It's really great to be able to read about all of our former teammates and remember Brockport Football.

I could tell lots of stories about having the honor of playing for Coach D'Agostino at Brockport. I have many fond memories of the practices, games, college parties, friends and crazy fun we had when we were 18-21 years old.

I actually learned more about life on the Brockport football field than I did studying and receiving my Undergraduate Degree, Masters Degree and Doctorate of Education Degree. Coach D'Agostino, our coaches and teammates taught us about determination, discipline, character, sacrifice and self-confidence. This knowledge is what decides a person's success or failure in life.

When we were in our late teens we were just beginning to find out who we were. Coach D', Coach MacIntyre, Coach Brogan, Coach Johnson and the other coaches were in a position to have a major impact on shaping our lives, self-confidence and our future.

The reason Coach D' is still idolized by all of us after fifty years is a tremendous compliment to him. There are very few coaches in America who still command such reverence from their former players.

I came to Brockport in 1965. I was a very good high school player from Kenmore West in Buffalo. I even made the All Niagara Frontier Team. However, I was a tough kid who lacked personal confidence.

Coach D' changed all of the confidence issues for me. Coach D' [and his coaching staff] never said a negative word to me. That was incredibly influential on a young kid who idolized Coach D'Agostino. His confidence in me resulted in me learning to play with "reckless abandon". I started as nose guard in our 5-4 defense and left inside guard in or 6-3 defense. I had a great football career at Brockport. I made the All-East Team in the 1967 Mansfield Game. I then played semi-pro football with some of our team mates in 1972. I made the All Empire State Team. I served time in the National Guard and then came back to continue my post-graduate studies at Brockport.

After graduation, I went on to have a successful career as a teacher, football coach, principal and Superintendent of Schools. I served as Superintendent for 16 years in three different school districts.

Coach D'Agostino used to say to us, "The game of football is like the game of life." I learned as I got older and had a career in education that he was so correct.

During my career in education I had many challenging times and difficult people to deal with. I knew nothing or anyone could be more challenging then the triple sessions that we experienced in pre-season training at Brockport each August. There are very few people who could have endured that and not quit. This experience and the confidence and love Coach D'Agostino showed for me made me a success in life.

I also met my best friends forever on the Brockport football field. They endured the challenges of the triple-sessions, hard practices and challenging games as I did. Bo Bertino, and Fred Carbone are my best friends forever. We have been so close from college years and would die for each other. Chris Jenson and Dave Lipkee are also life-time friends as are all of the "Gray Eagles" who played for Coach D'Agostino.

This says a lot for Coach D'Agostino. He made us his disciples and sent us out in our careers to instill confidence and success for all the children we had contact with. It is an awesome legacy for him

I am so happy and honored to be able to be in contact with you and all of our former teammates. We all share a common bond after our experiences playing at Brockport. We are part of a unique fraternity of "tough guys" who endured many challenges that make us a unique brotherhood.

God bless all of you. I am sure Coach D' is looking down from heaven. He is proud that we have continued to promote his teachings and legacy.

Bat, #73 

Class of 1969

Kenmore, NY