Casualty of consolidation

Who will coach the new Ss. John Neumann and Maria Goretti football team?

Despite his long and significant history with the boys’ high school, Ed "Bubby" DiCamillo knows it’s not going to be him.

DiCamillo, who has a career 54-46-2 record coaching the Pirates, learned he was disqualified from the running when he met with school officials last week.

"They called me in and said they were letting me go," said the coach, also a 1965 Neumann graduate. "They felt I was very negative toward the consolidation and too negative toward the administration.

"I wasn’t negative about the consolidation; that was inevitable," he added. "I guess I was vociferous toward the relocation."

The merged school will call Goretti’s building, at 10th and Moore streets, home. The Pirates and Lambs will become history as the Saints come marching in.

DiCamillo, who began his long affiliation with Neumann in 1961 as a student, learned earlier this month that his position as athletic director also would become history. The job instead will go to John Murawsky Jr.

Luis DeVelasco, Neumann’s assistant principal of student life, had to break the news after spending the last 14 years working closely with DiCamillo.

"It was a tough decision to make, as there are many tough decisions to make with the Neumann-Goretti consolidation," DeVelasco said.

The vacant head football position was posted Tuesday and will remain open for 20 days. Potential replacements will be brought in for interviews shortly thereafter.

DiCamillo’s termination has prompted several Neumann football players to put in transfers to West Catholic High. Junior offensive-defensive lineman Marques Slocum, a heavily recruited Division I prospect, literally would be the team’s biggest loss at 6-foot-5, 305 pounds. A returning Associated Press Second Team All-State, Slocum has gained the interest of Michigan State, Syracuse, Penn State, Maryland, Southern Cal and several other big-time college programs.

Junior offensive lineman James Smart and junior wide receivers Antoine Stout and Michael Evans also have applied to the West Philly high school.

Brian Fluck, West Catholic football coach and director of admissions, said potential transfers have to make the first contact for the school to consider them. Every potential student has to turn in copies of all transcripts and report cards and interview with the principal.

Neumann or Goretti athletes who transfer to another school will be immediately eligible to play their respective sports. Catherine L. Rossi, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said that since Neumann-Goretti is a new school, it’s expected that current students might be considering their options.

DiCamillo expressed no surprise at the news of his dismissal, but said his thoughts will remain with his players as they make a major transition.

After all, he noted, his players are used to walking out the back door of their school and being on the football field. Next season, the team will have to travel to its practice facility.

"I went through it as a player and a coach," said DiCamillo. "You have to be really dedicated to do that."

The coach was indeed most vocal about the players having to give up their athletic facilities. Neumann’s field was ideal for the Pirates’ soccer, baseball and lacrosse teams to use for practice and games, while the football squad used it for practices only. Goretti teams, on the other hand, travel to Palumbo Recreation Center, 10th and Fitzwater streets.

"You lose a field that was the heart and soul of the whole program," DiCamillo lamented.

The returning players also will need to adjust to a field without Bubby. The Pirates’ football program has enjoyed plenty of success since the beloved coach returned to the sidelines in 2000.

A Pirate Club Varsity Hall of Fame member, DiCamillo has compiled a 16-13-2 record, which includes four straight trips to the Catholic League Blue semifinals. He spent the off-seasons conditioning his players, and many late Monday nights watching game films.

In this final year of Neumann as a single-sex school, the Pirates finished the season 6-4 overall and came within seconds of advancing to their first-ever Catholic League Blue championship contest.

The all-out effort of his players is just one of the many positive memories DiCamillo will take from his post. Now, the former Neumann athlete and coach is fielding nothing but emotional phone calls from players and alumni.

Instead of being angry or upset, DiCamillo said he just wants to move on.

He will remain Neumann’s athletic director through June. Meanwhile, other high schools have offered him coaching positions, and some colleges have come calling as well.

For now, however, Neumann is still his top priority.

"I would like to finish out the year because I have a good rapport with the kids," said DiCamillo. "You do this for the kids and just hope you win."