Nelson Chenault-US PRESSWIRE
Fathers are a son’s first hero, first coach and first friend. Fathers often build life stories and legacies for their sons to follow and build upon. And secretly, fathers are rooting for their sons to surpass them and accomplish even more.
The father-son bond in the Sunseri family is tested this week as Alabama safety Vinnie Sunseri will be competing against his father Sal, the defensive coordinator at Tennessee, for the first time in his life.
“Very, very tough. A lot of mixed emotions,” Vinnie said. “I’m getting a lot of calls from the family saying good luck to me, but I know they’re just giving the same, exact advice to my dad.
“It’s tough. It’s really tough. But I’m excited to see my dad.”
The game is set to be quite the Sunseri family event.
“I don’t even know how many family members are coming to this game,” Vinnie said. “All my cousins, all the aunts and uncles, godparents. Everybody’s coming.”
The Third Saturday in October will not be a coming-together party for everyone, however, as Vinnie’s mother and Sal’s wife will not be in attendance.
“I just got off the phone with her,” Vinnie said. “All the other family’s coming to the game, but she’s just gonna stay at home and watch it, I think.”
Mrs. Sunseri being by herself for the game may actually be a good thing, given her gameday habits.
“On our bye week, me and my dad were with her watching (older brother and quarterback for Pittsburgh) Tino play,” Vinnie said. “I had never witnessed it before, but she is … she becomes a wreck.
“She’s emotional, she – oh, my gosh – she just wishes the best for us at all times. She’s so passionate and loves us all so much. Especially when one of us gets hurt, it just kills her inside. She is a fan favorite of all of us and is, honestly, our biggest fan.”
Some family members have their hopes for the game already set, like Vinnie’s sister Ashlyn, a freshman volleyball player for the Vols.
“She says it’s going to be a defensive game in her mind,” Sunseri said.
Vinnie and Sal are trying to keep the incoming encounter from interfering with the fabric of their relationship.
“Yeah, I talked to him last night,” Vinnie said. “I just told him I love him.
“We try to stay away from football talk. We just try to talk about how he’s doing, how mom’s doing, how the family’s doing. It is just tough. I mean, I never thought I’d have to go against my father. And I never realized how tough it’d be until this point right now.”
Easier said than done. Football is too engraved in their daily lives.
“He talks to me about what I do wrong at times and what I do right at times,” Vinnie said. “He kind of watches me during games and just kind of helps me out. He still coaches me. He can’t help it.”
Unlike other stereotypical college students, Vinnie soaks up every word Dad says.
“I have to listen to him, he’s one of the best coaches I know,” Vinnie said. “I take everything in, but then I always try to chime it down and just talk about how he’s doing and everything.”
While the situation is not one any person would wish on another, the Sunseri family knows it could be worse: if Sal was an offensive assistant for the Volunteers and was forced to pick apart his son.
“He knows my weaknesses pretty well, growing up with the guy,” Vinnie joked. “It definitely would have been tougher. At least this way we’re not going at against each other directly.”
The Sunseri family is just looking for a good game, and apparently a good joke.
“(Vinnie’s sister Ashlyn) said I hope it’s a 0-0 game and I pick one off and take it to the house,” Vinnie said.
“No, she didn’t say that.”