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doherty ........................ Schettino Release ........... lede .......... REVERE'S SCHETTINO ENTERS NORTHEASTERN HALL The only problem with the Frank Schettino story is that someone has to tell it. Frank Schettino certainly won't. Up to this point, he's no doubt pleaded in his best Italian that his charming bride, Milly, not spill the ia~'~~ to all of East Boston and Revere. Around Northeastern University, though, the secret is pretty much old news. Its time to shake up Cottage Street in Eastie and points north along the sea: Frank T. Schettino of Revere is going into the Hall of Fame. Specifically, Schettino is entering Northeastern's athletic Hall of Fame in formal induction ceremonies on Friday night, May 6th, at the Univ­ ersity's Matthews Arena. The former East Boston sandlot baseball and football star will join five of his fellow Husky athletes for official acceptance sp~hes, and will mesh with a Northeastern Hall of Fame star galaxy that includes Bob Cappadona, Dan Ross, and Joe Zabilski. Schettino was a multi-talented athlete who specialized in football at Northeastern, from which he earned a Business Management Degree in 1964; he was also pretty slick on the baseball diamond, earning three varsity letters. He had a tryout with the wide receiver-blessed Boston Patriots in 1963, and eventually played for the Boston Sweepers of the old Atlantic Coast League from 1963 through 1965; Schettino was a very good football player. At Northeastern, he excelled on both sides of the football as an offensive and defensive end, and each Spring shed the shoulder pads to shag fly balls and drive in runs for legendary baseball coach John "Tinker" Connelly But the source of the story about this diffident Italian-American athlete who is now his alma mater's Assistant Director of Financial Aid is the sandlot. r' 1 ~t ~cneT~ ~efletti~was a prodigy at Boston English. He was all of 16 years old for the autumn football season at English, where he played under the late Bill Stewart Jr. At 6 1 1, 180 pounds, Schettino was one of the State's finest pass receivers. Back in 1955, English practiced at Billy's Field in West Roxbury. The day in the life of a kid from Eastie who played football at English was, in a nutshell, long. -more- doherty .•....•............. Schettino Release ....•.•.......... add one ....... "By the time I finally made it home, I worked as a Soda Jerk at Frank's (Frank Deluca) Pharmacy," explained Schettino, who had ulterior motives at the old malt shot. This is where he gradually found the guts to talk to Carmella Pellegrit~ of ther other end of Cottage Street. "I'd give her a free frappe, or whatever~" he said. That first frappe was the first step to the ring for the young B~ston English starJ tvho VJa..r we& /n O.u;ve dJ 11 §"(I', fie U>u;ole l>l tJvJ-16 .lf'uehh1i- At.Je"vC 1/1 l(ev(rl_ tJIJ~rc -f'{~tJv! ~.(<!N L<~w _r,... ~<J. (' 0 T' I Schettin~ capped three years of All City and All State football and baseqallLme~tions with one glorious play in the critical Boston English­ \..T~aN~LV "'l· Boston Latln/~ame at Harvard Stadium in 1955. With the television cameras aimed at the snow-covered Stadium turf, Schettino grabbed the glory. On a bootleg play called in at the last second by Stewart, English quarterback Jerry D'Avolio tossed a pass to Schettino, who hauled it in for the winning touchdown. As an All Scholastic third sacker at English, Schettino played for the City All Stars against the Catholic All Stars as a senior in 1956 at Fenway Park. "I didn't do much in that game," said Schettino, "but I got my big thrill hitting one into the net in left in batting practice." Schettino?took a year off to work before returning to academia in 1957, attending Neuman Prep at night, while holding down a job at Colonial Tanning in the South End by day. This was not labor for the weak. "The work there, combined with I-iilly urging me to go to college, convinced me that college was the way to go," explained Schettino, who unchar­ acterist(ically played no football at all during his tenure at Neuman. By 1959, he was enrolled at Northeastern, and opted to play for the East Boston Tornadoes rather than the Husky freshman football team. Schettino caught passes and rushed from defensive end for former pro greats with the old Boston Yanks, Johnny Poto and Rudy Ramboli. The Torandoes played in the Park League title game that season, losing the championship to Charlestown, 13-7. Schettino was more-than-ready for varsity college ball under Head Coach Joe Zabilski. Three different quarterbacks tossed to Schettino in 1960, '61, and '62, when he was Northeastern's Most Valuable Player: Jerry Varnum, the original starter who was injured , John Kennedy and Eddie Mullin. "There were '-Sfe!Jp tNo no split ends per~se in those days," said Schettino. "ftk j ' '1i j three or four steps to either side was a split-end." Schettino could do more than catch the football. He was an out­ standing pass rusher under the tutelage of defensive line coach Mickey Walker , whose lessons would serve him well against some of the craftier, and ruthless -more- .. doherty ..........•................. Schettino Release ........... add two ....... offensive linemen in professional ball with the Steamers. In a three-year varsity career at Northeastern, Schettino was All-City, All New England, and as a senior ECAC All East in football. He also played three years of sensational Tinker Connelly. outfield ~ I)/I~ As a gridiron senior, he led the team in pass receptionsi\kick- off returns, while tying for the team scoring lead. The Huskies did not have great teams, in fact good at best, but people noticed the 6'2, 210 pound number 86. Like Boston Patriot Head Coach Mike Holovak. The Patriots brass was willing to take a chance at a guy with soft hands and deceptive speed; unfortunately for Schettino, the Pats were loaded at wide out with names such as Art Graham, Jim Colclough, and Gino Cappeletti. "I was cautiously optimistic in camp that August (1963) ," said Schettino of his tryout. "But I was realistic. I wanted more than anything to compare myself with those guys." He remembers certain classic moments, like being introduced to American Football League All Pro linebacker Nick Buonoconti. "I remember getting hit by Buonoconti," laughe d Schettino. "He said I'm sorry." The next best thing was a contract with the Sweepe rs, the Patriots' AFL farm team. They played in Everett Stadium. The quarterback was former Harvard star Donnie Allard and the Player-Coach was Butch Songin. The pay and the transportation were not always predictable, however. "We were flying to game s up and down the East Coast," explaine d Schettino. "But by the end of the season I was driving.'' Schettino was employ ­ ed at weak-side linebacker, wide receiver, and kickoff return man. Schettino survived the roughest football of his life for three falls of East Coast globe trotting. With his body still in tact and his mind still sharp, it was time to conce ntrate on work with his Busine ss Management Degree in-hand since graduating in 1964. In 1970, Phase II of his relationship with Northeastern began. As one of the University's primary Financial Aid Officers, Schettino has helpe d untold thousands obta in wha t the y h a v e coming t o them. And throughout, h e h as remaine d loya l and de d icat e d to t h e Hu s ky athletic c a use , a s a past Varsity Club President, a Vice C ~rman for the Athletic Facilities Fund­ raising campaign, and the Founder of the Loft Club at Parsons Field. He has also b een Secret a ry, Treasure r, a nd Vice Pre side nt o f the Varsity Club' s Ex e cutiv e Committee . -more -.

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