Sunday, June 3, 2012 Tue DALLAS POST PAGE 11 | | © \ I DHS gridders gather, remember Program at Irem Temple highlights coaching career of Ted Jackson Sr. By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com Although the coaching style of Ted Jackson Sr. has been called many things, one word that came to mind on May 27 was “consis- tent.” mow else could one explain jy hundreds of ex-footballers ed 20, 30 and 40 agreed Jack- son was a strong leader, and the lessons he taught stayed with them long after they left the field? At a Dallas High School foot- ball reunion honoring Jackson's 27-year career at Irem Temple Country Club, nearly 400 people, comprised of former players, coaches, sports journalists, fam- ily and friends, some of whom traveled from Florida, California, Virginia and elsewhere, came to support the coach. Jackson's position as the Dallas High School head football coach s opened to the public due to * unsatisfactory performance review in late 2011, and after a hearing on the matter, the board opted to hire Shavertown resi- dent Bob Zaruta to fill the posi- tion. But the hundreds of former football players at the reunion gave Jackson a different review. “If T had to explain why Ted was such a great coach, I could write a novel,” said 33-year-old Lenny Dorrance, of Dallas. Dorrance was a defensive end for the Mountaineers during the 1995-97 seasons under Jackson. “It was just the preparation - he taught you how to be a better per- son,” said Dorrance. “He taught you to be better by striving for what you want and doing it.” Dorrance said walking through the pavilion and seeing his for- mer football teammates brought back a whirlwind of memories. “It’s like a flashback to my foot- ball years,” he said. “I can smell the grass and dirt and pads. It’s a definite flashback.” The outskirts of the Irem pavil- ion were lined with memorabilia spanning the coach’s career. “I think my wife has every year documented,” Jackson said as he greeted guests. “Some of these people I haven’t seen in 20 or 30 years.” Some of the former players in attendance knew Jackson before they were even able to catch a football. Kevin Yurko, 30, of Dallas, said he was a water boy for the team long before he became a quarter- back in the 1997-99 seasons. “I've known the Jacksons since I was 5 years old,” he said. “Theyre very good family friends. My older brother played and I was a water boy. I grew up around it.” He said it wasn’t until he be- came a player himself that he re- alized the importance of Jack- son’s lessons. “The impact was lasting well beyond football,” said Yurko. “He taught us about working hard, like getting up for work, and not giving up.” Forty-eight-year-old James Roccograndi, of Dallas Town- ship, had two sons play under Jackson’s lead - 17-year-old Kris- topher and 18-year-old James. He said his family attended the reunion because the coach was “a very positive influence” and “a great role model” for his children. “I think he steered them into the right direction,” said Rocco- grandi. “He taught the kids that it's up to you. The kids mold themselves. It’s not mommy and daddy complaining to the offi- cials. You have to talk to the offi- cials yourself. He grooms them for the realities in life.” Pat O’Neill, 35, of Alexandria, Va., played for Jackson during the 1992-94 seasons - sandwiched in between that time period was the year the Mountaineers won a state championship title in 1993. He said it’s been about a year since he had last seen friend Matt Gingo, 31, of Tampa Fla., but he was happy to catch up with him and other fellow players at the re- union. “We're all pretty close,” said O'Neill. “In my wedding party, five out of the six guys were ex- Dallas 1997 graduate Jeff Beisel, of Shavertown, left, and 2004 graduate Ryan Mark, of Conshohocken, look over Dallas football Sports Emotions run the gamut for former coach Ted Jackson Sr. at the Dallas High School football reunion held May 27 at Irem Temple Country Club. Ted Jackson, Sr, center, listens to a speech as his son Matt, left, and his wife, Sandy, look on. football players. And the sixth guy was my dad.” O'Neill compared the Moun- taineer football team to a sort of fraternity - everyone tries to keep in touch, and loyalty is very im- portant. “It was a select group, like the Marines,” he said. “I think we were in boot camp like the Ma- rines.” O'Neill said Jackson taught him about the value of hard work and he now gravitates towards people who share the same val- ues. Gingo said Jackson kept the boys in line, and the team was typically quick to listen to its coach more than anyone else. “I think we didn’t get into trou- ble because we were more afraid of him than our parents or the po- lice,” he said. Dorrance felt the same when he was a young football player - and still does. “(Jackson) still intimidates me,” he said. The state’s all-time winningest high school football coach, Ge- orge Curry, 68, of Berwick, wasn’t afraid when he faced Jack- son on the field, but he certainly was “concerned.” “A team is a reflection of the coach, and that was certainly evi- : pe BILL TARUTIS PHOTOS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Brett Wanek, right, and F.J. Costantino, both of Dallas, look over newspaper clippings of Dallas foot- ball under former coach Ted Jackson. dent at Dallas,” said Curry, for- mer Lake-Lehman, Berwick and Wyoming Valley West head coach. “He developed a culture at Dallas and made the kids into winners. I was never fearful, but when you faced Ted Jackson, you'd better be ready.” Corey Cherup, a member of the 1993 state champion Dallas foot- ball team, praises his former coach, Ted Jackson Sr. Nick Lombard, of Shavertown, and Cody Plesnar, of Dallas, said Jackson made them better lead- ers, and taught them discipline. Plesnar, 20, was taken aback by all the people who came out to support his former coach. “You get perspective - it’s amaz- ing how many guys he’s affected throughout the years,” he said. Jackson did not say whether he will coach again but alluded to the fact that the sport is in his blood. “Pretty soon I'll be getting itchy again,” he said. Gerry Mihalick, of Dallas, right who played under former coach Ted Jackson during Jackson's first season, looks over Dallas ia Wengen, of Shavertow
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