Harry S. Truman’s football program might not be as high profile as it is at some of its SOL National Conference counterparts, but that doesn’t mean its players aren’t just as passionate about the sport.
“It takes a lot to come out here knowing we’re not successful, but it’s basically just a love for the game,” senior Travis Thomas said.
Thomas (Mansfield), Tom Bremme (East Stroudsburg), Donald Crawley (Thaddeus Stevens), Drew Peterson (Albright), Todd Hayes (Wesley), Michael Connolly (Lebanon Valley) and Anthony Dale (Wesley) will all continue their football careers after high school.
“They’re all good character kids,” Truman coach John Iannucci said. “They’re quality individuals, and that’s usually what schools look for, especially when you get past the (Division) 1-A level.
“Their lack of success has been due to the program, not the individual.”
Iannucci is not surprised to see seven of his players taking their game to the next level.
I’m used to that number going because I make a commitment to the kids that I’m going to do everything I can to get them in, and we go from there,” the Tigers’ first-year coach said. “My thing is – if they do what they’re supposed to do for me, there’s a college out there for good high school football players. I think a lot of the time the losing came from the fact that they weren’t used to winning.”
Bremme – who was selected to play in the Bucks County All-Star Game – will have the opportunity to catch the football when he attends East Stroudsburg where he is projected to play tight end.
“Tom’s really a natural tight end with a team that throws the ball,” Iannucci said. “We were not that kind of team, so he kind of subjugated himself, which is a credit to him.
“We ended up running the ball all the time, but he’s got great hands. He was our captain and was named a captain of the all-star game. He’s a character type kid, and he’s a very hard worker.”
Crawley played linebacker and fullback for the Tigers, and he will attend Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, although Williamson Trade School may also be a possibility. He will be studying masonry and has not ruled out continuing his wrestling career as well.
“Don is just a solid kid,” Iannucci said. “He’s a consistent kid, he’s a physical kid.
“Donald is a ‘Yes, sir, no sir,’ type of kid. He’s a pleasure to coach. He does exactly what you ask. I can see Donald doing very well there in football and in what he wants to do – he wants to work with his hands, and he wants to learn a trade. This will be a perfect place for him.”
Peterson was the field general for the Tigers at quarterback, but he is projected to play wideout at Abright. He will major in criminal justice.
“Drew is probably the most gifted of all the kids,” Iannucci said. “Probably if he had played wideout, I think a higher level school would have taken a chance on him.
“A couple higher level schools were interested but in the end took players who had played the position. He’s a very, very gifted athlete, and I see him playing right away for them.”
Although Hayes played center and defensive end for the Tigers, he will move to linebacker at Wesley. He plans to major in business.
“That’s going to be a transition for him,” Iannucci said. “He stood up the year before we got there, but we put him down.
“Todd’s a very physical kid, a very coachable kid. He’s going to do exactly what you tell him to do. He’s a very strong kid, and he’s a pleasure to coach.”
Dale will also be taking his talents to Wesley. He played linebacker for the Tigers and is projected to play that position at the collegiate level as well.
“He’s got some skill at linebacker,” Iannucci said. “The problem with him was he was so light playing this year. He was probably 180 pounds, but he’s already up to 205.
“He probably will get playing time early on if he can continue to gain. He’s a very instinctual linebacker, and he’s very easy to coach. He’s a perfectionist and gets very mad at himself if he does something wrong.”
Connolly, who plans to major in history, played offensive guard for the Tigers but will be moving to tackle at Lebanon Valley.
“He’s a physical kid,” Iannucci said. “He’s going to have to get himself in better shape, but once he gets in better shape – he’s probably the most physical kid on the team as far as the line goes.
“He’s a very good student, and he’s easy to get along with. These are easy kids to coach.”
Thomas – who played cornerback and lined up at slot - is projected to play wide receiver at Mansfield. He will major in psychology.
“He has real good speed,” Iannucci said. “As the year went on and he started picking up the offense, he started getting much better.
“He’s going to go back out at wide receiver from what I understand, and he should do exceptionally well there because that’s his natural position.”
Senior Jim Wolfe will not be continuing his football career at the collegiate level, but he was named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete. He will be attending Drexel University.
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