Gerald Loper:

Business Development

Athlete and Life Coach

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University of Florida College of Journalism & Communications

B.S. Advertising, Public Relations 

Treasurer NFL Former Players Orlando Chapter

Sponsorship Lead Florida Gator Football Players Network

UF All-SEC Football, All-SEC Football Academic Teams

Member Florida Letter Winners FClub - 3 year Football starter/letter winner

Tangerine, Gator and Sugar Bowl Starter. Lion's All-America Bowl 1st Team

Drafted/Player San Francisco 49ers.

UF All '70's Football Team, All Time Lake County Football Team

1st Team All-State Football Eustis High School

1st Team Florida High School All-Star Game

2 Time Winner Ford Punt, Pass & Kick Contest

Dedicated to working with and mentoring athletes and parents to improve the athletes game, academics and life skills.

 

https://www.thompson-jewelers.com/

Established in 1948, Thompson Jewelers is one of the oldest family-owned jewelry stores in Central Florida.
While Orlando has changed over the years, our commitment to our customers is unwavering. Our mission is to offer high-quality jewelry at prices no other store can match, along with unmatched customer service. We strive to ensure every customer leaves our store feeling like family.

 

Gerald Loper:
Business Development
Athlete and Life Coach
Advertisement
University of Florida College of Journalism &amp; Communications
B.S. Advertising, Public Relations&nbsp;
Treasurer NFL Former Players Orlando Chapter
Sponsorship Lead Florida Gator Football Players Network
UF All-SEC Football, All-SEC Football Academic Teams
Member Florida Letter Winners FClub - 3 year&nbsp;Football&nbsp;starter/letter winner
Tangerine, Gator and Sugar Bowl Starter. Lion's All-America Bowl 1st Team
Drafted/Player San Francisco 49ers.
UF All '70's Football Team, All Time Lake County Football Team
1st Team All-State Football Eustis High School
1st Team Florida High School All-Star Game
2 Time Winner Ford Punt, Pass &amp; Kick Contest
Dedicated to working with and mentoring athletes and parents to improve the athletes game, academics and life skills.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.thompson-jewelers.com/">https://www.thompson-jewelers.com/</a>
Established in 1948, Thompson Jewelers is one of the oldest family-owned jewelry stores in Central Florida. While Orlando has changed over the years, our commitment to our customers is unwavering. Our mission is to offer high-quality jewelry at prices no other store can match, along with unmatched customer service. We strive to ensure every customer leaves our store feeling like family.
&nbsp;

In depth interviews with Hall of Famers Legends from "back in the day" and commentary that honors promotes the Old School values of Hard Work, Teamwork and Respect for the Game AND God, Family, Country.

In depth interviews with Hall of Famers Legends from "back in the day" and commentary that honors promotes the Old School values of Hard Work, Teamwork and Respect for the Game AND God, Family, Country.

"Talkin’ Old School” With Roger Franklin Williams Podcast

"Talkin’ Old School” With Roger Franklin Williams

Talking Old School: Guests, Gerald Loper and Derek Hicks.

4 San Francisco Giants players were reprimanded by Major League Baseball for standing for their Christian Faith by writing Bible Verses on their gay pride rainbow-colored caps.

Frank Pomarico, from Howard Beach, New York, moved into the starting lineup at left guard during his sophomore year in 1971 at Notre Dame. He remained a fixture for the Irish through the 1973 season when he was named tri-captain, along with Dave Casper and Mike Townsend.There were bigger players for the Irish, faster players, and players who went on to stellar professional careers. But no one cherished his role as a leader of the Notre Dame squad more than the 6-foot-1, 250-pound Pomarico. His journey to and through Notre Dame truly was a labor of love toward his alma mater.Here is Pomarico's story as told to Irish Illustrated senior editor Tim Prister, the author/editor of What It Means To Be Fighting Irish (copyright 2004, Triumph Books, Chicago, Ill.)Notre Dame was a simple choice for me. When I was growing up in New York, Gerry DiNardo and I were classmates in grade school and high school, and his brother, Larry, was someone we looked up to.So now I get to high school, Larry goes to Notre Dame, Gerry and I are sophomores in high school, and Larry comes back talking about this guy named Ara Parseghian. Of course, Larry could have gone to any school he wanted. All the academies, Harvard…but he picked Notre Dame because I think he thought that was his greatest challenge athletically as well as academically. Our goal was, 'Maybe someday that can happen to us.'My senior year I was recruited by North Carolina and Notre Dame. Places like Villanova said I was too small. Most other schools thought I was too small. I was 6-foot-1, about 235 when I came to Notre Dame.Ara took a chance on me. He had success with Larry and thought, 'Let's see if we can have a warm body with Frank.'I knew all about Ara before I got there. Ara was a very, very impressive guy. He's got these piercing eyes that make you stand at attention, and everything he said was gobbled up because we felt if we wanted to be successful as a team, as individuals we were going to try to emulate his intensity, his character. That was something that we believed in. Even if you lost games, you would still win by showing your character and strong will.Ara instilled in us that the game may be over and we may have lost the battle, but we didn't lose the war. We were always trying to achieve and improve on the athletic field, as individuals, or in the classroom. So it was never really lost; time just ran out. He used to talk about not having a breaking point.When I think of my greatest memories at Notre Dame, the first one was my sophomore year (1971) against Northwestern when we came out of that tunnel. It was more than just coming out of the tunnel. It was also the feeling and emotion that was shared with me by guys like Walt Patulski, Dan Novokov, John Dampeer, Andy Huff, Ed Gulyas, John Cieszkowski…They were supportive. These guys were saying, 'You're going to do it; it's going to be easier than practice!' So we go out, score the first touchdown over my hole, and went on to win, 50-7.The most satisfying game was the Southern Cal game in 1973 (a 23-14 victory). They were national champs in 1972 and 1974, and when we played them in 1973, we were 5-0. The first four games of that year I had ripped up my ankle and I was in a cast for about a month. I came back for the Rice game and only played on an extra point. I started the Army game and I probably wasn't ready, but I wanted to come back. I knew if I didn't come back for the Army game, I probably wouldn't play against Southern Cal.We had a strong ground game. We were going to grind it out. We weren't going to win on the big play. The buildup to that game after Anthony Davis had scored six touchdowns the year before was intense. Playing against them was an emotional, electric time.We did (grind it out against them), but we also had an 85-yard touchdown run by Eric Penick, so we did beat them with the big play as well.My college career culminated with the (24-23) victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to win the national title. It was overwhelming. Seven years of dreaming ended in the locker room with myfather, my grandfather, and my little brother, not yelling and screaming, but just watching everybody go crazy. I don't think we had the animosity toward Alabama that we had toward Southern Cal, but it was a humongous victory for us.That year, Ara had broken precedent by making three of us captains. I think it was very close in the voting between me and David Casper as the offensive captain. So Dave was the team captain, I was the offensive captain, and Mike Townsend was the defensive captain, so to speak. We all had different roles. I was more of a quiet leader. I tried to lead by example through hard work during the off-season and tried to do the right thing.One time somebody asked me if the tradition of Rockne and Gipper helped us in our games, and I said, 'The tradition here is the guys I'm with right now that make it such a special place. They're the guys who help me. Because of the people, there is no place in the world quite like Notre Dame.Frank Pomarico, is in sales in Jackson, Mich. He also coaches tight ends and tackles at Lumen Christi High School, where his son, Tommy, starred the in 2005 and 2006.  Tommy went on to the University of Michigan to become a three year starter for the Wolverines as a long snapper and played in the Gator Bowl and finished his career in the Sugar Bowl victory at the end of the 2011 season.  We thank Lloyd Carr at the University of Michigan for having faith in Tom’s ability to play there."People say to me, 'How can you send your son to Michigan?' Pomarico laughed. "I tell them, 'I pray for Notre Dame, but, now I root for Michigan.'Pomarico does a radio show with former UNLV football coach Harvey Hyde (1982-85) in Las Vegas and still loves talking about Notre Dame Football. Like Irish fans, he sees the upcoming schedule as rigorous, but views it with encouragement and confidence in Brian Kelly’s ability to take Notre Dame to new heights in the future.

4 San Francisco Giants players were reprimanded by Major League Baseball for standing for their Christian Faith by writing Bible Verses on their gay pride rainbow-colored caps.
Frank Pomarico, from Howard Beach, New York, moved into the starting lineup at left guard during his sophomore year in 1971 at Notre Dame. He remained a fixture for the Irish through the 1973 season when he was named tri-captain, along with Dave Casper and Mike Townsend.There were bigger players for the Irish, faster players, and players who went on to stellar professional careers. But no one cherished his role as a leader of the Notre Dame squad more than the 6-foot-1, 250-pound Pomarico. His journey to and through Notre Dame truly was a labor of love toward his alma mater.Here is Pomarico's story as told to Irish Illustrated senior editor Tim Prister, the author/editor of What It Means To Be Fighting Irish (copyright 2004, Triumph Books, Chicago, Ill.)Notre Dame was a simple choice for me. When I was growing up in New York, Gerry DiNardo and I were classmates in grade school and high school, and his brother, Larry, was someone we looked up to.So now I get to high school, Larry goes to Notre Dame, Gerry and I are sophomores in high school, and Larry comes back talking about this guy named Ara Parseghian. Of course, Larry could have gone to any school he wanted. All the academies, Harvard&hellip;but he picked Notre Dame because I think he thought that was his greatest challenge athletically as well as academically. Our goal was, 'Maybe someday that can happen to us.'My senior year I was recruited by North Carolina and Notre Dame. Places like Villanova said I was too small. Most other schools thought I was too small. I was 6-foot-1, about 235 when I came to Notre Dame.Ara took a chance on me. He had success with Larry and thought, 'Let's see if we can have a warm body with Frank.'I knew all about Ara before I got there. Ara was a very, very impressive guy. He's got these piercing eyes that make you stand at attention, and everything he said was gobbled up because we felt if we wanted to be successful as a team, as individuals we were going to try to emulate his intensity, his character. That was something that we believed in. Even if you lost games, you would still win by showing your character and strong will.Ara instilled in us that the game may be over and we may have lost the battle, but we didn't lose the war. We were always trying to achieve and improve on the athletic field, as individuals, or in the classroom. So it was never really lost; time just ran out. He used to talk about not having a breaking point.When I think of my greatest memories at Notre Dame, the first one was my sophomore year (1971) against Northwestern when we came out of that tunnel. It was more than just coming out of the tunnel. It was also the feeling and emotion that was shared with me by guys like Walt Patulski, Dan Novokov, John Dampeer, Andy Huff, Ed Gulyas, John Cieszkowski&hellip;They were supportive. These guys were saying, 'You're going to do it; it's going to be easier than practice!' So we go out, score the first touchdown over my hole, and went on to win, 50-7.The most satisfying game was the Southern Cal game in 1973 (a 23-14 victory). They were national champs in 1972 and 1974, and when we played them in 1973, we were 5-0. The first four games of that year I had ripped up my ankle and I was in a cast for about a month. I came back for the Rice game and only played on an extra point. I started the Army game and I probably wasn't ready, but I wanted to come back. I knew if I didn't come back for the Army game, I probably wouldn't play against Southern Cal.We had a strong ground game. We were going to grind it out. We weren't going to win on the big play. The buildup to that game after Anthony Davis had scored six touchdowns the year before was intense. Playing against them was an emotional, electric time.We did (grind it out against them), but we also had an 85-yard touchdown run by Eric Penick, so we did beat them with the big play as well.My college career culminated with the (24-23) victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to win the national title. It was overwhelming. Seven years of dreaming ended in the locker room with myfather, my grandfather, and my little brother, not yelling and screaming, but just watching everybody go crazy. I don't think we had the animosity toward Alabama that we had toward Southern Cal, but it was a humongous victory for us.That year, Ara had broken precedent by making three of us captains. I think it was very close in the voting between me and David Casper as the offensive captain. So Dave was the team captain, I was the offensive captain, and Mike Townsend was the defensive captain, so to speak. We all had different roles. I was more of a quiet leader. I tried to lead by example through hard work during the off-season and tried to do the right thing.One time somebody asked me if the tradition of Rockne and Gipper helped us in our games, and I said, 'The tradition here is the guys I'm with right now that make it such a special place. They're the guys who help me. Because of the people, there is no place in the world quite like Notre Dame.Frank Pomarico, is in sales in Jackson, Mich. He also coaches tight ends and tackles at Lumen Christi High School, where his son, Tommy, starred the in 2005 and 2006.&nbsp; Tommy went on to the University of Michigan to become a three year starter for the Wolverines as a long snapper and played in the Gator Bowl and finished his career in the Sugar Bowl victory at the end of the 2011 season.&nbsp; We thank Lloyd Carr at the University of Michigan for having faith in Tom&rsquo;s ability to play there."People say to me, 'How can you send your son to Michigan?' Pomarico laughed. "I tell them, 'I pray for Notre Dame, but, now I root for Michigan.'Pomarico does a radio show with former UNLV football coach Harvey Hyde (1982-85) in Las Vegas and still loves talking about Notre Dame Football. Like Irish fans, he sees the upcoming schedule as rigorous, but views it with encouragement and confidence in Brian Kelly&rsquo;s ability to take Notre Dame to new heights in the future.

Talking Old School: MLB Controversy & Frank Pomerico.

4 San Francisco Giants players were reprimanded by Major League Baseball for standing for their Christian Faith by writing Bible Verses on their gay pride rainbow-colored caps.

About Coach Darlington Head Football Coach
Deland High School

Career Record: 251-95 (28 seasons)
Reached Playoffs in 26 of 28 years as a head coach
All-time central Florida leader in playoff victories (43)

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Apopka ’01, ’12, & ‘14
STATE RUNNER-UP: Apopka ‘13 & Valdosta ‘03
STATE FINAL 4 (semifinals): Deland ‘23, Apopka ’07 & ‘09
STATE ELITE 8 (quarterfinals): Enterprise ‘21, Apopka ‘08, Valdosta ‘04

DELAND, FL: ’22 to present
In 2 years, the Bulldogs have won Back-to-Back District titles (last title was 11 years ago).  The ’22 team broke the school single season scoring record (33 ppg), and the ’23 team shattered that record at 40 ppg.  2023 Region Champions (1st time since 2009) and state Semi-Finalist in largest classification.  Quarterback has had back to back season of more than 1,200 yards rushing AND passing, and this fall threw 21 TD passes with ZERO interceptions.  Wingback also rushed for 1,000 yards and had 900 yards receiving.

ENTERPRISE, AL: ’19-‘21
Took over a program coming off back to back 2-8 seasons.  Year 1 started 2-5, but turned it around and made the 7A playoffs in Maxpreps 3rd toughest playoff bracket in the country. Year 2 averaged 36 ppg and again made the playoffs.  Year 3, scored 41 ppg (3rd in 7A behind the teams playing for state), led the entire state of Alabama in rushing, and had 2 1,000 yard rushers. Finished in the Elite 8 (quarterfinals) in 7A.

APOPKA, FL: ’99-’02 & ’06-‘18
2013 team set a state record with 752 points, averaging 50.1 ppg over 15 games, and rushed for 6,000 yards.  The ’13, ’14, & ’15 teams each had THREE 1,000 yard rushers each season.

 

4 San Francisco Giants players were reprimanded by Major League Baseball for standing for their Christian Faith by writing Bible Verses on their gay pride rainbow-colored caps.
About Coach Darlington Head Football Coach Deland High School Career Record: 251-95 (28 seasons) Reached Playoffs in 26 of 28 years as a head coach All-time central Florida leader in playoff victories (43) STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Apopka &rsquo;01, &rsquo;12, &amp; &lsquo;14 STATE RUNNER-UP: Apopka &lsquo;13 &amp; Valdosta &lsquo;03 STATE FINAL 4 (semifinals): Deland &lsquo;23, Apopka &rsquo;07 &amp; &lsquo;09 STATE ELITE 8 (quarterfinals): Enterprise &lsquo;21, Apopka &lsquo;08, Valdosta &lsquo;04 DELAND, FL: &rsquo;22 to present In 2 years, the Bulldogs have won Back-to-Back District titles (last title was 11 years ago).&nbsp; The &rsquo;22 team broke the school single season scoring record (33 ppg), and the &rsquo;23 team shattered that record at 40 ppg.&nbsp; 2023 Region Champions (1st time since 2009) and state Semi-Finalist in largest classification.&nbsp; Quarterback has had back to back season of more than 1,200 yards rushing AND passing, and this fall threw 21 TD passes with ZERO interceptions.&nbsp; Wingback also rushed for 1,000 yards and had 900 yards receiving. ENTERPRISE, AL: &rsquo;19-&lsquo;21 Took over a program coming off back to back 2-8 seasons.&nbsp; Year 1 started 2-5, but turned it around and made the 7A playoffs in Maxpreps 3rd toughest playoff bracket in the country. Year 2 averaged 36 ppg and again made the playoffs.&nbsp; Year 3, scored 41 ppg (3rd in 7A behind the teams playing for state), led the entire state of Alabama in rushing, and had 2 1,000 yard rushers. Finished in the Elite 8 (quarterfinals) in 7A. APOPKA, FL: &rsquo;99-&rsquo;02 &amp; &rsquo;06-&lsquo;18 2013 team set a state record with 752 points, averaging 50.1 ppg over 15 games, and rushed for 6,000 yards.&nbsp; The &rsquo;13, &rsquo;14, &amp; &rsquo;15 teams each had THREE 1,000 yard rushers each season.
&nbsp;

Talking Old School: MLB Controversy and guest, Coach Rick Darlington.

Mike McBath played for Joe Paterno at Penn State, helping lead the Nittany Lions to
their first bowl game in the Paterno era. He also was an All-East performer. McBath was
drafted in the fifth round of the 1968 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills and played five years
with the club. He finished his pro football career spending one season with the Florida
Blazers of the World Football League, as they came within one point of winning the
league championship. He was later a very successful businessman and was a co-founder
of the Arena Football League’s Orlando Predators, the most successful franchise in
league history.

Michael Strickler McBath was born May 29, 1946 in Woodbury, New Jersey. McBath
attended Woodbury, New Jersey High School. He played varsity football for three
seasons and Woodbury never lost a game. McBath played both ways, on the offensive
and defensive lines, and their quarterback was Willie Murray. Mike was co-captain his
senior year as the Herd finished 9-0. He was named to the All-South Jersey scholastic
football team following his senior year. He was also an honorable mention on the
Associated Press All-State team. Mike also was an excellent basketball player at
Woodbury and participated in track, throwing both the discuss and the shot-put while
winning several meets. 

 

Frank Pomarico, from Howard Beach, New York, moved into the starting lineup at left guard during his sophomore year in 1971 at Notre Dame. He remained a fixture for the Irish through the 1973 season when he was named tri-captain, along with Dave Casper and Mike Townsend.There were bigger players for the Irish, faster players, and players who went on to stellar professional careers. But no one cherished his role as a leader of the Notre Dame squad more than the 6-foot-1, 250-pound Pomarico. His journey to and through Notre Dame truly was a labor of love toward his alma mater.Here is Pomarico's story as told to Irish Illustrated senior editor Tim Prister, the author/editor of What It Means To Be Fighting Irish (copyright 2004, Triumph Books, Chicago, Ill.)Notre Dame was a simple choice for me. When I was growing up in New York, Gerry DiNardo and I were classmates in grade school and high school, and his brother, Larry, was someone we looked up to.So now I get to high school, Larry goes to Notre Dame, Gerry and I are sophomores in high school, and Larry comes back talking about this guy named Ara Parseghian. Of course, Larry could have gone to any school he wanted. All the academies, Harvard…but he picked Notre Dame because I think he thought that was his greatest challenge athletically as well as academically. Our goal was, 'Maybe someday that can happen to us.'My senior year I was recruited by North Carolina and Notre Dame. Places like Villanova said I was too small. Most other schools thought I was too small. I was 6-foot-1, about 235 when I came to Notre Dame.Ara took a chance on me. He had success with Larry and thought, 'Let's see if we can have a warm body with Frank.'I knew all about Ara before I got there. Ara was a very, very impressive guy. He's got these piercing eyes that make you stand at attention, and everything he said was gobbled up because we felt if we wanted to be successful as a team, as individuals we were going to try to emulate his intensity, his character. That was something that we believed in. Even if you lost games, you would still win by showing your character and strong will.Ara instilled in us that the game may be over and we may have lost the battle, but we didn't lose the war. We were always trying to achieve and improve on the athletic field, as individuals, or in the classroom. So it was never really lost; time just ran out. He used to talk about not having a breaking point.When I think of my greatest memories at Notre Dame, the first one was my sophomore year (1971) against Northwestern when we came out of that tunnel. It was more than just coming out of the tunnel. It was also the feeling and emotion that was shared with me by guys like Walt Patulski, Dan Novokov, John Dampeer, Andy Huff, Ed Gulyas, John Cieszkowski…They were supportive. These guys were saying, 'You're going to do it; it's going to be easier than practice!' So we go out, score the first touchdown over my hole, and went on to win, 50-7.The most satisfying game was the Southern Cal game in 1973 (a 23-14 victory). They were national champs in 1972 and 1974, and when we played them in 1973, we were 5-0. The first four games of that year I had ripped up my ankle and I was in a cast for about a month. I came back for the Rice game and only played on an extra point. I started the Army game and I probably wasn't ready, but I wanted to come back. I knew if I didn't come back for the Army game, I probably wouldn't play against Southern Cal.We had a strong ground game. We were going to grind it out. We weren't going to win on the big play. The buildup to that game after Anthony Davis had scored six touchdowns the year before was intense. Playing against them was an emotional, electric time.We did (grind it out against them), but we also had an 85-yard touchdown run by Eric Penick, so we did beat them with the big play as well.My college career culminated with the (24-23) victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to win the national title. It was overwhelming. Seven years of dreaming ended in the locker room with myfather, my grandfather, and my little brother, not yelling and screaming, but just watching everybody go crazy. I don't think we had the animosity toward Alabama that we had toward Southern Cal, but it was a humongous victory for us.That year, Ara had broken precedent by making three of us captains. I think it was very close in the voting between me and David Casper as the offensive captain. So Dave was the team captain, I was the offensive captain, and Mike Townsend was the defensive captain, so to speak. We all had different roles. I was more of a quiet leader. I tried to lead by example through hard work during the off-season and tried to do the right thing.One time somebody asked me if the tradition of Rockne and Gipper helped us in our games, and I said, 'The tradition here is the guys I'm with right now that make it such a special place. They're the guys who help me. Because of the people, there is no place in the world quite like Notre Dame.Frank Pomarico, is in sales in Jackson, Mich. He also coaches tight ends and tackles at Lumen Christi High School, where his son, Tommy, starred the in 2005 and 2006.  Tommy went on to the University of Michigan to become a three year starter for the Wolverines as a long snapper and played in the Gator Bowl and finished his career in the Sugar Bowl victory at the end of the 2011 season.  We thank Lloyd Carr at the University of Michigan for having faith in Tom’s ability to play there."People say to me, 'How can you send your son to Michigan?' Pomarico laughed. "I tell them, 'I pray for Notre Dame, but, now I root for Michigan.'Pomarico does a radio show with former UNLV football coach Harvey Hyde (1982-85) in Las Vegas and still loves talking about Notre Dame Football. Like Irish fans, he sees the upcoming schedule as rigorous, but views it with encouragement and confidence in Brian Kelly’s ability to take Notre Dame to new heights in the future

 

Mike McBath played for Joe Paterno at Penn State, helping lead the Nittany Lions to their first bowl game in the Paterno era. He also was an All-East performer. McBath was drafted in the fifth round of the 1968 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills and played five years with the club. He finished his pro football career spending one season with the Florida Blazers of the World Football League, as they came within one point of winning the league championship. He was later a very successful businessman and was a co-founder of the Arena Football League&rsquo;s Orlando Predators, the most successful franchise in league history. Michael Strickler McBath was born May 29, 1946 in Woodbury, New Jersey. McBath attended Woodbury, New Jersey High School. He played varsity football for three seasons and Woodbury never lost a game. McBath played both ways, on the offensive and defensive lines, and their quarterback was Willie Murray. Mike was co-captain his senior year as the Herd finished 9-0. He was named to the All-South Jersey scholastic football team following his senior year. He was also an honorable mention on the Associated Press All-State team. Mike also was an excellent basketball player at Woodbury and participated in track, throwing both the discuss and the shot-put while winning several meets.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Frank Pomarico, from Howard Beach, New York, moved into the starting lineup at left guard during his sophomore year in 1971 at Notre Dame. He remained a fixture for the Irish through the 1973 season when he was named tri-captain, along with Dave Casper and Mike Townsend.There were bigger players for the Irish, faster players, and players who went on to stellar professional careers. But no one cherished his role as a leader of the Notre Dame squad more than the 6-foot-1, 250-pound Pomarico. His journey to and through Notre Dame truly was a labor of love toward his alma mater.Here is Pomarico's story as told to Irish Illustrated senior editor Tim Prister, the author/editor of What It Means To Be Fighting Irish (copyright 2004, Triumph Books, Chicago, Ill.)Notre Dame was a simple choice for me. When I was growing up in New York, Gerry DiNardo and I were classmates in grade school and high school, and his brother, Larry, was someone we looked up to.So now I get to high school, Larry goes to Notre Dame, Gerry and I are sophomores in high school, and Larry comes back talking about this guy named Ara Parseghian. Of course, Larry could have gone to any school he wanted. All the academies, Harvard&hellip;but he picked Notre Dame because I think he thought that was his greatest challenge athletically as well as academically. Our goal was, 'Maybe someday that can happen to us.'My senior year I was recruited by North Carolina and Notre Dame. Places like Villanova said I was too small. Most other schools thought I was too small. I was 6-foot-1, about 235 when I came to Notre Dame.Ara took a chance on me. He had success with Larry and thought, 'Let's see if we can have a warm body with Frank.'I knew all about Ara before I got there. Ara was a very, very impressive guy. He's got these piercing eyes that make you stand at attention, and everything he said was gobbled up because we felt if we wanted to be successful as a team, as individuals we were going to try to emulate his intensity, his character. That was something that we believed in. Even if you lost games, you would still win by showing your character and strong will.Ara instilled in us that the game may be over and we may have lost the battle, but we didn't lose the war. We were always trying to achieve and improve on the athletic field, as individuals, or in the classroom. So it was never really lost; time just ran out. He used to talk about not having a breaking point.When I think of my greatest memories at Notre Dame, the first one was my sophomore year (1971) against Northwestern when we came out of that tunnel. It was more than just coming out of the tunnel. It was also the feeling and emotion that was shared with me by guys like Walt Patulski, Dan Novokov, John Dampeer, Andy Huff, Ed Gulyas, John Cieszkowski&hellip;They were supportive. These guys were saying, 'You're going to do it; it's going to be easier than practice!' So we go out, score the first touchdown over my hole, and went on to win, 50-7.The most satisfying game was the Southern Cal game in 1973 (a 23-14 victory). They were national champs in 1972 and 1974, and when we played them in 1973, we were 5-0. The first four games of that year I had ripped up my ankle and I was in a cast for about a month. I came back for the Rice game and only played on an extra point. I started the Army game and I probably wasn't ready, but I wanted to come back. I knew if I didn't come back for the Army game, I probably wouldn't play against Southern Cal.We had a strong ground game. We were going to grind it out. We weren't going to win on the big play. The buildup to that game after Anthony Davis had scored six touchdowns the year before was intense. Playing against them was an emotional, electric time.We did (grind it out against them), but we also had an 85-yard touchdown run by Eric Penick, so we did beat them with the big play as well.My college career culminated with the (24-23) victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to win the national title. It was overwhelming. Seven years of dreaming ended in the locker room with myfather, my grandfather, and my little brother, not yelling and screaming, but just watching everybody go crazy. I don't think we had the animosity toward Alabama that we had toward Southern Cal, but it was a humongous victory for us.That year, Ara had broken precedent by making three of us captains. I think it was very close in the voting between me and David Casper as the offensive captain. So Dave was the team captain, I was the offensive captain, and Mike Townsend was the defensive captain, so to speak. We all had different roles. I was more of a quiet leader. I tried to lead by example through hard work during the off-season and tried to do the right thing.One time somebody asked me if the tradition of Rockne and Gipper helped us in our games, and I said, 'The tradition here is the guys I'm with right now that make it such a special place. They're the guys who help me. Because of the people, there is no place in the world quite like Notre Dame.Frank Pomarico, is in sales in Jackson, Mich. He also coaches tight ends and tackles at Lumen Christi High School, where his son, Tommy, starred the in 2005 and 2006.&nbsp; Tommy went on to the University of Michigan to become a three year starter for the Wolverines as a long snapper and played in the Gator Bowl and finished his career in the Sugar Bowl victory at the end of the 2011 season.&nbsp; We thank Lloyd Carr at the University of Michigan for having faith in Tom&rsquo;s ability to play there."People say to me, 'How can you send your son to Michigan?' Pomarico laughed. "I tell them, 'I pray for Notre Dame, but, now I root for Michigan.'Pomarico does a radio show with former UNLV football coach Harvey Hyde (1982-85) in Las Vegas and still loves talking about Notre Dame Football. Like Irish fans, he sees the upcoming schedule as rigorous, but views it with encouragement and confidence in Brian Kelly&rsquo;s ability to take Notre Dame to new heights in the future
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Talking Old School: Guests, Gerald Loper and Derek Hicks.

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