THE GAUNTLET

In our lives there are many people that leave a lasting impression on us, positive or negative, of which I have many. One person who has left a lasting impression on me is my high school football coach Anthony Naporano. Mr. Naporano was my coach at Barringer High School in Newark, New Jersey from 1955-1959. Mr. Naporano went to Fordham University and played football on the same team and with the one and only Vince Lombardi. The tactics and techniques that Vince Lombardi used to make the Green Bay Packers a power house in football were the same tactics and techniques Anthony Naporano used to make Barringer High School a power house in the 1950's and 1960's.

This time of the year always makes me think back to the double sessions we use to have for two weeks prior to the regular football season whereby anyone who was interested in playing football on the team would get together under the direction of one senior member from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM or later. It is amazing how many potentially interested people lost interest or could not bear the weight of playing by the end of double sessions.

When the regular season began and we were in our equiptment, one of the exercises that Mr. Naporano would make us as backfield personnel perform, was to see how may members of the team you could run through. In my four years of playing I only saw two members run through the whole team, THE GAUNTLET. THE GAUNTLET was a, roughed, tough, interesting and lasting experience and one that has stayed with me and given me permanent resolve to finish goals no matter who the obstacles may be or what they may be. Proceed and move forward to the goal line to make the TOUCHDOWN.

Thank you Anthony Naporano for you effectiveness in implementing discipline in my life and the lives of so many other gentlemen.