Times Observer photo by Brian Hagberg Aidan Morrison signs his National Letter of Intent to play baseball for Division I Canisius during a signing day event at Warren Area High School. Morrison relied heavily on his family during the recruitment process, but perhaps no one more than his older brother Andrew, himself a former college athlete. The two have always been close and the bonds of brotherhood have only grown through their personal triumphs and tragedy.

In the 2000 film, “Gone in 60 seconds” Nicholas Cage’s character returns to Long Beach, California, to help his younger brother get out of a situation involving some international car thieves. The elder brother had been exiled from his home due to his own issues stealing cars.

Once everything is resolved, the local detective who had been chasing Cage confronts him about why he made his return. In the end, the detective eloquently sums the action by saying, “But I understand why you came back. A brother’s love . . . is a brother’s love.”

Most of that, of course, has little to do with a local high school athlete who will further his academic and athletic career at the college level. But that final quote might be the simplest way to explain the bond that exists between Warren senior Aidan Morrison and his older brother, Andrew.

“When I was little, it was just me and my sister,” Andrew said. “And I love my sister, but I was literally pestering my parents all the time, ‘You need to have another kid. I really want a brother.’ I always said it.”

Eventually, Andrew got his wish when Aidan arrived. As they grew, Aidan-eight years younger-would find himself traveling to Andrew’s baseball and football games, doing whatever he could to be part of the action.

“I went to every game when I was little and watched him play,” Aidan said. “When he was 12, I watched them go to states (Little League) and everything. I just always wanted to be like him.”

Aidan wore the same jersey number, 9, and played the same position, catcher, Andrew did. However, it didn’t take long for Andrew to realize that Aidan would not only be like him, but better.

“Growing up, I was able to help him until he got to high school,” Andrew said. “By the time he was in ninth grade he was better than I ever was. It was like, ‘OK, I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t know how you’re throwing the ball that hard to second base, but keep doing that.'”

It wasn’t just baseball either.

“He’s always been a better basketball player,” Andrew said. “My senior year of football I was an honorable mention all-state player and he turns around and gets second team all-state.

“It’s like, ‘OK, what is this?’,” he added, laughing. “Honestly, for me, I want him to be better than me. I’ve always wanted that for him. Especially in baseball. There’s really no comparison between us.”

And it’s in baseball where Aidan will move on. The multi-time all-region player and reigning region Defensive MVP, signed his National Letter of Intent late last year to play collegiately at Canisius.

“My first call from a college was (when) I was on an airplane to Georgia for a travel tournament,” Aidan said. “Coach (Matt) Mazurek (the Canisius head coach) called and said he wanted to talk and it went from there. It wasn’t the only school I talked to, but I always felt I had the best relationship with Coach Mazurek and the players at Canisius.”

The decision wasn’t easy as Mercyhurst had shown strong interest in Aidan and there were no shortage of family ties to the Lakers. Aidan’s mom, Jeana, was a two-sport athlete there and Andrew initially played there out of high school.

“I almost committed there, actually,” Aidan said. “I visited there before Canisius and I was going to commit there and my mom and brother advised me to visit the other schools I was talking to. They didn’t pressure me at all though. They wanted me to go where I best fit and it was definitely Canisius.”

Having gone through his own whirlwind recruitment, Andrew wanted to help Aidan slow the process so he could make the best decision for his future.

“I knew it was overwhelming for me and I didn’t want it to be like that for him,” Andrew said. “He did a good job slowing it down and visiting.”

Helping his little brother navigate through life’s challenges wasn’t exactly new to Andrew. As an older brother, it comes with the territory. But the extent to which that help was needed changed after their father, Jim, passed away when the boys were 19 and 11.

“My dad never really said anything to me about watching out for him, but I always knew that was something that he would want,” Andrew said. “I don’t fee like he needs me, but at the same time, I feel like I can help him. I’ve always tried to be the best role model I can for him.”

“He’s been my younger father figure,” Aidan said. “He’s been huge, on and off the field.

Their relationship, always tight and strengthened by leaning on each other in their time of loss, added another dimension two years ago when Andrew took a position on the staff of Warren’s football team.

“It was an experience,” Aidan said. “We obviously had our feuds because we’re brothers. But he knew how to coach me better than anybody and could get through to me. It was an experience for sure. Never bad though. It’s always been a positive thing.”

“We’re on the same wavelength,” Andrew added. “We have the same kind of personality. I can look him in the eyes and see what he’s feeling. I can tell how he’s reacting by his body language cause I’ve been there and we’re that similar.”

Both said they could see a noticeable difference once Aidan had made his college choice.

“He committed to (Canisius), then the next day something just clicked in him,” Aidan said. “All of a sudden, he was back to being the kid he was. That definitely loosened him up and I think it’s going to show in baseball this year.”

“It feels like a load off my back,” Aidan said. “I can just focus on winning as a team this year. I can just play hard and try to win every game.”

And while Aidan can just relax and play, Andrew can head to his usual perch at Legion Field behind the left field fence and watch as his little brother continues fulfilling his dreams. Even if it means Aidan gets familial bragging rights.

“There’s no envy from me,” Andrew said. “You should always aspire to be better than somebody. And he was. I’m proud of him.”