Watching the video and listening to the quarterback's chatter sent me scrambling to find the story I wrote for BGA Premium late last fall about a kid who could have walked away from football to concentrate on his schoolwork last year and no one would have thought the worse of him. But he didn't do it.
From the Nov. 8, 2018 BGA Premium:
Defense Hears A Whole Lotta Pallotta
HANOVER – Late in Thursday's practice a receiver slipped behind the defense during scrimmaging to catch a touchdown pass on what was either a trick play or a blown assignment.
Either way, cheering loudly while running down the field to celebrate the play and to hip-bump the receiver was junior Jake Pallotta.
Now, it’s not at all unusual for a quarterback to sprint down the field to congratulate a teammate who made a special play during practice. What’s a little more unusual is when the jubilant quarterback comes off the sideline to do it.
Pallotta, who was an injury away from seeing the field at the end of his freshman season and was the top backup last year, had every reason to believe he would end up replacing the graduated Jack Heneghan as the Big Green's starting quarterback this fall. Instead he lost a battle with Derek Kyler for the starting position. And with wildcat quarterback Jared Gerbino splitting time with Kyler, Pallotta is one step further from playing than he was a year ago. He’s seen only mop-up duty this season and none at all the last two weeks.But rather than be bitter and sulk on the sidelines, there he is during practice firing up the offense the way Rocco Di Leo and Jackson Perry fire up the defense.
“Jackson and Rocco are always yelling, throughout the entire practice sometimes,” said Pallotta. “I took it upon myself to be the guy on the other side of the field trying to get the offense going as well.
“It’s difficult to not be playing,” he went on. "I’m sure it’s difficult for everyone that’s on the sideline. We all came here to play. But it’s the selfless mindset of this team that if you are not on the field it’s, what can you do to make this team better and help the players around you? For me, it’s yelling and trying to get the energy up.”
Buddy Teevens can’t say enough about the selfless contribution Pallotta has made to the success of the team.
“How impressive is that?” the head coach said. “We talk about roles all the time. He is a wonderful example to the young guys. He could be disillusioned and frustrated and everything else, but he’s not.
“The role we are asking him to play he is playing to the fullest. He is the consummate team guy. I am happy for the job he is doing for us. He is high energy. He is plugged in. He’s enthusiastic. He is helping the younger guys see coverages. He is interpreting plays. He is sending signals in. He is doing everything he can to help us win.”
As upbeat and positive as he is, Pallotta will admit it stung when he first learned he would not be starting this fall.
“Being the backup at the end of last year there was the expectation coming into the off-season of being the guy who was supposed to come up and be the starter the next year,” he said. “Obviously, Derek and I had a very competitive camp. We both played well. He won the starting job, and we are 7-1, so you can’t complain.
“It hurt for a moment. Obviously, I was disappointed, being a competitor. But it is what it is and you have to make the best of the situation.”
Pallotta, Kyler and Gerbino roomed together during the summer and still do, which could have been awkward no matter who got the nod.
“It’s something we all discussed over the summer,” Pallotta said. “We didn’t talk about it that much but we all knew there was going to be a point where one of us, or two of us would play, and one or two wouldn’t. We agreed whatever the coaches think is best for the team, that’s what we’re going to go with. If we aren’t playing, or if we are playing, we were going to support each other and wish each other the best.
“They are my roommates, I love them both to death. I wish them nothing but the best. We are here to support each other.”
Which is why it is Pallotta’s voice you’ll hear coming off the home sidelines should you stop by an afternoon practice on Memorial Field next week. While it’s not his way to be a shouter between the white lines, when he’s outside them he’s never been afraid to use the voice that he’s been told sounds just like his father Todd’s when he shouts.
“I’ve always been this way on the sideline,” he said. “Whenever the offense was not on the field and the defense was out there I’d be right up on the sideline yelling and supporting our defense. Any situation. Fourth down. Big play or whatever, I would turn to the crowd and get them going.”
Not that he won’t be ready if called on. He’s completed 6-of-11 passes for 65 yards this fall and looks forward to his next opportunity on the field. But if it doesn’t come, he won’t let it drag him down.
“When I decided where I wanted to go to college it was, where would I be happiest if I wasn’t playing football?” he said. “I think that’s the case for most of these guys, even if they’re not playing.
“This is where we want to go to school. It’s where we want to get our education and we meet such great people and teammates. My roommates definitely show their appreciation, which makes it easier on my end.”
