FRANCO HAS CREATED A LEGACY AT TYRONE

By Brian Carson

  

      The great Vince Lombardi once said, "football is a relatively easy

game. To be successful you must block, tackle and play with 100 percent

effort."

      At Tyrone, head coach John Franco has built not just a dynasty, but a

legacy on that simple principle.

      His charges play the game the way it's supposed to be played - hard,

intense and with maximum effort. It doesn't matter about natural talent or

skills; coach Franco will bring out the best that each player has to offer.

      Since his arrival 12 years ago, the Golden Eagles have been reaping

the benefits. Under Franco's tutelage, Tyrone has amassed a 118-26 record

with seven District 6-AA championships and a PIAA title in 1999. They have

reached the Western Finals four times and in 1996; the Golden Eagles were a

PIAA runner-up to Mount Carmel. They are the only District 6 team to capture

a PIAA state title.

      The 2005 season was supposed to be a down year for the Tyrone squad.

Heavy losses and inexperienced returnees dotted the roster. This was the

year the Golden Eagles would be handled, so said the experts.

      Instead, Tyrone has rolled to a 6-0 record, and are coming off a 41-6

dismantling of then unbeaten Bellefonte last Friday.

      The Golden Eagles are currently ranked fourth in the state by PFN. So

much for Tyrone having a down year. If the credit goes anywhere, it goes to

the man in charge.

      Franco is a throwback coach to the golden days of football. He would

fit in perfectly with the philosophy of a Lombardi, Paul Brown or George

Halas.

      Franco preaches the basics, the fundamentals of successful football.

He demands his squad give their best, but behind his sometimes aloof and

intense exterior is a man who cares deeply for his players. His goal is to

bring out the best in his team, win or lose. What's important to him is

character building - not wins and losses - even though he wins much more

than he loses.

      Behind the stoic features and dark eyes is a man who has a deep

passion for the game of football. Lombardi would have loved having a John

Franco as an assistant coach.

      All he does is win. No matter how much he wants to tell us that his

team is not that good or how much work needs to be done. We know the

routine. We know that come football season, Franco's squad will be ready to

take on all challengers and rack up more and more victories to add to his

growing resume.

       Franco started his career at Altoona High School, where he compiled

a 40-45-2 record before moving on to Tyrone. His career record now stands at

152-71-2.

      John graduated from Bishop Guilfoyle high school in 1974 and went on

to IUP, where he received his degree in 1978. The major influence in his

life was his father, John Franco, Jr.

       John Jr., the name his dad was usually called, was a man who built

his life on old-fashioned, timeless principles that shaped the entire

family. Not just John, but brothers Scott and Tom would go on to success in

their respective endeavors. If the mark of a successful father is the

character of his offspring - then John Jr. was a rousing success.

      John Jr. was a police officer in the Altoona area from 1962 to 1992

and instilled in his son the untiring work ethic and rock solid faith that

would be the foundation of his professional career, as a teacher and high

school football coach.

      Unfortunately, his father never had the chance to see John coach at

Tyrone. John Franco Jr. would succumb to cancer before his son took the helm

of the Golden Eagles.

      But his undying influence would reflect the philosophy of the Tyrone

program through his son. Character and hard work would be first; winning

football games would assume a second-place stature. The influence of the

father would profoundly affect the son. And through this process, a legacy

would be born.

      The Golden Eagles will continue to be successful because of the drive

and mental makeup of the man in charge.

      John Franco is one of the truly great coaches to grace the stage of

high school football in Pennsylvania. Not only Tyrone, but all of District 6

is fortunate to have him apply his trade and skills in Central Pennsylvania.

      I for one feel that Franco is the best coach, not only in District 6,

but in the entire state as well. He is a class act, on and off the field.

His achievements speak for themselves. He is a great representative of all

that is good in high school sports. He is much more than just X's and O's.

      And I'm pretty sure that in some special place up in heaven, John

Franco, Jr. is looking down with a pride that only a father can have, and is

smiling at the amazing accomplishments of his eldest son.