Concannons bound by football, family
Sibling rivalries usually run deep, but this one is a little different. On Saturday, first-year Neumann-Goretti coach Dan Concannon will lead his alma mater against Valley Forge Military Academy, whose defense is coached by his older brother Michael, also a Neumann-Goretti alumnus.
Sibling rivalries usually run deep, but this one is a little different.
On Saturday, first-year Neumann-Goretti coach Dan Concannon will lead his alma mater against Valley Forge Military Academy, whose defense is coached by his older brother Michael, also a Neumann-Goretti alumnus.
Sure, both Concannons once played in the "Beach Bowl," Neumann-Goretti's traditional opener in Wildwood N.J. since the 1980s, when the school was known as St. John Neumann.
And Michael, 35, coached Dan, 30, when Dan played at N-G, where Michael returned as an assistant after college. They also coached together at VFMA from 2013 until now.
What makes the game Saturday - set for a 4 p.m. kickoff at Maxwell Field in Wildwood - even more compelling, however, is the sudden and tragic loss that brought them closer as children.
When Michael was 11 and Dan 6, their father, Michael Sr., died unexpectedly from complications with his immune system. That left their mother, Barbara, to raise the boys with help from family members.
"You kind of build a bond through something like that and really learn how to deal with adversity," Dan Concannon said.
"So . . . if there's a tough situation in a football game, it's nothing. In football and life, or anything you go through, you know you have somebody you can count on."
But Michael wasn't just raised. He also helped do the raising.
"He was really instrumental in just helping me grow up," Dan said. "He took on even more than I think I realize, and maybe even that he should have. But when you go through something like that, it transforms who you are and makes you who you are."
Dan was first-team all-Catholic at inside linebacker in 2002 and played the position at Ursinus, where he graduated in 2007.
Michael, who is also the head lacrosse coach at Valley Forge Military College, played lacrosse at Catholic University from 1998 to 2001. He transferred to Temple, where he graduated in 2003.
As for helping to raise his younger brother, well, that just came naturally.
"I guess you just do what you have to in life," Michael said. "You do what's right. I don't know any other way than to take care of my family."
On Saturday, both Concannons will tend to the business of football.
The Saints are coming off a Catholic League Class AA title, which they wrestled from West Catholic. They ended the Burrs' 52-game PCL winning streak against division opponents, which included regular and postseason contests.
Senior running back Khalil Roane again leads the Saints. He led the city with 315 rushing attempts last season, gaining 1,513 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns.
Emil Moody, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound tight end, is an offensive threat sure to be targeted by quarterback Brandon Pridgen, who transferred from Northeast High.
Dan may know the VFMA personnel well from his days as the defensive coordinator, but Michael taught Dan, and most of his staff at N-G, much of what they know.
Six of the Saints seven assistant coaches played for Michael at N-G.
"There's definitely a proud-father, big-brother vibe going on there," Michael said. "I stopped by earlier this summer and watched those [coaches], who I taught the game, teach and teach it well. Definitely, your heart swells with pride. You can't help but be happy for them, but I'm a little scared because they are smart kids."
Barbara Concannon expressed similar sentiments.
"It's going to be awesome," she said. "I'm very proud of the sons that I raised. They're good men and I'm glad to see them in the coaching field because they give back the way their coaches helped them. I'm very proud. I guess I'll be beaming on Saturday."
@AceCarterINQ
