December 21, 2005Crusader Hot Seat: Gene DeVitoBy Scotty
Smalls Gene DeVito, a senior wide receiver for the Crusaders in 2005, was named to the CHSCA Class S All-State Team last week. CrusaderNation.net Senior Analyst Scotty Smalls had a chance to catch up with Gene to get his thoughts on the season, the team, and his future. SS: To start with the most serious and obvious, you were hurt on the last play of the Joel Barlow game, besides not being able to finish out the season on the field, what was the most difficult thing you had to do since the injury? GD: Definitely watching my team play was the hardest thing I had to do. Having to watch them lose a game and knowing that there was nothing I could do about it was a killer. Every time another team took a lead I took it as a challenge to the offense to come back and try to re-gain the lead. Just knowing I couldn’t help do that tore me apart. SS: In your opinion, for the future of Catholic Football to continue improving, what’s one thing Coach Fox is going to have to improve on as a coach? GD: In-season workouts. They may not seem like a big dea,l but lifting and running are key. I think that there should be mandatory lifting and agility work after practice each day. No one would like it but it has to be done to be successful. However, coach Fox was a great coach to have. SS: Which one of the assistant coaches at Trinity had the biggest influence on your high school career? GD: Coach Salvatore. I have known him most of my life and I looked up to him as a coach. He is one of my favorite people and whatever he told me to do I would do. He broke his leg half way through his senior season and had to sit out as well so I had someone to talk to. He understood what I was going through. SS: If there was no football, what would you have done with your time? GD: Played basketball. I love the game of basketball almost as much as I love football. SS: If there was one player on the TCHS team you would avoid being tackled by at all costs, who would that be? GD: Either Vinny Cortese or Eric Stephens. Those two hit hard every play and after a couple of hits the other team is noticeably afraid to go at them. SS: In his prime, could Coach Fox cover you one-on-one? Out of ten opportunities, how many catches do you make? GD: Ten. He is too little to go against me and I don’t care what he says; it would have been a David vs. Goliath story but Goliath would have dominated. SS: You wore #81 this past season. The never outspoken Peter Warrick does as well. Besides sharing a number, do you think you share any of his personal traits? GD: Explosiveness. Warrick had the ability to just get away without a trace. Although I am not as quick, when my acceleration picks up I’m a whole new player. SS: If you are able to play at the college level, will you choose to wear the same number if given the opportunity? GD: I’m keeping #81. Although I know every person hates to hear it, Terrell Owens is my idol and I actually chose #81 because of him. SS: If you could have played for any other FCIAC team this past season, which team would you have played for? GD: Stamford High. I know that they are our rivals but a lot of my close friends are on the team and they had an offense that likes to put the ball in the air. I think I would have fit in nice. SS: Have you decided on where you will be next year? If not, what are your top three college or prep school choices? GD: I am still undecided as to where I am going to be. I know that I will not be attending prep school and because of my injury some of the Division 1 schools have shied away. My top three are probably Bentley, Bryant, and Stony Brook. SS: If you did not play football and were a fan of the team, of who would you be the biggest fan? GD: Anes Koummal. He is one of my closest friends and he is fun to watch in any sport. He is one of the most talented and athletic kids I know and he is an awesome quarterback. SS: Next year you will be away from home. What are you most looking forward to? Football? Being able to eat whatever you want in the dining halls? Taking Classes? Sororities? GD: Football. I can’t wait for another season to start up again so I can show everyone that the injury didn’t affect me. I plan to come back in the best shape I have ever been in and have fun playing football again. SS: What is the one thing you’ll miss the most about the Trinity Catholic Football experience? GD: Everything. I’ll miss the practices, the traditions, the rituals, the family, my teammates, the coaches, and of course the games. High school football is the best time of any football player’s life and I’m going to miss it. SS: Thanks, Gene. Good luck next year.
 Big senior defensive tackle Vladimir Joseph swims by an offensive lineman in a 28-20 home victory over Fairfield Ludlowe on October 29, 2005. (CrusaderNation.net / Dana Maul)
 Junior defensive tackle Santiago "Teggy" Steele wraps up a Darien
rusher as his
 Junior center Cory Johnson prepares to snap the ball to fellow classmate
 The Crusader offensive line pushes Bassick around in the mud. The
Crusaders
 Senior wideout Rob Hawthorn races downfield to block as junior fullback
Eric Stephens
 2005 All-FCIAC East Offense Row 1, Left to Right: Eric Wells, Bassick; Willie Epps, McMahon;
Pete Raymond,
 2005 All-FCIAC East Defense Row 1, Left to Right: Joe Luchesi, Danbury; Greg Sabo, Danbury; James
Taylor, Danbury;
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