GROVE CITY — Brandon Dennis treated it as another subject at Grove City High School.

Leadership 101.

The senior offensive guard and middle linebacker was one of 15 Grove City football players who participated in what amounted to a leadership council course — an intensive 12-week program designed to build character.

It was the second year of the program under Grove City football coach Sam Mowrey.

It has been wildly successful.

“I personally enjoy the meetings,” Dennis said. “It brought everyone together.”

The council was the brainchild of Mowrey and his assistant coaches. They were trying to find a way to better select team captains.

“We talked about how the title of captain should be meaningful,” Mowrey said.

Any player who participates and completes the program is eligible to be named captain.

Completing what amounts to an intensive course is not easy.

“You have to be really committed,” said Dennis, who is in his second year in the program. “It’s not easy. There’s a lot of work, community service, team-building exercises — a lot of stuff. It gives you a feeling of satisfaction, though.”

That was what Mowrey was hoping to accomplish with the program.

He has seen the difference already in his players.

“You can see them come to work and be encouraging to each other,” Mowrey said. “Sometimes if a kid messes up, you’d hear a groan. But now, you see a pat on the butt and a word of encouragement. You can just see them grow and mature in front of you.”

Dennis and his teammates participated in various exercises to build teamwork, such as a tire roll and carry, wall climbing and a trust test where players fell and their teammates had to catch them.

They also had to complete work at home that including a reading list and essays.

Players also appeared before their eight coaches and were interviewed as if they were applying for a job.

It’s wasn’t all a grind, however. In June, the council went to a rope course at Lutherlyn in Butler.

“The kids had a blast,” Mowrey said. “They said it was the most fun thing they had ever done.”

Dennis remembers looking up to older players when he was a kid and said he gets goose bumps when he thinks about younger players looking up to him now.

“You have to be a good role model,” Dennis said. “They look up to you.”

Mowrey tinkered with the curriculum from last year and may include some younger players in the program next year based on suggestions from the participants.

“They wondered if some of the younger guys could get involved, maybe come to a meeting and see what it is all about,” Mowrey said. “We’re thinking about starting a junior program for them next season.”

Dennis can also feel the difference when it comes to how he deals with adversity and his teammates.

“I was a lot less vocal, a lot less outgoing,” Dennis said. “I kind of challenged myself to be more of a leader.”