Cougars celebrate the start of a lifelong football championship bond
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SARASOTA — There was a healthy dose of perspective seated among the spectators at the state championship celebration for the 2025 Cardinal Mooney football team on Thursday, Dec. 18.
Con Nicholas, Jim Ramer, Rick Blakeley, Elmo Fernandez, Rich Pierro, and Steve Knopik were part of the 1972 Cardinal Mooney football team that won the first state championship in program history. This year’s team added the program’s third with a 52-28 Class 2A championship win over Jacksonville Bolles at Pitbull Stadium in Miami on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Though it’s been 53 years since those men became champions, they still meet up for reunions and offer their support. Nicholas, who spoke at the celebration held in the school’s gym, said the group still holds 10-year reunions.
That brotherhood is something he envisions this year’s group of Cougars to keep with them throughout the rest of their lives.
“One of the reasons we won a state championship was because we were already close. You know, brothers overcome adversity. Brothers like being together. We liked practicing. We liked working out together. So we were brothers before we won it all, but that really solidified our life now.
“(This year’s team) did the same thing we did, and they’re going to have that bond forever.”
The celebration included a video recap of the Cougars’ season, an opening prayer by Most Reverand Bishop Frank J. Dewane, welcome remarks by Principal Ben Hopper, an alumni address by Nicholas, team recognition by Athletic Director Rafael Fernandez, closing remarks by football coach Jared Clark and a final blessing by Reverand John Belmonte. The school also unveiled its 2025 state championship banner.
Clark’s speech highlighted how far Cardinal Mooney has come.
It took 51 years for the Cougars to win their second state championship in 2023, but just two more to win their third. Clark said Cardinal Mooney was a sleeping giant when he took the job in 2020.
Now, that giant has awoken.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Cardinal Money celebrates 2025 Class 2A football state championship
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