Brick by Brick

BRICK BY BRICK

For everything there is a season, scripture says. In 2018, it was the Wolverines’!

Reported by Aly Kruger ’19, sports editor, and The Collegian staff

Two years ago, the Grove City College football team had just closed the book on a winless season, their third in as many years.

The program faced challenges: a 0-30 record with a new head coach who had never even led a high school team, let alone a NCAA Div. III squad, and waning enthusiasm on the part of players and frustrated fans who made it to Thorn Field for games.

At that point, few could imagine a future in which the Wolverines would go 8-3, qualify for post-season play for the first time in more than a generation, claim the first bowl game victory in program history, and see that first-time mentor named the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. But all that happened in 2018.

How did Grove City College’s football program turn itself around so fast? It begins and ends with head coach Andrew DiDonato ’10. DiDonato’s” brick-by-brick” approach to building the team is already part of campus lore and players say his attitude has changed the way they play – and see – the game.

“He [has an] overwhelming sense of joy,” said strong safety Daniel Jackson ’19. “We lost every single game our sophomore year, his first year as head coach, and there wasn’t a day when he came in visibly upset.”

Defensive tackle Connor Lowe ’19 credited DiDonato for modeling the right attitude for his players. “It’s such a rare thing to see a guy come into work every day with the same amount of passion and fire that coach brings,” he said. “Everything he does is to glorify God,” kicker Kelsey Tishchler ’20 said.

“To make the change this year required a huge shift in mental attitude and how we approached every single day of practice,” Lowe said. “We’re not overwhelmingly more talented than the 0-10 teams that came before us … It’s changed mentally.”

DiDonato’s drill consists of hard work on the field and attention to the spiritual formation of his players. Brick by brick means breaking practices into five minute periods that keep everyone moving at a fast pace. The focus, DiDonato said, is on mastering the art, putting in effort every rep and discipline. “On the field … we’ve found what we could be best at and focused just on mastering that,” he said.

On the field … we’ve found what we could be best at and focused just on mastering that”

– Andrew DiDonato '10, Head Coach

While he hasn’t patented them yet, DiDonato employs “four second phrases” to work on his players’ spiritual awareness and mental toughness. “We use a slogan ’Four, 40, forever’ because we’re reminded - football is going to last four years, their degree the next 40, and their faith’s going to impact eternity forever,” DiDonato said.

Another is: “Content but not complacent,” inspired by the apostle Paul. “He said ’I’ve worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but Christ in me.’ And we’re called to work heartily as unto the Lord ... that should make us work harder than anyone,” DiDonato said.

That message is clearly seen in the players, and in the positivity, they bring to the field every day, DiDonato said.

“The seniors have taught all of us that it is how you respond to circumstances when things aren’t going well that allows you to see the turnaround we’ve experienced. A few years ago, when things weren’t going so well, they took ownership, remained positive and brought joy to practice every day. Their attitude during that time is a key reason why we got to enjoy these special moments this season.”

The Wolverines football team celebrates its victory over Morrisville State in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III James Lynah Bowl on Nov. 17 at Robert E. Thorn Field.

In the 2018 season, other teams started taking the Wolverines seriously as they shocked some opponents and became a force to be reckoned with in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. They also dealt with a number of setbacks, including some key injuries, through the run. But those setbacks only made the team stronger and more resilient.

“We’re hunters,” running back Wesley Schools ’20 said. “We hunt teams and we take them down.” Schools had a huge season, breaking school records almost every game and securing PAC Player of the Week honors on multiple occasions. “My freshman year we were just itching to win a game, and now we’re expected to win.”

This season, this team has reminded Grove City College and its students of the importance of hard work and overcoming adversity, but also the importance of doing everything for the glory of God. Remaining focused on the vision allows the team to be reflective and appreciative of all they have accomplished, while on the hunt. “I will never forget that we came from 0-30,” said Schools. “I will never forget where we came from and where we’re going.”

“This story is one of the clearest examples of why culture matters,” College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 said. “Our football team has been transformed by daring to do things differently and having the courage to ask what God wants to see in this program. It’s a fantastic picture of the College’s entire mission.”