The Camp of Champions wraps up with another memorable day.
Former Wildcat great and University of Louisville standout Dave Ragone pays a visit to Wasmer Field.
By Eddie Dwyer, Copyright June/July 2012
Saint Ignatius’ veteran offensive coordinator Nick Restifo was one of the many outstanding coaches who dedicated his time this week tutoring and the honing the skills of well over 100 student athletes at the prestigious Camp of Champions.
During Wednesday’s final camp session on Wasmer Field, Coach Restifo, who has developed numerous All-Ohio quarterbacks at the Jesuit Preparatory School in Cleveland’s Ohio City, gave the promising quarterbacks and receivers in grades 9 through 12 something they can apply to the rest of their lives – on and off the field.
“Every one of you have goals, or you wouldn’t be here,” Coach Restifo said to the young men who came from a five-county area. “But if you don’t have a plan for those goals, they’re just a dream.”
On what was the third consecutive perfect-weather day on the campus at West 30th and Lorain Avenue, Coach Restifo emphasized how vital preparation is and referred to the “true team player.” He told the athletes that if they are the No. 2 man or backup at their position, it is their job to push the starter and make him a better player. That is being a true team player.
Strongsville head coach Russ Jacques, who also coached on the college level at West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin and Northwestern, and was a legendary quarterback at Parma Senior High School, sent home the point that it is the commitment to doing the “little things” that separates the good teams from the great ones.
Stopping by during the final day of the Camp of Champions were former Saint Ignatius All-Ohio quarterback and basketball standout Dave Ragone ’98 and John Carroll University head coach Regis Scafe.
One of the greatest high school signal-callers this corner ever had the privilege to cover and report on, Dave is entering his second season as the Wide Receivers Coach for the Tennessee Titans of the NFL. He is joined on the Titans' staff by former Wildcats football, basketball and track standout Jon Gannon ’01. Jon is Tennessee’s Quality Control Coach on defense.
Ragone spent three seasons (2003-05) as an NFL quarterback with the Houston Texans. In the spring of 2005, he also spent time in NFL Europe with the Berlin Thunder and earned league Offensive MVP honors. He set an NFLEL record by throwing 174 consecutive passes without an interception and led the league with a passer rating of 97.5. Dave was a third-round selection by Houston in the 2003 NFL Draft after finishing his All-American career at Louisville, where he was a three-time Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year and led his team to three consecutive bowl games.
At the conclusion of his NFL career, Dave hosted a morning radio show in Louisville and became Vice President of The Corporate Playbook, a company that helps athletes prepare and find jobs.
St. Ignatius senior quarterback Mike LaManna, a left-hander, got a chance to be introduced to Ragone. Mike is aware of the fact that Dave is considered the greatest left-handed quarterback in the Wildcats’ rich football history.
LaManna said the biggest thing he came away with from the Camp of Champions was the coaching he received, not just from Saint Ignatius head coach Chuck Kyle '69, Coach Restifo and Coach (Elvis) Grbac, but from all of the other outstanding coaches.
“Some of the things they brought to the table were really important things that I am going to remember throughout the rest of my football career,” LaManna said.
Coach Scafe put an emphasis on academics while addressing the young campers and really caught their attention when he pointed out that the John Carroll Blue Streaks will be opening their 2012 season on August 31 in Dublin, Ireland’s Donnybrook Stadium. John Carroll’s opponent will be St. Norbert College from De Pere, Wisconsin. The next day, Sept. 1, John Carroll and St. Norbert are invited to take in the season opener between the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the Naval Academy, which is also being played in Dublin, Ireland.
*The Wildcats’ junior varsity and varsity football teams will hold their final mini-camp sessions from July 23-27. The JV team is to report at 3 p.m. each day and the varsity at 4:30.
Two-a-days begin on July 30.
Rounding the corner and heading home, followed by a quick slant pattern.