The Largest Youth Football & Cheer Organization in the Country

Colombo's legacy felt at AYF

By Mike Scandura,
Special to AmericanYouthFootball.com

Throughout New England, coach Armand Colombo is synonymous with Brockton High football.

Why not? The 72-year-old Colombo has carved out a reputation as the greatest high school football coach in Massachusetts history.

But what may not be as well known is the reputation Colombo has carved out in another venue - American Youth Football. President Joe Galat, who helped found AYF in 1997, knows that without Colombo's influence, the organization may have remained a figment of somebody's imagination.

"Even before AYF was founded, if I had not met a guy like Armand I wouldn't have had as much interest in youth football," said Galat, who's been an assistant coach in the NFL and a head coach and general manager in the CFL. "He set an example for me to get involved.

"Once Armand got me going in the youth arena, I could never shake it."

Galat and Colombo first met around 1979, when they spent five summers working together at the Cape Cod Football Camp in East Brewster, Mass. But since Colombo was running a top-notch high school football program, teaching physical education and raising a family of six, the obvious question is, why would he devote his summer vacation time to youth football?

Dumb question.

"I did it because of the love of the game, and the desire to help these young kids who we felt could benefit from participating in the game," he said. "Many of them took advantage of it to the point where they went on to college and benefitted tremendously.

"Not everyone played (college) football but many benefitted from the education they received."

How so many youngsters benefitted from being around Colombo was a question Galat didn't hesitate to answer.

"Armand was so good helping the kids with that fatherly approach," said Galat. "People have a misconception that football coaches have to be stern. But Armand's warm, and he cares about their development.

"I felt this is what a football coach is supposed to be. You know that saying, 'You're never so tall as when you stoop to help a child.' That's what I've always looked at Armand as. Here's a guy who knows the sports world and has had huge success, but he's always giving back."

As Galat's quick to point out, "Giving Back" is AYF's theme. And despite the age differential, Colombo's ability to give back has been one of his strengths.

"The way I heard it best is that kids don't care how much you know until they know how much you care," said Galat. "Usually, the older you are, the less you show you care. That's not true with Armand.

"He understands that your future is in the kids, and he always had time for kids. He unselfishly gave up a lot of his time, not only for the kids but also for the youth coaches who don't have a lot of experience."

Colombo's experience in influencing AYF's birth has left him enamored of the organiztion.

"There's no question this is an organization that can truly benefit those young kids who take advantage of it," he said. "It's a positive way to introduce the game and introduce the kids to the discipline of the game.

"As for me, well, you never get sick of football and of trying to help people in football."

Colombo has helped Brockton to such a level of success that he's smashed every coaching record in the books. Prior to this season, Colombo was the head coach for 13 years at Archbishop Williams in Braintree and then for the next 30 at Brockton - where he built the Boxers into one of the state's all-time powers.

Colombo's won a state-record 316 games, while losing 100 and tying 5. And since the inception of Super Bowls by the MIAA in 1972, he's won a state-record nine bowls (while losing five), all at Brockton.

Want more? When Brockton played in the old Suburban League, Colombo's teams won 16 championships. Since the Big Three was formed 13 years ago, Brockton has captured eight titles.

Hard as it may be for the current generation to believe, there was a time when another name was 10 times as well-known in Brockton as Colombo's - a name that's very well-known to those of a certain age: Rocky Marciano, the only heavyweight boxing champ to retire undefeated and who died in a tragic plane crash on August 31, 1969.

Colombo is Marciano's brother-in-law since his wife of 48 years, Betty, is one of Rocky's three sisters.

"That's where this whole thing comes from," said Brockton director of athletics Tom Pileski, who played baseball for Colombo in 1960. "Like Rocky used to say, when you can't make the commitment, they don't call you champ any more.

"Armand has that same commitment, that same philosophy."

It doesn't take prodding for Colombo to admit he shares something else with Marciano.

"I remember talking with him and he always mentioned that he respected everyone he got into the ring with," said Colombo. "We always preach to the kids that you should have respect for your fellow players, your coaches, the other team.

"Rocky never lost because of the type of individual he was and we want our kids to be the same way."

Beginning with their involvement in youth football.