Exerpts from: 
It's a Fact 
by Al Cavallo
Firebird Football Program
Saturday November 22, 1970 

A cast member of HBO hit series, "Sopranos"??
60 years moonlighting as resident of P-town, 
just waiting for the right time and place... cousin.

Always a smile to greet you,
and cordial platitudes with Italian finesse
to help make the day smooth as a fine chianti.
(without the Favre beans)

Thanks to the following: 

   LOYAL FANS

Who come to the games , bring friends, buy programs and cheer for the 'Birds... Those special friends who help us by flying with the team to away games... Wonderful support by our hometown friends.

President of the Quarterback Club, and the Game Program-Director, Printer-Marketer, great friend of so many and a fanatic  He tells family there are 26 hours to the day. I here say that the 'Mon' is splitting time between 'Micheegan' and da 'eye-lands of virgins'.... not a bad gig
if you can pay the piper..den fetch the pig....

Game / Stadium Director.. an organizer, and problem solver..should have been the Tax Collector.. he does everything else for everybody.

Founder of the Brotherhood Bowl... taking care of the intransients..the illiterates.. the idealists... "Roost" hostel for the players, and finding jobs for the peasant-warriors ... always showing off those  Ursinus Bear-"LEGS"... and keeping Maude (Janet) a Princess
A few off-springs are still sprouting about Pottstown and the region.

Manager - keeper of the office managerie... word has it that she had a 'tin-ear'... and very fragile of private eyes... a saintly sort that could confess to far too much I would suppose.. a great listener for the out-of-towners..

On behalf of all former Firebirds  'bless you all' ... but I need the  novacaine today Doc... the old creaky bones and joints come a callin' for rest and massage.. 

Huckstering the Programs, and pocketing the cash.. always supporting the team.. and complaints -- only the day after.

Maintaining the field.. keeping the hash marks.. shortening the away team end zone.. and keeping the kids busy.

For supporting the effort to keep the players off of welfare.. and off the streets.. always asking for more to do!

Giving the 'extras' after the game... a place to unwind and relax  before the trip home to 'God only knows'.. out-of-state or to the Holiday ?

A provider of juice, soda, and refreshments.. always a smile for  everyone, and a place to work off that hyper energy.. Is someone still in the ice machine ?

Team trainer, and tape dispenser to the rescue... bust your ___. and yet everyone crawls back for more balm.. 'don't beam me up.. just keep me running --  Scotty'.

'The Music Man' and his traveling band ... halftimes that we players never heard, but our family and friends enjoyed the  'sounds and dance'... Thank you for the memories. 

The keeper and advisor of the Firebelles.. We were the forgettables but they were the 'untouchables'..  Oh, Cindy???

The man of the rest and rooms.. the safehouse... the den of solitude.. a place for family and friends to recuperate or resusitate.

A man of many occasions.. transporting the 'Belles' to away games. Who wouldn't !!.. for the many extras without recognition. One of the backbones of a successful organization are such people that give more than they ever receive.

The chariot of the 'Italian motivator'.. the traveling road sign.. usually at the watering hole after practices... sandwitches from the 'pit'.

Ticket sales.. ticker tapes... ticker me tummy...a great lady in charge of the box office and receipts ???  as Rickles might say.. "Ah Ha !!"  you collect um , and I select um..

Oh pretty lasses jumping for joy.. just because the 'King' can score..   but don't regret the hands of Tucker, Alley, Dolbin, and Ronnie   O' boy  ... it's always great to come off the field to look beyond  Coach Dave to see... those lovely faces.. those charming eyes..those   oops !!! no more.

The man behind the camera.. special moments of youth captured!  The photo never lies when you blew a coverage!  The programs are part of the archives for everyone to cherish.. a section of the site will preserve these moments in time, and your efforts will always be
archived for generations to come.

The outfitter of the Firebirds... equipment at a discount??.. always ready to help out when called upon.. a cornerstone of the athletic psyche of the town.

The foundation.. the glue.. the soul... the spirit.. the optimism. The 'God father' if the 'Birds'.. you could have been a politician, but your'e too honest? and giving!... You were the inspiration to this organization, and noone but your family will ever fully know what you endured for three years. Leadership of a successful group, community, and team meant great sacrifice to you and them, and I am not sure that debt will ever be repaid in our lifetimes.  My bet is you'll be repayed in the after-life and immortality.  Roberto you'll play on the fields of eternity with the other 'players of this team', and the coach---- he's waiting for us all to join him.

        The 'pitchfork' can't be big enough.. fast enough, but the words were always trying to find 
          their outlets.. and providing the simulation our efforts.. our stats.. our actions.. our 
          competitive drive.. we  couldn't ask for more.. and Denny became the trainee, the mover 
          of sports doctrine and realities.

   DENNY PETRO

         Local boy apprentices with Firebirds... learning the trade 'on the job' ...not some textbook
           recapitulation. Certainly pounding on doors to be heard. Calling the media outlets for 
           'inches not yards', taping interviews, seeking a back-door quote,just an opportunity to 
           heard -read- understood. The battles of youth prepared him for the wars of adulthood.
           Thirty years a 'warrior of words', and providing an explanation for the 'deeds of sport'...
           Presently, a 'sunshine state' resident, and working stiff under the gaze of the world
           according to "Mouseland, USA" or was that Denny chasing the college broad down the
           beach in Key West for MTV Spring Break?? A recent mug shot was forwarded to me.

 
eat your heart out Firebelles... 
Cindy your 7th grade buddy is loose in Florida!!!

   JOHN DIGREGORIO

He followed coach from Philly to P-town, and brought with him the  savey, and understanding of his job.. his persona.. that blue-collar good nature that helped reinforce the attitudes of this team.. no     B.S. till the job is completed , and done well.. he knew the tricks of the trade.. another one of the 'counselors' for the 'guys'.

Scotty beamed him down to help keep the 'warriors' well healed and ready for the battle.. an unassuming man that enjoyed his role.   Always willing to give a hand.. and a pat on the back as needed..

The sports reporter for the Mercury.. a man of words, and ready to grab the facts, and the under-belly of the moment.. good man..fair man.. and when needed able to provide the truth.. and know when the BS was inappropriate.. one of those quiet but deadly  wordsmiths.

Neil's directorship, and the following members provided a weekly program for the fanatics.. players recognition-- watch.. and for the  manafement of the flights to away games, as needed.. energetic and demanding another attribute found in this organization that  fed off onto the players... no slackers mate....

   COACH DAVE DIFILLIPO

Played HS football in Philly.. college at Villanova (last undefeated team)before the war.. 1941 in NFL with the Eagles.. post war coached Carmen in St Thomas More HS.. then coached at Villanova with Joe Rogers and a dew years later at Temple U...  Head Coach at Atlantic City- ACFL .. then ass't with Wayne Hardin Continental Football  League at  Canton / Philadelphia Bulldogs.. 25 continuous years of  coaching football.

Largest underwear producer in the US.. aided financially strapped  team in 1968, and took contol of the team in 1969.. estimated to spend a quarter of a million dollars to bring a ACFL Championship  team to Pottstown, Pa. Why?  .. It is said, "..he did it to give young  men the chance to play in the big-time.. and others add that he  wanted to show other millionaire owners that a small town could  match the big city folks anytime... put Pottstown on the map". --30 years later the man has proven to be a 'soothsayer' of sorts.   A rough, tough personality was  his outward demeanor, but hidden  inside was a man of dreams.. of youth lost.. of love lost.. of family lost.. looking for respect his way -not mano on mano, but using the team as his surrogate... and we recognized this, but were certainly  accepting the challenge. 

-A personal moment-

Away from the crowds, his peers, and the afternoon  'juice'.. i have a  different memory of him. I went to see him to talk about my release   from the special services contract with the Firebirds. I wanted to  shop myself to several different teams.. he talked to me of being responsible, to live up to my contractual agreement, and my  obligations, and integrity. I listened and expressed my wishes to pursue a 'dream'.. one that now has a $10,000. finders' fee that  many teams would not consider or rather explained to me I would   not get any money upfront.. especially as a free agent.. a couple  was their max.. thus I was being 'locked-out'.. I even indicated I  would repay him when I make the NFL... After an hour of his time  he stood up looked me in the eye .. I will always remember his  words, "Herbie I like your style.. and the way you play the game. (paused a moment).. I tell you what, you talk your way into a  summer camp, and I will gladly release you, but let's keep here  and  now.. is that a deal. " He walked over and put an arm around my      shoulder, and said, "you tell Mike hello." He then grinned and called  for his chauffeur.

The Brotherhood Bowl, August 30, 1969 was inspired by the  ecumenical spirit of RB Hunter and the many men of the cloth in the Pottstown community to bring out the positive relationship in all peoples of this locale. A mutual bond of 'Oneness with God as is the Brotherhood of Earthly bound Man'.  The spirit moved him, and all those in his presence.. the greatest image I have of the Pottstown Firebird experience is the photograph of his pre-game revelation and prayer before competing at Franklin Field Stadium on a Saturday evening during the Fall of 1969-70 in Pottstown , Pa.  Everytime I look at that graphic many emotions, and feelings return from within to this day thirty years ago. 
Click here to view photo
 
 

Biographic