Noyes football

Longtime administrators of Walpole football always like it when somebody who went through the program returns to give something back to it.
   They’ve got to love the O’Connell family, as all three brothers – Sean, Jay and Ryan – have teamed to lead what is now the “D” squad that includes Sean’s young son, Chris.
   Sean, who has coached Walpole youth lacrosse for years, ever since older son Sean got involved, decided to give youth football coaching a crack when Chris, a starting “E” player two years ago, said he wanted to play.
   The O’Connell base is a Mecca of football, as the family actually formed its own fantasy football league that it still enjoys. Wanting to keep family solidarity intact Sean, 35, asked 32-year-old Jonathan, or Jay, and 23-year-old Ryan if they wanted to work with him and the kids. Along with “adopted brother” Paul Cain, they have led their charges through 4-4 and 6-1-1 “E” seasons, and are hoping for another winning year in their first season as a “D” squad.
   Most importantly, they all agree however, is that the kids learn, play hard and enjoy themselves. They all carry the Walpole credo that athletics can pave the way to important things, but is not the most important thing.
   “In the youth program, we stress to the kids that school work comes first,” says Sean. “Football won’t be there forever, and academics are just as important as athletics. Athletics are great, but they go hand in hand with academics.”
   The trio, of course, learned that growing up in Walpole, where it is taught at every level to girls and boys alike. Thus along with football knowledge, they are bringing back their life knowledge to share with the youngsters.
   The football knowledge runs the gamut of Walpole High School’s success in the sport, which is among the best in the state. Three different coaches have led Rebels to Super Bowls, and the O’Connell clan has played for all three.
   “We’ve seen every regime in Walpole,” says Ryan, who played with NFL prospect Brian Mandeville. “Sean played under Coach Lee, while Jay played for Coach Lee and Coach Grant. I started out when Chuck Grant was here, and then I played under Coach Villa.”
   All three Walpole generals – Lee, rant and Villa – maintained the same team credos: hard work pays off, respect yourselves and your opponents, learn as much as you can about as many positions as you can, and support your teammates. They also instilled the ideals of a team being as close as a family.
   “One thing we took from Walpole football is that when you play here, it’s not a team feel but more of a family feel,” explains Sean. “It was something special to play ball here. We want the youth kids to feel that too.”
   Sean played three years under Coach John Lee, the architect of the Walpole legacy, graduating in 1992. As a sophomore the defensive end played on the unbeaten 1989 team that shocked Brockton, 6-2, in the Super Bowl and set a school record by allowing only 23 points in 11 games. The 1990 squad was unbeaten until getting edged by Winchester in the Super Bowl, 23-16, and his senior season, New England’s top-ranked team rolled past Lincoln-Sudbury, 27-7, set a team record with a 12-0 slate and handed Lee his 200th career win.
   Jay, who graduated in 1995, was also part of memorable squads in his four years as a Rebel, including the one that set the league record for consecutive wins and state record for consecutive winning seasons (24), both in 1992. His senior year the wide receiver’s Rebels were 9-2 and still league champions.
   Ryan, a running back and inside linebacker, played for Grant in his last season, the team 8-3 in 2000 despite being riddled by major injuries, and for Villa in his first year, when the Rebels were 7-4.
   Having played numerous positions helps the brothers cover the coaching bases: Jay coordinates the offense and Ryan the defense, while Sean is head coach and works with the offensive line. Cain is sometimes the glue that keeps things together.
   “As much fun as I have with my brothers, Paul, who’s been with us all three years, we couldn’t do it without him,” declares Sean. “He’s our adopted brother, and sometimes our referee.”
All three have a coach’s mentality and attention to detail that has turned their unit into a winner that enjoys the game.
   “We’re trying to do a good job of keeping the tradition going,” says Ryan. “We want to teach the kids that hard work is rewarded. Drilling the basics into you are things you get in Walpole; you get the basics down. Then it’s up to you. We’re not the biggest kids and we’re not the fastest kids, but we in Walpole try to be the toughest kids, and don’t want to lose. As Coach Lee always said, ‘we don’t rebuild, we reload,’ and that starts in the youth leagues.”
   Jay, who played college ball at Salve Regina, sees it as a continuation of what started years ago under Lee.
   “We enjoy it,” offers Jay of the years of volunteer work. “I know a lot of the guys who are still coaching at the high school, and some of my coaches are still up there, like Barry Greener. We learned a lot from them, and we just want to pass that on.”