Tom Cole, Jr.

• Post by: mcalibrary
• December 20, 2023
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INDUCTEE

Tommy Cole was a special athlete. A great combination of strength and intelligence, speed and power. You might say he was bred for the job.

He set the school shot put record, broken in 1992 by Mike Fantanarosa. But until Mike got in the act, that record was strictly a family affair. Held originally by Tom’s Dad, the record was in turn held bu his uncle, Dan Ficca, his brother, Lou and finally Tom with a heave of 56 feet 9 inches in 1981.

He won the District Championship in both 81 and 82: and as a senior finished second in the state indoor championship and 6th in the outdoor championship. That year, they were the only meets he did not win.

But it was as a footballer that he achieved special status. As a senior Red Tornado he scored 9 touchdowns and was an all league, All State and All American Linebacker.

Strength training was always an important part of his training regimen; and spurred on by his father, Tom who was almost visionary in his recognition of the importance of weight training to athletics. Tommy bench pressed 400 pounds as a junior in high school. Not coincidentally, the only other Tornado athlete to accomplish that at the time was his brother, Lou.

Tommy started three years as a linebacker for Brown. As a senior he led the ream in tackles and had two interceptions. He was the heart and soul of a Brown defense that was number one in the Ivy League and the East and seventh in the nation. That team shout out four of its opponents, setting a school record in the process.

He was player of the week after a 15-tackle performance against Penn; and the recipient of the Hillhouse Limited Award as the unsung hero of the football squad.

Tommy graduated Cum Laude from New England School of Law. He is presently an associate with Clark, Lauder, Fortenbaugh & Young in Philadelphia.