Penn assistant brings in bucks

George Weiss donated $500,000 to the Penn football program in coach Dan Staffieri's name. Penn volunteer assistant football coach Dan Staffieri, 76, has spent 20 years trying to get the Penn community fired up for Quakers football, going so far as to drive up and down Locust Walk before home games in a helmet-shaped go-cart, screaming "Here we go Quakers, here we go," over a bullhorn. But Staffieri's value to the football program extends far beyond his weekly antics, with many coaches and players praising him for providing the team with consistent encouragement and inspiration. Staffieri's decades-long dedication to the program was honored over Homecoming Weekend, as Wharton alumnus and University Trustee George Weiss donated $500,000 to the program in the coach's name. "Coach Staffieri is the embodiment of Penn football. His enthusiasm and love for the program and players are tremendous," Weiss said in a written release. "I've never seen such great devotion." Although no plans for the donation have been finalized yet, the money will be used "for special projects which will directly impact the student athletes," such as a video review room, according to Director of Athletic Development Decker Ulhorn. The room would allow the team to critique and discuss its performance on the field, he said. The gift was announced at the annual football players reunion banquet November 7 in Weightman Hall, where more than 200 alumni gathered with current Quakers and coaches to begin Homecoming Weekend festivities. "The affection for Staffieri in that crowd was tremendous," Ulhorn said. "We wanted to get all the young alumni in attendance for the announcement because they are the ones who have benefited from [Staffieri's] spirit over the last 20-some years." Athletic Department Director Steve Bilsky said that the donation "is a great way to get our younger alumni involved in donating to the program, and it will certainly have a large and positive impact on our program for a long time." Weiss added that he hopes his gift will encourage future gifts from other alumni. "It is important to have young people involved in the process?. We, as alumni, have to ensure that the coaches, players and recruits have the resources available to compete," he said in a written release. The donation is designed to "honor coach Staffieri and his importance to Penn football over the years," Weiss added. Staffieri -- whose life motto is "Do better than your best" -- is known throughout Penn for wearing garish red and blue plaid pants daily, as well as traveling along Locust Walk in the "Penn Helmet" Fridays before home games. Staffieri began his career at Penn in 1977 as an assistant coach, and continues to assist Quakers running back coach Mark Chmielinski. Before coming to the University, Staffieri had played football for Maryland and in the U.S. Marine Corps, and coached the sport at several Philadelphia high schools. Although Staffieri works as an assistant coach, he spends the majority of his time diagramming weekly lists of encouraging slogans for the players, which he posts on the players' lockers. "Everyday, I get the players and students to believe in Penn pride. Over the past 40 years of coaching, I felt I had to reach into their hearts and minds. Through repetition of mottos and excitement, I can reach them," he said, describing his technique as "motivational breakdown." "I post over 120 slogans a week -- all with the year's motto 'Get it revvin' in '97,' as well as a motto for that week's game. For Dartmouth that was 'Peace on earth, destroy Dartmouth,' and for Princeton, 'Squash the pumpkin heads'," he added. Many of the former Quakers at the Homecoming banquet noted their admiration for Staffieri's dedication. "Coach Staffieri has taught me a lot about morale," said 1991 College graduate Joe Valerio, a former NFL lineman with Kansas City, in a written statement. "Without sounding corny, he taught me the real meaning of sports." But Staffieri insists that such praise is misplaced. "What I do is just make the players believe in their ability. George Weiss -- now he's a man and a half, and what he does is the most important thing because he gives the funds that the program needs, Staffieri said. "He gives to all things he cares about, and that makes him the best friend a man, and the University, could have," he added.

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