January 25, 2011

Dear Alumni & Friends of URI Soccer,

What a weekend we had here in Rhode Island with the induction of legendary coach Ed Bradley ’68 into the University of Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame. I think all who were there agree it was a special night. Emcee Steve McDonald from COX Sports was the perfect person to have at the podium with his mixture of humor, knowledge and respect. We had a great crowd of URI men’s soccer alums, coaches and former players there. It was an all-star cast of “Who’s, Who” in URI Soccer.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS

Those in attendance were Gareth Elliott ‘02 and fiancée former URI volleyball player Abby Thornblach, All-American goalkeeper Anthony Latronica ‘98, Ross Smith ‘03, Simon Gatti ‘06, Terry Casey ’85 and his wife Trish, Matt Moriarty ‘05, Joel Dargan ‘05, former URI men’s soccer strength & conditioning guru Doug Stone, URI Director of Soccer Operations Frank Bergren ’75 and his wife Wendy, Charlie Wilkes, recently hired Assistant Coach Callum Bissett ’08, Assistant Coach Mitch Stone, 2010 URI Hall of Fame Inductee Lance Klima ‘89, Corey Sullivan and his wife, Roger Williams University Coach Jim Cook ‘67, Eddie’s former Assistants John Resendes ’87 and Jay Primiano, Chris Pennock ‘10, Dr. Michael Bradley, Brian Bradley ‘92, URI Team Physician Dr. John Coppes and his wife, Steve Froberg ’94 as well as his father and mother. Also hiding in the corner was long time supporter Charlie Samaris (owner of Charlie O’s Tavern) and of course the rest of Eddie’s family and extended family including his wife Gail, daughter Jill and his numerous brothers & sisters. It was by far the largest group of supporters for one of the inductees and Eddie visibly humbled during his acceptance speech.



On Saturday the Hall of Fame Inductee’s were honored during the URI vs LaSalle University men’s basketball game and then it was off to a less formal get together at Charlie O’s Tavern thanks to the generosity of our very own Chris Simon. We had a tremendous crowd on hand that included nearly all those who attended the dinner on Friday night as well as future Anthony Ward-Smith ‘06, David Ward-Smith ‘06, Steve Mellen ‘08, Kyle Froberg ‘97, Aidan Byrne ’99, plus a plethora of kids from the Casey, O’Connor, Froberg & Bradley families.

As part of the afternoon Eddies former long time Assistant Jay Primiano, who could not be there, sent along to Brian Bradley a very nice tribute to Eddie:

I regret that I will not be able to attend this afternoon’s game and this evening’s affair at Charlie O’s. I hope you all enjoy the evening.

You asked that I prepare something to say and I would hope that you would include the following thoughts in your presentation:

Congratulations Ed on becoming a member of the prestigious URI Hall of Fame! This honor is well deserved as you fostered a culture of caring while at URI that touched many lives in a positive manner. I too became a part of your alumni of coaches that have benefited from your wise approach to succeeding in the coaching environment. You mentioned the word “we” quite often in last night’s speech and that was always your word of choice. I never felt belittled, demeaned in your presence and I don’t recall a moment when you treated anyone without the utmost respect. You also mentioned that we were able to identify roles for our players and to plug them into those roles at the appropriate time to maximize their participation in team, a word you took very seriously. While some would say, okay, “I understand my role,” Ed was always redefining roles to challenge the individual, knowing just when to push the success button. I am grateful that he saw the strength in me to consider me worthy to walk the touchlines with him, advise him, select quality players from all around the world and to take this great and wonderful journey with him over a period of 42 years of knowing one another. He once said, “You do anything for your family.” While this Tony Soprano-like, Ed meant his wider family. I am very honored to be a member of Ed’s team.

Ed’s success came from not only knowing the appropriate roles for each player and coach but a willingness to share. It was never his intention to take any glory or ego boosting tag from this endeavor, only to build others as any teacher worth his or her salt will tell you is paramount to success. As an assistant coach that stuck around for thirteen years I know the value of sharing experience, sharing decision making, sharing winning and sharing losing. We always did this proudly and always together. Ed remains a friend and family member through all. He was there to support me and Lisa as did Gail through the premature birth of our first child, Gail rushing to the hospital with clothing for our first born Jessy who didn’t fit into any of her clothes. Ed was there through my father’s illness, permitting my father access to the field’s edge with his car so he could see his last Senior Day Event, where he was truly honored by the Senior class members in a gesture never to be forgotten. You see Ed never wanted to do this coaching thing alone. It was always about family.

I could tell a thousand stories that would keep you laughing most of the night. Picture Ed Bradley, a guy from a place two streets over from Providence College entering a stadium in Jamaica the West Indies, where the sign at the stadium’s entrance reads, “NO ICE PICK, GUNS OR SCREW DRIVERS PERMITTED.” Picture Ed sitting amongst a sea of Jamaican folks enjoying the game, catching an unwanted “contact buzz” off of the reefer permeating the stadium. Picture him in a room full of Belgian Professional Coaches, drinking the best beer in the world announcing after a few seven ounce glasses in his pigeon Belgian to a group of coaches that spoke better English than anyone in the room, “WE MUST GO, BOYS MUST GO, TIRED.” Ed’s style was always amusing to say the least. He kept us laughing, his staff happy and always provided us with the tools to get the job done. He fostered an environment of excellence, a soccer culture in little old Kingston Rhode Island built on caring, laughter, knowledge of the game and how to teach and most importantly Ed Bradley’s knows how to treat people. He recruited people of character, knowing who had the goods. If someone told Ed he couldn’t do something for it’s impact on the budget for instance, Ed was always able to find a way to get things done and he was never averse to rolling up his sleeves, lifting a shovel and getting in the trenches with everyone else.

I am partially indebted to Ed Bradley for helping me to realize who I am as a person, for giving me the confidence to master a very unlikely profession for a man of my experience and for trusting me to be his friend. I learned many of the lessons of life from Ed Bradley.

Congratulations Ed for all that you have done for soccer in the United States of America and for the worldwide community of folks that you have generously provided your friendship.

I am proud to call you friend.

Sincerely,
Jay Primiano


Not to be out done, Coach Bradley’s other former Assistant and present Siena College Coach Gareth Elliott scraped together some famous quotes and “Fast Eddie-isms” which he shared with the whole restaurant. Here is what he came up with:

-No bicycles in the back
-Don’t pass it to Ross’s (Smith) feet, pass it to his head.
-They’re running from the bus.
-I’m telling you right now there’s a man on you.
-School 1st, Soccer 2nd
-Don’t play the game before the game.
-What is this field hockey, stop blowing the whistle ref.
-Don’t pass the ball to Shimmy, pass it to the other team and let Shimmy win it back.
-Just give the ball to Andy (Williams).
-NO PROBLEM, NO PROBLEM.
-It’s not a match problem.
-Jay relax...ok don’t relax!
-Soccer Camp...teaching fat kids how to juggle.
-It’s like throwing shit against the fan.
-This is a nit wit production.
-Don’t turn the dial.
-It’s not a fire drill.
-They’re you go...
-Yellow (Hello).
-Ok, one more (Coors light please)

As you can see, it was a great couple of days honoring someone who did so much not only for the University of Rhode Island men’s soccer program but also for the state and youth of Rhode Island. Congratulations Eddie and his family on a well deserved honor!

Well, that’s about it from here…all you alums make sure you put on your calendar the ANNUAL ALUMNI GAME & BBQ which will be held on Sunday April 17th at 1:00 pm here at the URI Soccer Complex. We will send you the 2011 Spring schedule when it is finalized and look forward to seeing you all soon!

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C