Getting a jump on things

So much still seems the same. The football players are using their old practice field. The locker rooms haven’t changed either. And quite a few of the athletes are back from last year.

It’s all the players and coaches can do not to shout, "Let’s go, Pirates!"

But that ship has sailed. Although the players are still using St. John Neumann High’s athletic facilities, the boys’ school at 26th and Moore streets is officially closed.

After Labor Day, the football players and other athletes will start commuting via bus and car from 10th and Moore streets — home of the new Ss. John Neumann-Maria Goretti High. It won’t be quite as convenient as walking onto the field right after school, but that is just one of many changes the rechristened team is facing.

On Monday night, the Saints — get used to it now — held their first official practice. The orange and black uniforms are gone. The athletes have favorable reviews for their new black, white and gold jerseys, now hanging in the second-floor classroom where the team holds its meetings.

"I am loving them," said senior quarterback Kenny Brown. "They look better than the New Orleans Saints’ jerseys."

The NFL version of the Saints uses the same color scheme, giving the high-school team the look of the pros.

New head coach Steve Smith also is happy with the sharp uniforms.

"They are beautiful," said Smith, a 1979 Neumann grad. "They came out great. Everybody is raving about them."

At practice this week, players took the field wearing shorts and T-shirts. Next week, they will add pads and helmets as practices intensify with three-a-days. The Saints will hold three 90-minute sessions focusing on offense, defense and special teams. Athletes will get a breather in between sessions to eat and rest any bumps and bruises.

"We are really going to grind it out," said Smith, originally of 32nd and Tasker streets.

The Neumann-Goretti football players dedicated many hours to weight-room workouts this summer. The Neumann weight room remained open so the athletes could lift two days a week.

"The turnout was great," Smith said. "We averaged 30 kids per workout."

The coach noted that some sessions included as many as 70 players and hopefuls.

Practices will start getting a lot more intense. Athletes will have to learn all the plays stored in their three-ring binders.

That’s not a problem for senior quarterback and strong safety Brian McLaughlin, who said he is "ready to go."

The Saints are focused on moving forward from an off-season that saw football coach Ed "Bubby" DiCamillo released and six players transfer to West Catholic.

And tragically, fullback Alvin Dill — who would have been a senior this season — was fatally shot over Memorial Day weekend while trying to break up a fight in Southwest Philadelphia.

His teammates are feeling the loss of both player and friend.

"He taught me how to play football," said senior fullback Khaillier "Kiss" Stevens.

McLaughlin had attended school with Dill since seventh grade.

"I was shocked," he said. "We lost a strong football player. He was a big help to the team."

Neumann-Goretti is dedicating the 2004 season in memory of the athlete, whose number-40 home and away jerseys will hang in the team classroom this season. His number will be off-limits until the 2005 season. Smith also plans to retire the athlete’s number-40 Neumann jersey during a Saints home game this season.

Winning the Catholic League Blue championship would make the year even more poignant.

The Saints first must fill the voids left by teammates who either graduated or transferred. The 6-foot-6, 335-pound Marques Slocum, who transferred to West Catholic, left a major hole on the offensive and defensive lines.

Despite such losses, Smith — who spent 11 seasons as Neumann’s offensive and defensive line coach — is confident that his team can start its new chapter with a winning season. The first test comes Sept. 4 with the annual meeting against North Catholic in Wildwood, N.J.

"It’s going to be a tough game," the coach said. "We’ve been successful against them the last few years, but we can’t take anything lightly."

By then, the players should be fully acclimated to their new name and colors.

"It’s going to be tough because for the last three years, we’ve been known as the Pirates," Brown said.

Ready … 1 … 2 … 3 … SAINTS!