Hair color, eye color and unwanted antiques are just a few things often passed down in a family. Traits like athletic ability do not always stretch through generations, but there are exceptions to the rule. Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning are considered the “First Family of Football,” and the Gasol brothers, Marc and Pau, have carved out stellar careers in the NBA.
If there was ever a family to represent college soccer on that list, it would have to be taken by the Logars.
Tyler Logar is a junior and captain on the Rowan men’s soccer team that is 6-0 this year. Since joining the team in 2014, he has started all of the team’s 46 games.
His brother Ryan is currently embarking on his first season with the team.
Their father, Andy Logar, had an amazing career playing for the brown and gold from 1988 to 1991. In addition to that, their uncles, Chris and David, also played for the Profs.
“I look at it as a challenge,” Tyler said. “I have to prove myself that I’m better or I have to do different things than them. On top of that it is a gift that I have that legacy. I’m a Logar and I’m proud of that.”
There’s reason to be proud of the name.
During his four years on the men’s soccer team, Andy Logar set records for goals by a defender, was named an All-American, voted Division III Player of the Year and was on the 1990 National Championship team. In 2000, he was inducted into the Rowan University-Glassboro State College Athletic Hall of Fame.
Rowan head coach Scott Baker played with Andy Logar in 1990.
“[Andy] was every single thing you wanted out of a player,” Baker said. “He had this mentality that no one else around him had. He got voted player of the year for the country and everyone knew he deserved it. He was perfect.”
Despite all of the honors that their father had, people involved with the men’s soccer program believe that David, Andy’s younger brother, was the better player.
He was the player of the year in South Jersey as a senior at Lenape High School, Medford Township in 1992. In college, he was a two-time first-team all-New Jersey Athletic Conference selection as a freshman and sophomore.
However, following his sophomore year at Rowan, David was struck from behind by an automobile while working for a lawn-care service and became paralyzed from the chest down. After several surgeries, he became an assistant coach for the Profs before passing away in 1998.
The brown and gold honored David with the David Logar Memorial Game at the beginning of the season.
“He was incredible. He was a Logar and the Logars are special,” Baker said. “They do things at a higher level than most people do. We’re so lucky to have them come through here. It makes life easier here.”
To end the list of Logars that attended Rowan at those five would be misleading.
When asked how many members of their family attended the university, the brothers had to help each other out to name them all.
“It’s kind of like you have no choice,” Ryan said. “Well, you have a choice, but sometimes it doesn’t seem like it.”
For both boys, it’s a choice that they’re happy with.
“Rowan’s always been a top choice,” Ryan said. “I looked at other schools, but ultimately I turned them down. Probably because my whole family did it and then [Tyler] went. Also, as a mechanical engineering major, there’s a great program here and I get to play soccer here.”
That chance to play soccer also reunited him with his brother on the field. However, it was more of a reunion than a first-time occurrence.
The two had played varsity soccer for Washington Township High School together for one year when Ryan was a sophomore and Tyler was a senior. Ryan also would make appearances on Tyler’s club soccer team in practices and a few games.
“It’s a gift. You don’t really think of many players that get to play with their younger or older brothers,” Tyler said. “We touched on it a bit in high school and it happened that he went to Rowan and we can do it again.”
“You automatically come with that chemistry too,” Ryan added. “Sure, you get on each others backs a lot for messing up, but it makes you better as a player.”
That chemistry has shown on the field, not only for the Logars, but for the rest of the men’s soccer team as well.
The 6-0 start is the best since 2002. However, the ultimate goal for this team is to win a National Title, just like the team in 1990. The team that featured Andy Logar.
“When you win a National Championship you feel like you’re on top of the world,” Tyler said. “It would mean even more that our name is included in two of the three National Championships.”
“Knowing that you did something that your dad did too, I think that would put it up even higher,” Ryan said.
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