John Callahan, coach of the state champion Loyola Bulldogs, has molded his team into a “family.”No way were the Loyola Bulldogs going to be denied the state Division 7 football championship a third time.
“They thought they could beat us,” said senior fullback and linebacker Paul Engram to the media after Loyola thoroughly vanquished Ishpeming, 29-8, to take away the bitter aftertaste of twice watching the kids from the Upper Peninsula hoist the title trophy.
“Football isn’t always about just playing a game. It’s about life. We really learned a lesson about how to stick together and trust, what love and trust are really all about. Because that’s what we were missing the last couple of years.”
Life… a calling.
John Callahan was born 68 years ago in California, but he headed east for a career in teaching and coaching — to Dowling Catholic High in East Des Moines, Iowa; then locally to Utica Ford, Pontiac Northern, and Notre Dame Prep, arriving at Loyola six years ago, first year as offense coordinator, then the head coach for the last five seasons.
“This is where I should be,” he says. “This is what God intended.”
“He believes in what we are doing,” said Loyola’s president, Fr. Mark Luedtke, SJ. “Football is an extension of our mission, ‘Care for the whole person.’ He teaches them to take care of themselves and then take care of those around them.”
Life… overcoming obstacles.
“We had nothing in the way of facilities when I came here,” Callahan said. Thanks to $45,000 in donations, “we have a weight room that’s one of the best around. The kids use it year-round.”
Speaking of donations, Callahan pleaded with me, “Please put this in the article. Maybe someone out there can help us with $170,000 for artificial turf for our practice field.”
The “field” is a lot next to the school, about the size of half a football field. Watch out for the manhole, and the fence. It’s a muddy mess after a hard rain. Floodlights are sometimes used for practices that don’t begin until after 5 o’clock and go for 2-3 hours.
Practices start after players return from an eight-hour job. Students at Loyola are employed one day a week to pay off their $4,000 tuition.
It’s more the rule than the exception that Callahan and/or his assistants drive players home after practice. “He’s their coach and parent,” Fr. Luedtke says.
Life… a commitment.
Callahan noticed a lot of finger-pointing among the players in the losses to Ishpeming. “We weren’t there for each other, so after every practice I told them, ‘I love you. I care for you.’ We molded ourselves into a family.”
A couple days after the championship game, one of the team’s wide receivers informed Callahan that he wanted to transfer “because we don’t pass much. Of course, we don’t have the space to practice much passing. But I tell him that if he wants to transfer, I’d help him.”
After a few moments, the lad responds, “No, I can’t leave my brothers.”
Life… facing challenges.
The Bulldogs are 59-4 under Callahan. The Catholic League has asked Loyola to move up from AA to the premier Central Division.
Athletic Director Paul D’Luge begs off: “With only 138 boys, it’s not good for us.” But he agrees to a compromise to play two Central foes next year. The only teams with an opening on their 2015 schedule happen to be defending state champs — Division 2, Warren De La Salle (800 students) and Division 3, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (550 students).
Callahan isn’t a happy coach. “I only have 12 boys returning for football. But I’ll play them if a week before the game, they practice with 28 players (the size of Loyola’s squad this fall) who haven’t eaten much during the day and on a parking lot. I just want us to be on an even field.”
He adds: “I’m loyal to the Catholic League, but I’m loyal to my players first.”
Life… sometimes it calls for hard decisions.
Don Horkey may be reached at [email protected].
