The bond is real for Brooklyn Tech football

Adam Cirillo appeared in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Photo: Tom Wieboldt, from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

FORT GREENE — It’s a Tech thing. At least that’s what Tom Wieboldt calls it.

“I really don’t know what it is,” the 1973 Brooklyn Tech grad said. “A magical thing, perhaps. But I do know there’s a certain bond with Brooklyn Tech football graduates.”

Thanks to Adam Cirillo.

“Cirillo,” says Wieboldt, “was an amazing athlete. “He played baseball, ran track, swam, and of course, played football at Tech.”

In 1927 he received football Honorable Mention from the Brooklyn Eagle and the following year he was named to the Eagle’s All-Star team.

He was awarded an academic/athletic scholarship to Lafayette College – thanks in part to the Eagle’s scholastic sports writer – Jimmy Murphy.

“Jimmy loved Adam,” Wieboldt recalled, “He was the driving force getting Adam his college scholarship.”

Adam Cirillo appeared in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Photo: Tom Wieboldt, from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Cirillo, all 160-plus pounds of him according to Wieboldt, was a four-year starter at end for the Leopards football team, and he was named captain as a senior in 1932 when he earned little All American honors.

And this is when the “magic” started. Cirillo took his Civil Engineering Degree — he designed parks — and returned to Brooklyn Tech High School to begin his career as a teacher – and eventually attain the position as chairman of the structural engineering department.

A little history about the school that was established at 29 Fort Greene Place, in 1922 – and opened in 1933. Founded by Albert Colston to blend technical skills with college prep, it has evolved from a vocational school to a leader in 18-plus majors like robotics. It is the nation’s largest specialized STEM school, and a recognized Blue Ribbon School and an Intel School of Distinction. Admission is based solely on the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test.

It is also a high school football powerhouse.

Ira Bloom was the original head football coach from 1922-1925. The Eagle wrote: “There are many outstanding men in this country today because they came under the splendid influence of Ira Bloom.”

Football disappeared at Tech until 1939 – for lack of a practice facility. That 1939 team was formed and coached by Cirillo.

It was the start of the perhaps the most dominant high school football dynasty New York City has ever seen. “He coached for 30 years,” said Wieboldt, a retired New York City firefighter who was a member of the 1972 Brooklyn championship team that eventually lost the city Public School Athletic League title at Far Rockaway High School.

For 30 years Cirillo coached football at his alma mater – and 29 of those seasons were winning ones – with 10 city championships. “His only losing season,” said Wieboldt, “was his first.”

Cirillo was successful because he was intense, as well as undersized, says Wieboldt. “He was small, and was determined to make himself a great player. He wanted to do the same for his players.” He did that and more – much more.
How intense was he? Try this.

“He was so involved with what he was doing,” his 82 year old daughter Pat Cuzzocrea told the Eagle, “That when we were at a scrimmage with Brooklyn Prep – he left me there.

Adam Cirillo appeared in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Photo: Tom Wieboldt, from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

“He had x’s and o’s at the dinner table. But he never imposed himself on anyone. We went to every game as kids and even went with the team to football camp in the summer.”

The day the season ended the only thing on coach’s mind was getting you to college, Wieboldt remembered. “He’d rather see a kid go to college, than win a game,” he said. “I really believe that.”

So much so, in 1967 he helped create the scholarship foundation that bears his name.

At this year’s scholarship/awards dinner held last month; two students received scholarships of $5,000 each and one walked away with a check for $40,000. Not too shabby.

The Tech thing – almost forgot.

The second Sunday each year at Staten Island’s The Staaten, the Tech Hall of Fame dinner attracts over 200 people. “Teams, entire teams from past years show up,” Wieboldt says. “That’s the bond we form. That’s the Tech thing.”

Maybe it started in 1943 when the Engineers claimed its first PSAL championship as the only undefeated team in the league. They would win again in 1946 and 1947 – undefeated.

From 1954-56 Tech would go undefeated for three seasons and crowned city champions in all three.

From 1960-62, Tech would again go undefeated for three consecutive seasons and win three more city titles. They were Brooklyn Champions in 1967 – again undefeated; with a non-division loss to Far Rockaway.

Tech went undefeated in Cirillo’s last season as head coach. The team went undefeated in league play and crowned Brooklyn Champions. A Thanksgiving Day loss to Far Rockaway meant Tech had to share the title of City Champion with Far Rockaway and John Adams. This was Cirillo’s 10th — and final – PSAL City Championship.

But it wasn’t over – not by a long shot.

Joe Cuzzocrea was an assistant coach on Cirillo’s staff in 1965. When retirement arrived – yes Cuzzocrea – the future son-in-law of Cirillo – assumed the head spot.

“Football coaching,” said Joe’s wife, Pat, “is in the family.”

Now that’s a real Tech thing.

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The success was captured by two Tech football graduates – Steve Gerbson and Rick Turnbull – both Tech Class of ’69 in their video documentary: Bonded in Blue.

Andy Furman is a Fox Sports Radio national talk show host. Previously, he was a scholastic sports columnist for the Brooklyn Eagle. He may be reached at: [email protected] X: @AndyFurmanFSR