Steve Murphy played every day with the tenacity of a pit bull. Coach Paul Longo once said, “Steve not only works hard every day, but expects everyone to perform at their best every day.” Coach Megna described Steve as “a ferocious leader whose motor knows no bounds!” There have been very few athletes who have excelled to the level Steve Murphy has in two sports.
In football, during his junior year, Steve played tight end for the undefeated Long Island champion Colonials. He earned All-County and All Long-Island (Second Team) as a tight end. Steve took over as captain and quarterback during his senior year and amassed 25 total touchdowns (13 passing/12 rushing) and 2,187 total yards (1,137 passing and 1,050 rushing). During his spectacular senior season, he earned numerous accolades including the Boomer Esiason Award as the best quarterback in Suffolk County, All-State (First Team), All-Long Island (First Team) and All-County.
In lacrosse, Steve was a four-year starter who earned All-Division honors as a freshman, was a three-time All-County performer and earned All-Long Island (First Team) during his junior and senior years. He was ranked as the No. 26 recruit by Inside Lacrosse magazine and accepted a scholarship to play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. During his senior year, Steve was named the “X Factor Player of the Year” by Inside Lacrosse, earned a selection to the Under Armour All-American Team and was a gold medalist in the Empire State Games and won the Dellecave Award as the 2009 “Exceptional Scholar Athlete.”
As a member of the nationally-ranked Fighting Irish lacrosse team, Steve started four years and was twice named to the Big East All-Academic Team.