Presented by

Week 8
Brian
ROTELLA

1999-2002

Where are living now?
Carmel, IN

Did you play collegiately?
Ohio Dominican University

What are you doing now?
I work for a manufacturing company in the aerospace industry as an inside sales and customer service manager

Married?  Children?
Happily married for 7 years to my beautiful wife Katie and we have 2 crazy fun-loving kids, ages 5 and 4.

What is the fondest memory from your playing career at DeSales?
I was fortunate to have so many great memories during my time at DeSales, both on and off the field. One game that stood out was the big upset win against Steubenville in 2001. I remember coming into the stadium and the entire environment was surreal. It was a very hostile environment and you could feel a sense of entitlement from the Steubenville team and fans as they were the #1 seed and we were the #8 seed. I recall during pregame stretches our team had a quiet confidence and focus. Once the game started, they had no idea what hit them. It was a big win, and one that I believe opened our eyes to our real potential and propelled us through the rest of the playoffs. In addition to the big win, it was a cool experience to play in the same stadium my dad had played in, back some 30 years prior. I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention the unforgettable end to the Kettering Alter game in 2001. The moment Dino Razzano connected with De’Wayne Penn for the game winning touchdown was electrifying. Rushing the field, knowing we were headed to the state finals was incredible.

What made playing for DeSales so special?
To state it simply, The tradition. The coaches, players, fans, and families of the DeSales community are the foundation of the tradition and reason it continues generation after generation. I remember watching the old 90’s highlight tapes and envisioning the day I could play for DeSales. When the time came it didn’t disappoint. I still get goosebumps when I think about the pre-game rituals, hearing the band and rushing the field in Alumni Stadium under the Friday night lights. The DeSales' tradition motivated me to emulate those who came before and leave a legacy for those to follow. Stallion Pride!

What was it like playing for your coach?
I always admired coach Jacoby when I was younger and that continued into high school when I played for him. He was a tough and passionate coach to play for, a “tough love” mentality comes to mind. You were expected to play hard, play for each other, and be disciplined. He could put the fear of God into you while giving you confidence all in the same speech. He was a great motivator.

What was your best game?
The St. Charles game in 2001 was probably my best game. I was able to make a couple tackles throughout the game and the entire team fought hard to come out with a big win that pushed us into the playoffs where we had our memorable underdog run to the State Championship game.

Do you still follow DeSales, if yes, how closely?
I do still follow the Stallions. I try to make it to a few games in person as best I can and listen on pouring purple as often as possible. Fortunately for me, if I am not able to stay connected either of those ways, my dad (who coaches at DeSales) keeps me updated and we typically recap the games over the weekend.