Alex Coffey

Inside the Big 5 coaching fraternity: From wanting to ‘kill each other’ to being ‘brothers’ For years, the games between the city’s schools were intense, and often heated. While the level of camaraderie has changed, the former coaches believe that upholding the Big 5 brotherhood is worth it.

“On the court, you wanted to kill each other and off the court you were like brothers.”

Inside the Big 5 coaching brotherhood: www.inquirer.com/sports/big-f...

Inside the Big 5 coaching fraternity: From wanting to ‘kill each other’ to being ‘brothers’ For years, the games between the city’s schools were intense, and often heated. While the level of camaraderie has changed, the former coaches believe that upholding the Big 5 brotherhood is worth it.

Since the Big 5's founding, there has been a fraternity among its coaches.

They'd hang out after games. They'd celebrate each others wins.

The coaches believe this is unique to Philly.

“On the court, you wanted to kill each other. Off the court you were brothers” www.inquirer.com/sports/big-f...

Inside the Big 5 coaching fraternity: From wanting to ‘kill each other’ to being ‘brothers’

For years, the games between the city’s schools were intense, and often heated. While the level of camaraderie has changed, the former coaches believe that upholding the Big 5 brotherhood is worth it.

Inside the Big 5 coaching fraternity: From wanting to ‘kill each other’ to being ‘brothers’ For years, the games between the city’s schools were intense, and often heated. While the level of camaraderie has changed, the former coaches believe that upholding the Big 5 brotherhood is worth it.

“On the court, you wanted to kill each other and off the court you were like brothers.”

Inside the Big 5 coaching brotherhood: www.inquirer.com/sports/big-f...

The former coaches are still friends today.

They're in regular contact and see each other from time to time.

They believe this brotherhood is important to uphold, despite the challenges of the current game.

"They're the caretakers. Same goes for all of us” www.inquirer.com/sports/big-f...

After Chaney left Temple, he'd stop by Morris's practices at St. Joe's Prep.

He always claimed he didn't want to "get involved" but whenever he saw a mistake, Chaney would jump out of his chair.

He'd give the player a 10-minute, impromptu, expletive-laden lesson: www.inquirer.com/sports/big-f...

The elder statesmen called each other brothers.

And like most brothers, they enjoyed giving each other grief.

One time, when Morris was cleaning his house, he found some ugly 70's era ties.

He sent them to Temple.

"[Chaney] was like, 'What is this shit?'" www.inquirer.com/sports/big-f...

Morris and Chaney were the "elder statesmen."

They often shared feedback with the younger coaches.

Chaney took special interest in Dunphy, who replaced him at Temple.

“He'd go, ‘Franny, what the hell is going on there? Why are we turning the ball over?’" www.inquirer.com/sports/big-f...

This was even true throughout recruitment.

Fran Dunphy said that Big 5 coaches would sit together at AAU tournaments, while recruiting the same guy.

There was an unspoken rule to never speak ill of a Big 5 program.

"People marveled at it," Martelli said: www.inquirer.com/sports/big-f...

After La Salle advanced to the Round of 32 in 2013, Jay Wright went to their locker room to congratulate them.

Wright would get calls from John Chaney after big wins. Martelli would hear from Speedy Morris.

This had always been the Big 5 culture: www.inquirer.com/sports/big-f...

Thank you!!

Inside the Big 5 coaching fraternity: From wanting to ‘kill each other’ to being ‘brothers’ For years, the games between the city’s schools were intense, and often heated. While the level of camaraderie has changed, the former coaches believe that upholding the Big 5 brotherhood is worth it.

Since the Big 5's founding, there has been a fraternity among its coaches.

They'd hang out after games. They'd celebrate each others wins.

The coaches believe this is unique to Philly.

“On the court, you wanted to kill each other. Off the court you were brothers” www.inquirer.com/sports/big-f...

Coaching Richmond star Maggie Doogan can be ‘stressful’. Aaron Roussell wouldn’t have it any other way. Since her days at Cardinal O'Hara, Doogan has been a basketball sponge. The senior "wouldn’t want to spend my last year anywhere else” after leading the Spiders' rise.

Maggie Doogan might be the best mid-major player in women’s college basketball. Here’s how the former Cardinal O’Hara star helped fuel Richmond’s rise to A-10 champ…and why she stayed at the school in this NIL era.

“You can’t fake anything with her.”

www.inquirer.com/college-spor...

The seniors from that 1978 team are still friends, and meet up every year.

It's all part of an effort to keep North Catholic's legacy alive.

They may not have a school anymore, or a Thanksgiving game to go to.

But they still have the memories, and each other: www.inquirer.com/high-school-...

🤍🤍🤍

North Catholic beat Frankford on Thanksgiving in 1978. It’s a victory the Norphans haven’t forgotten. In 1978, the Falcons were heavy underdogs but pulled off an improbable win over the Pioneers at Veterans Stadium. While the school closed in 2010, the Norphans have kept the legacy of that game alive.

For decades, the North Catholic-Frankford Thanksgiving game was a fierce rivalry.

Fans would fight in the stands. Some threw whiskey bottles on the field.

The police were always on standby.

"It was like the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland” www.inquirer.com/high-school-...

North Catholic beat Frankford on Thanksgiving in 1978. It’s a victory the Norphans haven’t forgotten. In 1978, the Falcons were heavy underdogs but pulled off an improbable win over the Pioneers at Veterans Stadium. While the school closed in 2010, the Norphans have kept the legacy of that game alive.

For decades, North Catholic & Frankford played a Thanksgiving game.

In 1978, the 50th, they moved it to the Vet. NC pulled off an unlikely win, in front of 25,000 fans.

The school closed in 2010. But memories of that game are still vivid.

"This was our Super Bowl" www.inquirer.com/high-school-...

A photo of a North Catholic football team photo with a headline in black text below that says "North Catholic beat Frankford on Thanksgiving in 1978. It's a victory the Norphans haven't forgotten."

In 1978, the Falcons were heavy underdogs but pulled off an improbable win over the Pioneers at Veterans Stadium.

While the school closed in 2010, the Norphans have kept the legacy of that game alive.

North Catholic beat Frankford on Thanksgiving in 1978. It’s a victory the Norphans haven’t forgotten. In 1978, the Falcons were heavy underdogs but pulled off an improbable win over the Pioneers at Veterans Stadium. While the school closed in 2010, the Norphans have kept the legacy of that game alive.

Full story 👇

When North Catholic closed in 2010, it ended the NC-Frankford Thanksgiving game.

In 1978, the game was played at the Vet. It was the last time the NC seniors would play together.

They won (and are still celebrating).

"We’ll toast until the last of us is standing” www.inquirer.com/high-school-...

The seniors from that 1978 team are still friends, and meet up every year.

It's all part of an effort to keep North Catholic's legacy alive.

They may not have a school anymore, or a Thanksgiving game to go to.

But they still have the memories, and each other: www.inquirer.com/high-school-...

Frankford went undefeated in 1978, while North went 5-6. NC had lost its last four Thanksgiving games.

Nevertheless, NC won, 21-14.

The players were treated like "folk heroes."

“It was the last game [the seniors] would play together and we went out as a winner." www.inquirer.com/high-school-...

The 50th anniversary was such a big deal that Dick Vermeil moved Eagles practice to accommodate it.

One NC player, Dan Galiczynski, was struggling in an electronics class in 1978.

His teacher offered to give him a passing grade if he "beat Frankford": www.inquirer.com/high-school-...

The game was a hotly contested neighborhood event.

One former player compared it to the “Catholics and the Protestants in Northern Ireland.”

Another went as a fan in 1974. He and his bus-mates were arrested on the ride home.

“We lost the game & tore the bus apart” www.inquirer.com/high-school-...

North Catholic beat Frankford on Thanksgiving in 1978. It’s a victory the Norphans haven’t forgotten. In 1978, the Falcons were heavy underdogs but pulled off an improbable win over the Pioneers at Veterans Stadium. While the school closed in 2010, the Norphans have kept the legacy of that game alive.

For decades, North Catholic & Frankford played a Thanksgiving game.

In 1978, the 50th, they moved it to the Vet. NC pulled off an unlikely win, in front of 25,000 fans.

The school closed in 2010. But memories of that game are still vivid.

"This was our Super Bowl" www.inquirer.com/high-school-...

Olivia did a great job with this:

First-year coach K.C. Keeler is committed to Temple, Philly, and his ‘grandpa’ dance moves Keeler has an established track record of building winning programs, and he won’t likely use Temple as a stepping stone. For the 66-year-old, the area has become his home.

“Terrible [dance moves]."

“It’s like seeing your grandpa dancing. OK, grandpa! OK!’”

“I think he’s got to start stretching before he does them."

First-year coach K.C. Keeler is committed to Temple, Philly, and his ‘grandpa’ dance moves: www.inquirer.com/college-spor...

First-year coach K.C. Keeler is committed to Temple, Philly, and his ‘grandpa’ dance moves Keeler has an established track record of building winning programs, and he won’t likely use Temple as a stepping stone. For the 66-year-old, the area has become his home.

“He’s so easy to talk to,” Simon said. “And that’s important as a player. Not being nervous all the time. Because I’ve experienced that, where there’s tension, [and you’re] afraid to mess up. But he’s super easygoing.”

On K.C. Keeler, Temple's fun "Uncle" www.inquirer.com/college-spor...

First-year coach K.C. Keeler is committed to Temple, Philly, and his ‘grandpa’ dance moves Keeler has an established track record of building winning programs, and he won’t likely use Temple as a stepping stone. For the 66-year-old, the area has become his home.

K.C. Keeler is the first Temple HC to build a house in the area since Bruce Arians in the 80s.

(This is notable at a school that has cycled through head coaches).

A look at Keeler's culture, which stems from his commitment to his team —and his "grandpa" dance moves www.inquirer.com/college-spor...

A photo of K.C. Keeler celebrating with Temple players with a headline in black text over a white background below that says "First-year coach K.C. Keeler is committed to Temple, Philly, and his 'grandpa' dance moves."

K.C. Keeler has an established track record of building winning programs, and he won’t likely use Temple as a stepping stone.

For the 66-year-old, the area has become his home.