“Soccer helps me with my footwork, which is very important in lacrosse,” Chandis said. “Likewise, lacrosse helps me to be able to physically throw my body around against bigger guys on the soccer field, without having to be afraid or shy away.”

So playing two sports is definitely possible, as these two athletes have demonstrated by becoming major contributors for both of their sports, all while handling the multitude of responsibilities created by playing on two D-I teams. However, whether or not O’Hagan should play baseball as well as football or not is not something I or anyone else can really say. It’s a decision that has to be made jointly by O’Hagan and Murphy.

“I think the relevant issue is that Liam will likely be gaining admission to Harvard through the football team,” Fried said. “As a result, he has a certain level of indebtedness to those coaches who facilitated his matriculation. Some coaches do not feel comfortable with the two-sport commitment because of the risk of injury. If Liam is considering pro football, he has to value how much baseball will benefit his career plans versus spring football.”

O’Hagan’s ability as a pitcher could clearly help the Crimson baseball team, whose need for good arms will never be exhausted. But before he makes a decision, O’Hagan and Murphy will have to consider exactly how willing they are to risk O’Hagan’s possible injury or lost practice time by playing baseball. If they deem that it’s not worth the risk and that O’Hagan will be better off in the long run only playing football, so be it.

However, if they weigh the important factors—with Fried and Chandis serving as prime examples—and decide that O’Hagan can handle both sports, Walsh and the baseball team will undoubtedly be thrilled.

It takes a special kind of person and understanding coaches to be able to manage playing two D-I sports and completing the rigorous demands of a Harvard academic schedule, but perhaps Murphy’s willingness to let Dawson participate in Track leaves open the possibility that he would let O’Hagan play baseball.

“Mental toughness, organization, and most importantly love for the game have to be the final determining factors in whether or not you are able to do two sports,” Chandis said.

—Staff writer Robert C. Boutwell can be reached at boutwel@fas.harvard.edu.