Good evening ladies and gentleman.

I would like to thank Chairman Steve Sasson, Father George and all the other inductees. It is truly an honor to be associated with all of you.

First, I would like to thank the most important person in my life, my wife Maria sitting at table 16. We have five children with two in college and we wish the best to all the parents in the audience that are going through the same situation. Along with Maria at table 16, is my sister Carol, my sister Connie and her husband Skip. By the way Skip was just appointed head lacrosse coach at Hanover College in Indiana. For those Prep parents who are looking for their kids to play Division 3 lacrosse, give him a call.

Seated also are Christa McFarren and neighbors Jim and Rary Gibson. Thanks for coming.

So here we go, the Prep Experience. To me, it comes down to 4 things:

Here I go with my 2 minute drill.

Coaches: Freshman football, Coach Abbo and Alfaguiness, Coach Abbo is here with us tonight. Sophomore, Junior and Sernior year Varsity Football. Coach Frank Gilmore and the great Jim Fagan.

Freshman basketball, Coach Ziser. JV basketball, Coach Kevin Dowd one of my favorites. Junior and Senior year, Varsity basketball Coach Fran Gleason.

Freshman year baseball, don't have a clue to this day who our coach was. Sophomore and Junior year on Varsity baseball, was James the Bus Driver smoking his cigarettes and leading us to an IAC Title. Senior year Coach Pete White one of our inductees tonight.

Soccer, I would like to point out to Coach Gui that even though I didn't play a game with his team I was really on the team. Names such as Meagher, Ayres, Sullivan, Harkins, Shaffer. I played 8 years with these Prep players in travel soccer. It's part of the Prep Experience.

The Jesuits, names such as Father Dugan, Gus Coup, Father Burns, -remember this saying "Be prepared, Be prepared That's the way to be. You can't go wrong as you go along if you are prepared." Isn't that right Mr. Shaffer? And of course my all time favorite Jesuit, Father Aloysius Galvin. -(applaud) Their spirits and teachings will never leave this sacred ground.

The players and the Prep Experience.

John Arensmeyer- Football, Basketball, Baseball: Has the longest Homerun in Prep History as far as I'm concerned. As a matter of fact, I'm standing right now in right center field and John hit the roof of the old basketball gym right over here to my left.

Greg Case- Football and Basketball: Otherwise known at Prep as "Hollywood"

Pat Haley- Football: pound for pound probably the best athlete I played with.

Bill Heneghan- Football: Billy called all the parents by their first names which will be helpful later on in the speech.

Rusty McCabe- Football, Basketball and Baseball: As a matter of fact I played more games in Prep history with Rusty and John than anyone else. Great memories, wasn't it guys?

Norman Shaffer- Football: I'd like to point out that both Norman and I had a try-out for Team USA in 1979. Neither of us made it, but we got a shot.

Joe Rice- Football, Basketball and Baseball: Joe did not go to prep, he went to Churchill High School as did my sisters. But I played for his dad Coach Rice all through Pee-wee Football.

My Parents and the Prep Experience

My dad who passed away a few years ago, right up to his death attended almost every Prep game. Tell me he wasn't into the Prep Experience. He always told me to play against people who are better it's the only way you get better. His motto was "Always give 110%" Just check out the Prep yearbook it's my quote.

My mom, who had MS through my high school years and as most of you remember she would be pushed in the wheel chair by my dad to most games. One thing that always got me was when, sitting in the corner of the basketball gym waiting for me to shoot my free throws. Just as I went to shoot with a silent gym my mom would yell out "Soft Touch" That didn't work. I clanged another one off the backboard. She must not have known that I only shot 62% from the free throw line.

I would be remised to not mention a player who should have been on the line because he was the best free throw shooter in the school, Brian Murphy. He passed away a few years ago and my prayers go out to his family. We miss you Murph.

The Prep Experience

So as I come to the end of my acceptance speech, it's time for me to give out "my game ball." Well I've decided its not going to the coaches, it's not going to the Jesuits "Sorry Fathers but that's just the way it is." It's not the players and it's not my parents. My game ball is going to the parents of the players. Let me explain why. First of all, let me tell you who they are. "Thanks Billy Heneghan and here it goes"

These parents would come over to the Corcoran house Monday-Friday to help take care of my mother. Feeding her, cleaning her, and everything else that was needed. These parents specifically the mothers "the fathers I love ya but it was the mothers who came over" allowed my mother the chance to experience "The Prep Experience" through them. That is something that my mother and the Corcoran's will never forget. (give them the game football) God Bless all of you and stay positive.