written by Coach Nate Albaugh
  February 11, 2011

  Tuesday morning, I pulled up to Brother Rice High School near Detroit, MI.  Home to one of the most storied football programs in Michigan and the state's all-time winningest coach, Al Fracassa.  
   It's an ordinary, all-boys catholic school in stature.  An older building, filled with memories.  A great staff and faculty, sharp looking young men walking the halls, and a history of winning.  But the difference for me in visiting Coach Fracassa is that within 5 minutes, I felt like family.  Coach was genuinely interested in ME.  Who was I?  How did I meet my wife?
  "Show me where your school is," he said as he reached over me to grab his Atlas.  He listened attentively as I explained where I lived and all the places I have coached.  My current town of Milford, IL will forever be circled in Coach's US Atlas.  
  I don't know that I have ever felt so honored to sit in another man's office, but as I sat amongst his dozens of photos of former players in Michigan State, Michigan, Notre Dame, and UCLA uniforms, my heart could feel the amount of pride that this program boasts.
  I spent the whole day with Coach Fracassa and a very kind gal by the name of Jenny Cherocci.  She took care of Coach and I like we were guests in her own home.  I will never forget the family feel at Brother Rice.   In my 3 days home, I have already seen a difference in the way I approach my job as a coach and the way that I treat my players.
  Coach wanted me to share with you, his list of team mottos that he has used and recorded since 1974.  Each year, he will have a motto for his team, and that motto will go on everything they use that year.  It's a simple way, to drive a message home with your athletes that will stick with them for the rest of their lives.
  Stay tuned, as my interview with Coach Fracassa and a handful of their agility drills will be coming to our free content by the end of the month.  Until then, chew on some of these great mottos and remember to love your players, as if they were members of your own family.

Brother Rice Football Mottos
1974 - Greatness cannot be achieved without discipline.
1975 - Contentment with past accomplishments stifles future achievements.
1976 - You never fail until you stop trying.
1977 - Do it better than it's ever been done before.
1978 - How good do you want to be? 1979 - Never, never, never give up.
1980 - The difference between good and great is a little extra effort.
1981 - The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.
1982 - Life's battles don't always go to a stronger or faster man, but to the man who thinks he can.
1983 - Be the best that you can be.
1984 - Commitment to excellence
1985 - Do things right all the time.
1986 - The price of greatness is responsibility.
1987 - Believe it.
1988 - Whatever it takes.
1989 - I think I can.
1990 - Count on me.
1991 - Pain is temporary - Victory is forever.
1992 - Attitude.
1993 - Ever to excel.
1994 - Character, Discipline, Team, Tradition.
1995 - Unity is Strength.
1996 - Keep Fighting.
1997 - Carpe Diem
1998 - Stay Strong
1999 - The Power of Teamwork
2000 - Attitude is Everything.
2001 - Uphold the Tradition.
2002 - Together We Stand.
2003 - We Can Do It.
2004 - Victory Begins in the Heart.
2005 - Make a Difference.
2006 - Play with Passion.
2007 - As you Believe, so you Become.
2008 - Preparing to Be the Best.
2009 - BELIEVE
2010 - STATE FORTE (Stay Strong)
2011 - ... to be revealed in Coach Fracassa's Interview here on Chiefpigksin.com