Sometimes good things come when you least expect it. For instance, Msgr Weier refused to allow tackle football at St. Albert’s but did allow St. Albert students to play for the St. Sebastian team. Danny P and Brian W took this deal and not only went through the long and physically demanding practices, but when they were finished they had a mile ride home on their bikes.

One day Danny was riding his bike in full uniform on Colgate and Merrick and was pulled over by the police, flashing lights and all. The police told Danny that people under 16 had to have a permission slip from their parents to ride in the street and the police let him off with a warning. Danny had his parents sign a permission slip and would carry it with him the rest of the season. The strange thing is, back then, the streets were full of kids under 16 riding bikes in the street so we will never know why Danny got singled out. “Perhaps”, as Danny explains, “it might have something to do with the fact they almost hit me while turning onto Merrick”.

The hard work paid off and Danny played defensive end and offensive right guard, sometimes next to his St. Albert counterpart Brian W who also played offensive guard. Playing for St. Sebastian and meeting new people open doors and provide certain advantages for these 8th graders. For instance, most all of the football team would go to Annapolis so Danny and Brian were already friends with many of the people in their class before they even went there. Another perk was the pep rallies and cheerleaders. Danny met a cheerleader named Gigi V at one of those pep rallies and they dated that year.

The football team did incredibly well and went undefeated with chants of “We’re Number 1” being shouted by everyone on the bus ride home after their last game. Below is the team photo from that team, please note, the students were told to give a “mean face” for the picture so this wasn’t their “Sunday go to Church” look at all.