MARBLEHEAD — The state of health of football in general was the theme of the night for the 58th annual Swampscott-Marblehead Old Timers’ Dinner at the Gerry 5.
From the two speakers — John Whipple and Mike O’Neil — to the Msgr. John Carroll Community Service Award winner (Bob Simmons), the focus was on the difficulties the game of football is experiencing due to increased concerns about concussions and the possibility of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
But it wasn’t all pessimism. The game’s virtues were also extolled, and plenty of mention was made of Swampscott’s upcoming trip to the Super Bowl.
“I may be wearing my red and black Thursday (when the two teams renew their rivalry for the 114th time),” said Marblehead’s Evan Harris, who emceed the event. “But next Saturday, when Swampscott plays in the Super Bowl, I’ll be down there (in Foxborough) rooting for them. And I hope you all will too. Bring it home.”
It was a night to remember old times and old coaches. O’Neil recalled one of his coaches at Swampscott, John Hoffman — the former town police officer who was stricken with a stroke in 2003.
“He’s one of the best men I ever met,” said O’Neil, who also recalled his former coach practices screaming, “get off the ball.”
O’Neil said he often hear himself saying that when he coaches.
Also in attendance were all three Jauron brothers — Dick, Mike and Bob; former Boston bass guitarist Fran Sheehan (Swampscott ’69), former Marblehead hockey star (and ex-UMass coach) Donald “Toot” Cahoon; and Frank DeFelice, who coached football and baseball for the Big Blue.
Both O’Neil and Whipple coach youth football in Marblehead (though O’Neil grew up and played football in Swampscott). There were asked for their perspective on negotiating some of the troubles the game has seen in recent years.
“Times have changed,” he said. “There was less policing of everything. Now, we’re kind of hurting for numbers. When I was a kid, we played without even thinking about it. Now, you have to talk to parents. I think we have to start evangelizing the game.
Said Whipple, “when I look at the number, it’s frightening. This year, we didn’t have a ‘D’ team. This is a reality we’re all dealing with.”
The Marblehead and Swampscott programs aren’t alone.
“The numbers are down nationally,” Whipple said. “A lot of it is the national media’s campaign on concussions and CTE. Other sports don’t get mentioned as often as football does.
“So I agree with Mike,” Whipple said. “We have to talk about what we know about the game, what football has taught us, what it’s taught to everyone in this room.”
He would like to see more certified coaches.
“That would teach dads how to teach kids,” he said. “The game has changed. Practices have changed. The way we teach has changed.”
Simmons, too, cited football as a sport that has changed lives.
“It has touched me a lot of ways,” said Simmons, who helped establish the youth program. “As many of you know, my son, Mike, is on the autism spectrum. But he played football and he loved it. He played all through high school, and in one game, coach (Jim) Rudloff let him play, and he got in on a tackle. So yes, football has touched me in a lot of ways.”
Rudloff and his counterpart, Bobby Serino, took turns praising their opponents in anticipation of Thursday’s game, which will be played this year at Ssgt. Christopher Piper Field in Marblehead (10 a.m).
