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# Thanks Guy: Croteau glad to be a part of something special
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/thanks-guy-croteau-glad-to-be-a-part-of-something-special/
- Published: 2010-11-25T14:00:29.000Z
- Updated: 2010-11-25T14:00:29.000Z
- Description: Tim Croteau feels fortunate. Having seen some of the players who came through the Nashua High School North football program,
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, Fall Sports, football, Nashua North, Thanks Guy, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bc/58/bc5866d0-9fd9-4113-b959-670d6f16471d/content/images/www-nh-highschoolsports-com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/pinknorthfball0918-nn21-1.jpg "PinkNorthFball0918 NN21-1")

*Editor’s note: This is the final part of a series of stories that will be appearing about the unsung heroes who take the football field every week, the guys who coaches couldn’t get by without. At this time of year, it’s time to say “Thanks Guy.”*

Tim Croteau feels fortunate.

Having seen some of the players who came through the Nashua High School North football program, knowing that some of the best – players like Kendall Reyes, John-Leon Gosselin and Sean Coughlin – never had the opportunity to experience a championship game, Croteau knows that despite some disappointment, he’s been privileged to be a part of the teams that advanced to the Division I title game the last two years.

“It’s tough because you see kids who work hard for four years like John Leon Gosselin and Sean Coughlin who never got the chance to play in the championship game over their four years,” he said. “We definitely felt we had a good opportunity and we took advantage of it. I don’t want to say that it’s lucky, but all the pieces came together. I feel fortunate to play on a good team that even got that opportunity, to be fourth down and 20 seconds left from a championship.”

While Croteau, a defensive end and captain for the Titans, has played on the varsity since his sophomore season, he was the one newcomer on the defensive line going into the year.

“We had three guys returning on the defensive line and Tim was kind of the unknown coming in,” North coach Jason Robie said. “He played hard as a junior and he started a bit as a sophomore, but he played real well and did his job very effectively.”

One game that Robie remembers from Croteau’s sophomore year was a game that he started at nose guard. As an undersized lineman, Robie saw the senior in the weight room often throughout his four seasons and watch him grow in different ways.

“Like every young man, they mature and there are things that they did when they were younger that they’re not doing any more because they’re maturing,” Robie said. “He’s become a pretty reliable leader, which is why he was voted as a captain. As a defensive end, he’s quick, but he’s a little undersized. Going against big tackles, we had to do some stunts. He has a good motor and he’s a pretty cerebral player.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bc/58/bc5866d0-9fd9-4113-b959-670d6f16471d/content/images/www-nh-highschoolsports-com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/northpinkfball1120-1-nn21-1.jpg "NorthPinkFball1120-1 NN21-1")

Croteau noticed this year that he was beginning to understand defense more, even though he’s always felt that’s the side of the ball he’s been better at.

“I’ve developed a knack for defense,” he said. “I saw that being put into a leadership role made me a better player skill-wise. My strengths this year have been my understanding the defense more.”

Opposing coaches noticed, as Croteau was voted to the Division I all-state first team.

“That’s nice to see that the coaches notice,” Robie said. “Tim is kind of a throw-back kid. He’s hard-nosed. He encouraged me to stop reading (the papers). I would look for bulletin board material and he just said ‘coach you should stop reading that stuff.’ That’s probably not a bad idea.”

Reading what other people outside the program were saying about the Titans, or about anyone else, didn’t lead to North playing better on the field. Croteau saw that happen instead in practice every day.

“The best part about being on the defense this year was how we developed and how learned and how we needed to prepare,” he said. “By the time we got to the playoffs, we could prepare and put on a good show.”

He’ll have one more opportunity to do that Thursday against Nashua South.

“I’m nervous about the Thanksgiving game because we have so little time to prepare,” Croteau said. “There are a lot of mixed emotions. I’m just happy I’ve learned everything, everything there is to learn to take out of football. I just feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to play here with this coaching staff.”