a senior wide receiver and cornerback. After handling some kicking as a freshman, Gideon earned a spot at middle linebacker as a sophomore.
“I wasn’t ready,” Gideon said. “I didn’t have experience, but I did the best I could.”
Gideon continued to progress last season, having gained confidence and making further physical strides. He was expected to focus more on offense this season. Instead, he’s focusing on being the best teammate possible.
“It’s a little weird being a captain when you’re not playing,” he said. “It kind of feels like I’m more of a coach almost, just because it’s more mentoring than leading by example. I do feel like I have a lot of respect from my team, which is nice. They take what I have to say seriously. It’s good to be able to give my two cents and mention important things to remember when they’re playing certain positions.
“I’m just talking up some of the younger guys, talking to people at my positions filling my roles. It’s mostly mentoring the young guys, even the seniors, giving little things from my perspective they can work on. Just encouraging the team.”
Teammates have encouraged Gideon throughout his recovery process.
“I would go visit him, and seeing him at home, just stuck on the couch having to heal, it was really sad,” Dennis said. “But the team needed to power through for him. The team would send him messages to get well. Some people would go visit him.
“Then seeing him come back to the field, obviously not able to play, but seeing him still come out every day, most of us probably wouldn’t do what he does. Coming out during the summer, taking time to just watch us, then during the school year when he could be at home studying, he’s watching us play, that’s motivation. It’s like, ‘I’m tired, but who am I to complain when Beckett’s doing this?’ It’s like, ‘I don’t have it as hard as I think because Beckett’s here.’ He’s that constant reminder to keep pushing and do better. Having him here really motivates the team to do better and play well for him. He can’t play this season, but we can play for him and make him proud.”
Saint-Louis expressed his pride in Gideon.
“He’s still been a big asset to our team,” Saint-Louis said. “He’s stayed committed to the program and his teammates. He’s helped out when he can.
“The kid is a coach’s dream. He’s a really good athlete and even a better person and student.”
Gideon has started to tutor teammates to help them maintain their grades. He’s a member of Munster’s highly successful debate team, as well as DECA. He said he enjoys playing the trumpet, having joined band in sixth grade.
“I was even in the marching band freshman year,” Gideon said. “I would suit up, kick a little bit, then go out at halftime in my pads and play with the marching band. It just ended up being too much. I couldn’t do it later, but I still like playing trumpet.”
Gideon is considering studying chemical engineering in college and then pursuing an MBA. Purdue is high on his list; his sisters Lainie, a 2022 Munster graduate, and Campbell, a 2024 Munster graduate, are former soccer players who attend Purdue.
“My academics are better than my athletics,” Gideon said with a laugh. “My only chance to play football would be as a walk-on.”