Emotion and Dopamine could be the secret to motivation! Last night I watched noted speaker Tony Robbins online, and he put a name to that dynamic substance that jumps into your heart and soul and tells you that you have what it takes to get the job done regardless of …
Read More »Rebuilding Patriotism
When you coached at our high school, you were not assigned a homeroom, so in 1986 after retiring from head football coach, it was SOP that I was assigned an 11th-grade homeroom for the first time in 10 years. On the first day of school, usually the first activity of …
Read More »Jack Bottinger and Mike Gilligan
Joe Lannon at 74 is unbroken The big 737 touched down and we were in Phoenix Arizona! Seven of us, friends all, landed with the hope of once again attempting to conquer the hot and dry trails leading down into and out of nature’s perfect river carved structure the Grand …
Read More »What Makes a Teacher or Coach Successful
The other day while attending my wife’s monthly sorority meeting, I met the husband of one of my wife’s classmates Ed Clark. Ed is a Naval Academy graduate and a retired submarine officer. He and his wife Sally traveled from Virginia to attend the meeting. While the wives chat and …
Read More »It’s All in the State of Your Mind
I’ve never talked about this before. Doing so now is a result of my sister Lorraine reminding of these events that happened over 50 years ago. While running high school track during my sophomore year in the spring of 1955, I pulled up with a pulled hip muscle.
Read More »1971 Paul VI High School Football Team: United by the Impossible Dream
This true sports story inspired by the 1971 Paul VI High School football team. _______________________________ Sometimes while sitting doing nothing in these retirement years, our minds wander, and at times, recall events from the past that make us all tingly inside. I had one of those moments yesterday. These moments …
Read More »Good old fashioned football attitude
Let’s go! Everyone on the bus!!! That was my command as I sat down behind the wheel of the 29 passenger school bus and proceeded to drive the Gloucester Catholic High School football team to a practice field about 5 miles from the school. Our camp before school began this …
Read More »The Letter
When viewed from the Schuylkill Expressway In Philadelphia, Pa., heading west toward the Manayunk exit, St. John’s Church presents a magnificent picture of dignity and grace. This gray-stoned high-steepled beauty surrounded by a park made a wonderful setting for the wedding my wife and I attended in Manayunk. The ever-present …
Read More »Rudy Ruettiger of Notre Dame and movie Rudy visits school
Rudy Ruettiger of Notre Dame fame and the movie “Rudy” to speak at our School — Why would he visit us? Read the story below to find out! A trip to the University of Notre Dame became a annual event after the 2001 homeroom of 201 did it in grand …
Read More »Freshman Homeroom and the Notre Dame Trip of 2001
It was the Christmas season, and everyone at school was in a sharing and giving mood. The school was running a clothing drive to benefit a school in South Africa. The project was organized by a longtime friend and fellow teacher. Each homeroom was asked to bring clothing from home …
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