"It was a Great Day to be a Lion!"
Coach Rocco Del Priore '05 and Gary Romeo '84 during the pre-scrimmage practice. (Owen Reiter photo).
The Monsignor Farrell High School football program celebrated the 2024 season with an impressive show of force on Tuesday, August 20, honoring one of their own at the program’s annual alumni kickoff event.
Nearly 200 Farrell Football alumni returned to the Oakwood campus and Coach Dennis Barrett Stadium to watch a program-wide practice highlighted by the maroon & gold intersquad “scrimmage.” The Lions also paid tribute to Gary Romeo '84, a former player and long-time coach at a reception following practice.
“It was an incredible day for Monsignor Farrell High School, our football program, and for one of the most beloved coaches in Farrell Football’s storied history,” said Lou Tobacco '90, President of Monsignor Farrell High School. “I could not be more proud having had so many of our alumni return to support the program and pay tribute to Gary,” said Tobacco, who is also a graduate of Monsignor Farrell.
From left to right: Head coach Rocco Del Priore '05 with Judge Bob Holdman '82, Gary Romeo '84, and Vin Macaluso '89. Holdman and Macaluso served as honorary Maroon & Gold scrimmage captains. (Owen Reiter photo).
Farrell has held a football season kickoff event in the past, but nothing on this scale. It was also the first time the Lions honored a member of the program at the event. For Farrell’s head coach Rocco Del Priore '05, the choice to select Romeo as the honoree was easy. “I couldn’t think of a better man to honor than Coach (Gary) Romeo and no better way to do it than a program-wide practice with 155 of our players, 20 coaches, and nearly 200 football alumni,” said Del Priore, who played for Romeo and began his coaching career on Romeo’s staff at Farrell. “He mentored me and taught me not only what it means to be a coach, but to be a Farrell football coach.”
Honoree Gary Romeo, middle in the front row, and his family.
Mike Scotti '01, the Farrell quarterback who led the Lions to the CHSFL AAA championship in 2000, echoed his fellow alum’s sentiments about his former coach. “Coach Romeo has always had so much passion for Farrell. He taught so many young men what it meant to be a Farrell Football player.”
Romeo, who played at Farrell under legendary coach Ben Sarullo in the 80s, was offered a coaching job while he was still a senior in high school. “I remember being in the cafeteria at Farrell after the football season was over and Coach (Lou) Baldassano '73 telling me to go see Coach Sarullo,” recalled Romeo. “I was petrified!”
Little did he know, the meeting with Sarullo would be the genesis of his coaching career at Farrell, which would span from 1984-2019.
Romeo began as the defensive coordinator, offensive and defensive line coach, and linebackers coach for the freshman team. “I told Coach Sarullo when he offered me the job that I had no idea about defense, having been an offensive player,” Romeo admitted. “You’ll be fine,” Sarullo, a man of few words, assured him as he handed over stacks of playbooks and diagrams.
Over the decades, Romeo went on to hold several coaching positions at Farrell.
Coach Del Priore and the Lions during the pre-scrimmage practice. (Owen Reiter photo).
As the offensive coordinator on the junior varsity for 10 seasons, he guided the Lions to championships in 1997, 1998, and 2000. Romeo also served as the head freshman coach for ten years, leading his team to an undefeated championship season in 2005. He also had a one-year stint as offensive coordinator on the varsity, and spent two seasons as the head junior varsity coach. He retired from coaching in 2019 as the head freshman coach. “I’ve had the honor and privilege of coaching thousands of Farrell men and coaching with some of the best men that I know,” said Romeo. “Having the opportunity to coach my two sons, Gary '03 and Nick '09, at Farrell made it all the more special.”
In addition to coaching his sons, Romeo cites his relationship with Farrell classmate, longtime friend, and assistant coach Charlie Guddemi '84 as being one of the most cherished memories of his coaching days at Farrell.
“I was lucky to have coached with so many great guys that I love, but I was truly blessed to have coached with Charlie. We were not only best friends for 45 years but he truly is one of the best men I know. He made me a better coach, but even better man.”
Romeo also credits his close relationship with Farrell’s other legendary football coach, Dennis Barrett, with helping to shape him as a coach. “My freshman team was the last to play in the program while Coach Barrett was still here,” recalled Romeo. Barrett left Monsignor Farrell to become the head coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, tuning the Lion’s football program over to his good friend Sarullo. Barrett and Sarullo would remain close to the program, and Romeo, until Barrett’s passing in 2020.
Following the scrimmage, the Lions held a reception where Romeo was presented with a Farrell jersey and a plaque, with the inscription: “In appreciation of your lifelong dedication to coaching, mentorship, and immeasurable impact on Monsignor Farrell High School Football and the lives of our Faithful Men.”
Gary and the Lions at the pre-scrimmage practice. (Owen Reiter photo).
“It meant a lot to us as players to be here to see the impact that Coach Romeo had on so many lives,” said Rocco Del Giorno, a senior defensive back on the varsity. “Hearing the alumni talk about their experiences at Farrell makes me never want to take this time for granted and opened my eyes to how special it is to play Farrell Football,” he added.
In his heartfelt, emotional speech to the hundreds in attendance, the coach ended his remarks with his trademark phrase, which was met with a standing ovation and thunderous applause - “It’s all about pride. Heroes and warriors wear maroon and gold!”