Schaumburg High School football coach Tom Cerasani Sr.?
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”Yes.”
Your son is Tom Cerasani Jr., considered by many one of the premier quarterbacks (1,076 yards, 7 TDs last year) in the state this season. What is the best thing about having a starting quarterback who is also your son?
”I would say it`s that I`m getting to spend some quality time with my son. In this profession, you`re away from your kids so often, and to now get a lot of quality time together is great.”
And the worst part?
”I`m just finding that out now. The first two years he played for me, I didn`t think about it. But I`m just now discovering all the pressure that`s brought on a kid because his father`s the coach.
”It`s because he`s the quarterback. The quarterback can never hide. Whether it`s on the field or in the classroom or in town, it`s a highly visible position. Guard, wide receiver, tackle . . . it`s not the same. But the quarterback takes a lot of heat, and I`m not so sure I`m always happy about that.”
Are you harder on your son than on the rest of your players?
”Yeah, very much so. I`ve had four of my quarterbacks get scholarships. And I never yelled at any of them. Him I yell at all the time. I`m on him constantly. Him I find it very easy to yell at.”
Tom Jr.?
”Yes.”
What`s the best part about having a head coach who is also your father? ”Probably getting to watch films with him and having him around all the time to talk about the games.”
And the worst part?
”Him being my father and my coach and everybody always saying, `He`s only playing because his dad`s the coach.` I don`t hear that as much anymore, but my freshman and sophomore year I heard it sometimes.”
Do you ever wish your coach was somebody other than your father?
”Yeah. Especially when he`s yelling at me.”
Tom Sr.?
”Yes.”
Do you have any other children who play football?
”Yes. My son John just played the first game of his life today. He`s in the 7th grade.”
Do you expect to still be coaching when he gets to high school?
”Yes. But he won`t be playing quarterback. There`s too much pressure. Any other position except quarterback. I don`t want to subject him to that.”
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