Carrying on

When the Neumann-Goretti Saints took to the football field last week, they wore their new black helmets and white practice jerseys.

But underneath, some of the players wore orange T-shirts — the color of the Neumann Pirates.

It was as if to say, Not that much has changed around here.

"The confidence is still there," said senior tackle Joe Chiaro. "The same drive is still there. We just have different jerseys. I am pretty excited to see how everything goes."

Also contributing to the Saints’ new look is the departure of several starters. Some players graduated, but others chose to transfer to West Catholic after Neumann released longtime head coach Ed "Bubby" DiCamillo. Former assistant Steve Smith took over the post.

Now Neumann-Goretti will face onetime teammates Marques Slocum, a 6-foot-6, 335-pound lineman, and Antoine Stout, a receiver, in an Oct. 9 game against West.

The greatest loss is that of Alvin Dill, a fullback who was fatally shot over Memorial Day weekend while trying to break up a fight in his Southwest Philadelphia neighborhood. Dill, who would have been a senior this season, was widely considered a team leader.

Many of the athletes have taped the message "R.I.P. AJ" — for Alvin Jr. — on their helmets.

"The kids have their own way of showing dedication to Alvin with an emblem on their shoes or helmet," Smith said.

The new season, also dedicated to Dill, begins Saturday with the annual Labor Day weekend meeting against North Catholic. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Wildwood, N.J.

Smith, a 1979 Neumann grad, said the athletes are rallying together and already bonding as a team. The coach hopes the spirit will last deep into the playoffs.

The Pirates finished with a respectable 5-3 league record in their final year, but lost to eventual champ Archbishop Wood in the Catholic League Blue semifinals.

The team begins the Neumann-Goretti era with several new faces on both sides of the ball. Senior quarterback Kenny Brown replaces Jon Brady, who passed for 845 yards and nine touchdowns last season. The squad also will have a new look in the backfield, as Richard McMickens, Billy Canady and Frank Baldino — who combined for 166 points and more than 1,200 rushing yards — have graduated. Juniors Keith Williams and Dan Chavis and senior Bruce Holloman are expected to share the carries.

"We are going to have a good season, especially with the speed we have," said Williams, who runs a 4.4 40-yard dash.

Smith is laying down some strict curfews for the players, and will be calling to check up on them. Any athlete not home at 10 p.m. on a Friday will sit out a 1 p.m. Saturday game.

Some of the most valuable players will be those providing protection and blocking up front. They include juniors Barry Canady — Billy’s cousin — Phil Love, Ernie Cimadamore and Chiaro.

Love, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end who is playing his first season of high-school football, is off to a strong start.

"He is absolutely a big surprise," Smith said. "He is probably the biggest surprise in camp."

Senior linebackers Chris Baldwin and Anthony Colancecco, along with Chavis, a junior, will be key contributors on defense. Brown, the quarterback, will do double duty at defensive back. He’ll be joined by cousins Brian and Michael McLaughlin, both seniors.

All of the players seem mostly unfazed about this season’s color, name and uniform changes.

"It’s going to be a little weird, but when you’re playing football, it makes no difference," Colancecco said. "The colors don’t mean a thing as long as we come together."

Of course, the ultimate goal is a Catholic League Blue championship, but Smith prefers taking a game-by-game approach.

"We’re going to get better every week as a team, get stronger and really work on getting into a good situation," the coach said. "We want to play at a high level."

In the early going, West Catholic appears to have the premier talent in the league, while Conwell-Egan has the league’s best athlete in Steve Slaton, Smith said.

Neumann-Goretti has a long winning tradition that stretches back 70 years to the school’s days as Southeast Catholic.

But everything now rests on the new group’s shoulders, said defensive player Cimadamore.

"It’s a new season and it’s important to me to do the best you can," he said. "Everything aside, you just have to worry about this year."

2004 Schedule

Sept. 4 North Catholic Away (Wildwood) 4 p.m.
Sept. 11 McDevitt Home 1 p.m.
Sept. 18 Episcopal Away 10:30 a.m.*
Sept. 25 Conwell-Egan Away 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 Freire Charter Home 1 p.m.*
Oct. 9 West Catholic Home 1 p.m.
Oct. 16 Dougherty Away 1 p.m.
Oct. 22 Kennedy-Kenrick Home 1 p.m.
Oct. 30 Carroll Away 2 p.m.
Nov. 6 Wood Away 1 p.m.
Nov. 25 Southern Away 10:30 a.m.*

*Denotes non-league game. Home games are played at 11th and Bigler streets.

2003 Standings

Wood 8-0
West Catholic 5-3
Carroll 5-3
Neumann 5-3
McDevitt 4-4
Conwell-Egan 4-4
Kennedy-Kenrick 4-4
North Catholic 1-7
Cardinal Dougherty 0-8