Before They Drew X's and O's, Football 2011

Before They Drew X's and O's . . .

As you can imagine, many of the head coaches and assistants currently associated with city
leagues' football teams are former players. Since I'm ancient (smile), I wrote stories about
many of them during their high school careers.
We hope you enjoy this feature.
Would you like to see a story about someone who played in the Public, Catholic or Inter-Ac
leagues and is now a coach (assuming I did one on him)? Send me a note at silaryt@phillynews.com.
Thanks,
Ted

This story was written about Lincoln linebacker Joe DiGrazio just before
the 2005 City All-Star Game. Therein, Joe made 11 tackles as Public
stormed to a 30-0 victory. Now an assistant at his alma mater, Joe was a
member of the Public staff in 2012 and again the Pub triumphed, 29-22.

No ordinary Joe
Lincoln's DiGrazio an exemplary City All-Star

May 12, 2005

By TED SILARY silaryt@phillynews.com

JOE DiGRAZIO is still searching hard for the answers, but so far they've eluded him.

It's understandable, definitely, because the questions are pretty darn difficult.

"We are trying to find out why streams are so polluted and why so many trees are dying," DiGrazio said.

We are the members of the environmental science academy at Abraham Lincoln High, and DiGrazio is among the motivated. But when it was time for senior projects, Joey D received permission to look in a different direction.

"I asked if I could do my project on velocity, and my report passed with flying colors," he said. "Since I'm so into football and baseball, I wanted to do something related to sports.

"I was trying to find the best angle to throw a ball. We had to do it indoors, so I was kind of limited. But with a Nerf ball, being shot out of a Nerf ball gun, I found out that you got the best distance when it was set at 45 degrees. "

Hmm. Interesting.

And what might be the recommended angle for those wishing to pummel people while playing defense?

"Straight up," DiGrazio said, laughing.

The 6-2, 215-pound DiGrazio will play linebacker when Public meets Non-Public in the 31st annual Daily News-Eagles City All-Star Game, 7 p.m. May 21 at Northeast High. He'll also excel, no doubt.

Over the last two seasons, DiGrazio's rock 'em, sock 'em performances were a primary reason the Railsplitters posted overall records of 6-4 and 7-5 (most wins since 1989) to regain some long-missing respectability.

And when all-star workouts began, it took almost no time for DiGrazio to make a positive impression on Public coach Frank "Roscoe" Natale, now an assistant at Edward Bok Tech and formerly the head man at John Bartram.

"That DiGrazio kid really gets it," Natale said. "At our first meeting, I reminded the kids that they're all great players but we have check our egos at the door and work as one.

"Anything I ask of Joe, he does it. He plays in baseball games for Lincoln [as a hard-hitting outfielder], then rushes down to our practices. How can you not like that kind of dedication? And he's a player, too. "

To a degree, DiGrazio is playing for two.

His father, Joe, was an honorable-mention All-Catholic linebacker for the old Bishop Neumann in 1974 and hoped to play the following spring in the first All-Star Game.

"But he wasn't selected," DiGrazio said. "I think this means as much to him as it does to me. He's been great at driving me all over from baseball to make sure I get to the practices. My mom [Peggy] and sister [Maggie] are looking forward to it, too.

"I was at the game in 2002 when [Lincoln's] Shahfin Timmons and Ty Brannock were playing. I set my goal right then of being in the game, too. With the help of [Lincoln coach] Gene Kelly, I was able to reach it. It's neat to be around guys I played against, and get to know them. They say I had a good rep around the league.

"The game I always enjoyed the most was when we played Father Judge on Thanksgiving. Lots of people and a great atmosphere. This will be the same thing. I can't wait. I'm going to do my best to represent Lincoln. And with [running back] Terrell Denson being bothered a little by a pulled hamstring, I might have to represent us alone. "

If he had listened to his pop, DiGrazio might have wound up playing for Non-Public.

"Every year, he kept saying I should go to Judge," he said, laughing. "But after we went 2-9 when I was a soph, I couldn't leave. I liked Lincoln too much. Had too many friends. I wanted to stay and be part of the group that turned things around. "

As an eighth-grader at Austin Meehan Middle School, DiGrazio hoped to attend Northeast or George Washington. Neither option worked out and his choice came down to Lincoln or Frankford. Lincoln won out due mostly to geography, as he lives a short walk away near Ryan Ave. and Roosevelt Blvd.

"People say all kinds of bad things about Lincoln," he said. "Not all of it is true. I'm glad I came here. "

On offense last season, mostly as a slotback, DiGrazio rushed 15 times for 119 yards and three touchdowns and turned 13 catches into 226 yards and another score. He also was a ferocious blocker.

"I like offense," he said. "But the best part of the game is hitting people. I came to Lincoln as a defensive end. When Otis Young [now at New Hampshire] graduated, they needed somebody at linebacker and I was happy to play it. "

DiGrazio, who is tentatively slated to attend Kutztown, takes his environmental science classes over the last two periods each school day.

"This time of year, we're outside pretty much all the time," he said. "Lincoln has a big campus and Pennypack Park is right behind the back part, so there's always lots to see and do.

"We're just trying to find ways to make the environment better. "

In the All-Star Game, Joe DiGrazio will concentrate on trying to rock guys' worlds.