Last Practice with Pete Zoia

If you played during the Coach Pete Zoia era, then every day you were in the presence of greatness. Coach Zoia gave his all for NQ Football.

In the 1980’s, Head Coach Ken McPhee asked Coach Zoia to do something special for the season’s last practice. Would Pete come to practice dressed in his vintage 1933 NQHS uniform and lead the team around Cavanagh Field one final time?

Coach Zoia more than delivered on the request. Pete donned his original 1933 uniform, leather helmet and woolen #20 jersey. He ran around the field and even caught a pass from Coach McPhee.

The Last Practice with Pete Zoia quickly became a NQ Tradition. In Coach Zoia’s later years, he was able to attend practice and with the help of a golf cart and lead the team on their final trip around Cavanagh. Coach Zoia’s Final practice was in 2002.

To keep the tradition alive, the Zoia family asked Mr. Yakoo himself, Dr. Allan Yacubian, to represent all NQ players at Last Practice. Dr. Yacubian obliged, and donned his old jersey and leather helmet.

• 

• 

• 

1997

• 

• 

1998

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

1999

• 

2000

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

2001

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Do you have photos from Last Practice that you can share? We are especially interested in photos of Pete Zoia with players, and Allan Yacubian when he led last practice.