[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ON THE OCCASION OF COACH ALBERT FRACASSA'S RETIREMENT AS HEAD FOOTBALL 
      COACH FROM BROTHER RICE HIGH SCHOOL IN BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2014

  Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Al 
Fracassa as his family and the Greater Detroit community celebrate his 
retirement as Head Coach of the Brother Rice Warriors football team in 
Birmingham, Michigan. Capping off a 57 year career in football 
coaching, Coach Fracassa leaves the field as the winningest high school 
football coach in the State of Michigan's history having compiled 430 
victories.
  Long before his days as coach, Fracassa played football in high 
school and college--where he earned All State honors at Detroit's 
Northeastern High School and later joined the Michigan State University 
Spartans. At Michigan State, he was part of the school's dominance in 
colligate football during the early 1950s. While playing with the 
Spartans, Coach Fracassa was part of a team that won the National 
Championship in 1952 and played in the Rose Bowl in 1954. During his 
senior year, Coach Fracassa was honored with the highly coveted Fred 
Danziger Award. Praised by his teammates for his contributions both on 
and off the field, they describe Coach Fracassa as a dedicated athlete 
whose leadership inspired the best in his teammates--qualities that 
would continue to inspire while he worked the sidelines as a coach.
  After his graduation from Michigan State, Coach Fracassa joined the 
coaching staff at Royal Oak's Shrine High School and became head coach 
several years later. In 1969, he went on to become head coach at 
Brother Rice High School in Birmingham, where he has served for 45 
years and built a dynasty of dominance in Michigan high school 
football.
  In football, so many important metrics of performance are measured by 
statistics, numbers which tell an incredible story of success for the 
Warriors under the direction of Coach Fracassa. With nine Michigan High 
School Athletic Association Championships--including three in the last 
three years, 16 Catholic League Championships, four teams that have 
been ranked national by USA Today and 430 victories over his career, 
Coach Fracassa has built an incredible program at Brother Rice. He is 
the recipient of many awards throughout his career, including the 2013 
Coach of the Year Award by USA Today.
  However, statistics do not tell the entire story of Coach Fracassa's 
success--the inspiration he instills in his players through his 
leadership and dedication to overall well-being. A constant throughout 
his career, Coach Fracassa is praised by his players for his 
inventiveness in play calling, his support of their development both on 
and off the field, and his genuine love for the sport of football. And 
as a testament to the long-term impact of his coaching, many of his 
players have gone on to excel in college and the National Football 
League.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Coach Al Fracassa for the 
incredible impact he has made on the Greater Detroit community and the 
State of Michigan. For 57 years, he has demonstrated leadership and 
dedication that have truly inspired his players to reach for their 
maximum potential. Coach Fracassa leaves an incredible legacy at 
Brother Rice--45 years of success and hundreds of students who he has 
helped develop both in personal character and in skill on the football 
field. I know his leadership on the field will be greatly missed and I 
wish Coach Fracassa and his wife, Phyllis, the very best as they embark 
upon a new chapter in their lives.

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