As printed in the Henry Herald - June 4, 2005
Life's a series of fourth down and longs but you can't give up pursuing your dreams. That's the message Tony Lotti wants to convey with
his book "Fourth Down and Long - Everything Is Possible When You Believe."
Lotti, a local real estate agent and special teams coach at Union Grove High School, has lived a life filled with adversity but he was able to
become an All-American punter at Tennessee Wesleyan College and had the chance to fulfill a life-long dream - to try out with the New
England Patriots.
His football career did not turn out the way he had hoped but he was able to apply the things he learned from the game into his business,
coaching and family life.
"To me, there's a lot of things I've learned from football," Lotti said. "You give up fumbles and interceptions in life and in football. That's
what we tell our kids here; you have to fight. You have to face adversity but keep working on your goals. There are so many things you
can equate in life with football."
Lotti has not only published a book this year but he's also been selected to receive the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters
Association-USA Football Champions Award for the state of Georgia.
"I was blown away when I got the call," Lotti said. "I didn't feel deserving. I hope it really shines light on our school and what we do here. I'm
honored to represent our school in that way. The award blew me away. I'm overwhelmed."
Lotti was recognized for his work with the special teams unit at Union Grove, which is termed the 'Militia.'
"Having played the game at all levels and watched my sons, and now grandsons, come through the ranks as well. I truly understand the
value of these committed individuals and the role they play in a young person's life," USA Football Chairman and former Buffalo Bills
quarterback Jack Kemp said. "We are honored to recognize Tony Lotti's efforts and have him as part of our football family."
Union Grove athletic director and former head coach Scott Mason has appreciated Lotti's efforts over the years and is glad to see him be
honored on a national level.
"I can't think of anyone more deserving than Tony Lotti," Mason said. "We're going to make up an 8x10 of him and put it on our 'Wall of
Champions' because that's what he is."
A life-long love of football
Lotti's first experience in football was at an early age. His journey in football began at the age of 5 in the North Clayton youth leagues and
then moved on to the Morrow-Lake City leagues. As he grew up he played at Morrow Middle School and Morrow High School, graduating
in 1985.
Lotti played for former Morrow head football coach Bud Theodocian, who ranks as one of the winningest coaches in the history of Clayton
County.
"One of the things he (coach Theodocian) taught me was the kind of coach I want to be," Lotti said. "Every player who played for him
respected him."
Another coach Lotti looked up to was A.C. McCullers, who was Morrow's offensive line coach at the time. Now that he's at Union Grove,
Lotti stands side-by-side with his former mentor as McCullers came back to high school coaching last fall as Union Grove's offensive line
coach and girls basketball coach.
"Having somebody like that around that I grew up on and now to be around him is great, that's what's special," Lotti said. "Coaches like
coach McCullers care about the kids and they want to help them be successful in football and life. That's the kind of coach I want to be. I
want to let them know we care about them off the field."
Lotti is also with former teammates at Union Grove, current head coach Mike McDonald and athletic director Scott Mason. The three
coaches were teammates at Tennessee Wesleyan and McDonald and Lotti were also teammates at Morrow.
"Coach Mason and I were teammates in college," Lotti said. "When he asked me to come here I was ecstatic. I'm so thankful to Scott for
bringing me here. I'm just blessed to be around those guys," Lotti said. "Just the camaraderie around here, to me that's what's special."
McDonald took the reins as head coach last year in Union Grove's first season in the state's largest classification. The Wolverines had a
disappointing year, going 3-7, but Lotti is confident his friend and colleague will build a successful program at Union Grove.
"Mike McDonald is a good coach," Lotti said. "Mike showed his leadership last year with the adversity and the way he was able to get the
kids to go to battle every week. He got us to fight and spill our guts every week. Mike's going to make his mark as a football coach in this
state."
Strength and honor
Lotti and Mason came up with the 'Militia' concept because they saw that special teams is often an overlooked aspect of high school
football teams.
"I love defense, like offense but my heart is with the militia," Lotti said. "With most teams, special teams is something you do between
offense and defense but it's important. You can point out a special teams play in every game and see where special teams has won or lost
the game or was a turning point of the ball game. We want to be three-sided and be the best we can be on all three sides."
Players are given incentives to be on the militia such as T-shirts and license plates. The Militia T-shirts have become prized possessions
at Union Grove and a player can have it taken away during the season if he doesn't uphold the standards - not just on the football field but
off the field as well.
"It goes to the guys who might not be the best athletes but they have the biggest hearts," Lotti said. "It's based on the team. That's the
prime objective."
Lotti also hopes the players get a little history lesson on top of what they are learning on the football field.
"In our history, our militia was what built this country," Lotti said. "They weren't regular army. It was farmers and ordinary folks who had to
rise above and beyond the call of duty."
The results that have been produced by the Militia have not only been measured in victories but in the fact that some of the kids have
gone on to college. Nick Ellis, a former Union Grove kicker, became the first football player to from Union Grove to sign a Division I
scholarship and is now at Charleston Southern.
"We get our reward when they come back," Lotti said. "That's why we do this. To me, you don't just care about a kid just because he has
skills on the football field; that's not why we care about them. To me, this is the greatest profession there is. The bottom line is it's about
the kids - there's no ifs, ands or buts about it."
Lotti has not only had an impact at Union Grove but has helped other kickers in the area through his Kicking Machine Camp. Some guys
that have gone through the program include recent Union Grove graduate Doug Carter, Northside-Warner Robins all-star kicker Sean
Mayo, Henry County's Chris Clark and Dutchtown's Evan Kay.
Lotti has enjoyed spending time with the kids and helping them achieve their goals.
"That's what football has done for me," Lotti said. "God has always put me around people that I love and who love me back. If you love
people sincerely, they'll love you back. You don't have to step on people's toes to get what you want out of life. You cheer people and you
encourage. That's what we do here. We encourage, we correct but encourage. I want kids to understand to be an overachiever."
How the book came about
Writing a book was Lotti's goal for many years but he didn't start the project until 2000 when his father, Tony Lotti Sr. died.
"It's been a life-goal since I was kid," Lotti said. "When I lost my dad, it refocused me and led me back. I wanted to do it for my children so
they will have something that they can refer to. It's something they can always keep and share with their children."
Lotti hopes he can reach people with his book and that they will be inspired to pursue their goals.
"I just hope that one person will benefit from the book," Lotti said. "If it makes them be an overachiever and to work and pursue their
dreams, it's worth it. I hope it's a book of football that's a testament to hope and a testament of love," Lotti said. "The foundation was faith
and hope. God has surrounded me with special people and that's something you can't replace."
In the book, Lotti writes about his experiences growing up playing football and having the goal of becoming a collegiate all-American and
making it to the NFL.
During his junior year at Morrow High School, Lotti was in a serious car accident and he didn't know if he would even walk or not, much
less play football again. He was able to come back and even though he wasn't able to achieve his goal of going to the University of
Georgia, he did have the opportunity to go to Tennessee Wesleyan College, a small school that was bringing football back after 30 years.
His collegiate career culminated in him being named an All-American his senior year and then he was invited to try out for the New
England Patriots. While he didn't make it as an NFL punter, Lotti was glad to have had the opportunity to just to have the chance to try out.
"I believe you should be realistic but you should reach for the stars and have a back up plan," Lotti said. "You have to do the work
because it's not going to be easy. If you're not dreaming, you're not living."
After getting cut by the Patriots, Lotti thought he hit rock-bottom when he worked as a manager at Waffle House. It even got so bad that
one New Year's Eve, he contemplated suicide but his faith pulled him through.
He eventually became a gas company manager and then went into real estate. His life came full circle when he got back into football as a
community coach at Union Grove High School.
"It's phenomenal," Mason said. "it's a true testament to what he's live through in his life. It's a great book. What he has done for Union
Grove, you can't put into words. His dedication, he's up here everyday just like the regular coaches. I can't tell you what he means to
Union Grove. He does it for the kids and that what you do it for."