What's in a name? Plant's Piccolo finds strength

TAMPA — Sonny and Vicki Piccolo thought long and hard about names as the birth of their child neared in early 1991 before narrowing their choices to two: Albert and Brian.

Albert was the name of Sonny Piccolo's father. Brian was the name of his cousin, the former Chicago Bears running back he had idolized since childhood before the player died at 26.

"We really debated it," Sonny Piccolo said. "We knew there could be a lot of pressure there, but we eventually went with (Brian) because we thought it would be more of an inspiration than a detriment."

They couldn't have been more right.

Seventeen years later, Brian Piccolo, second cousin to the man whose life, death and courageous fight against cancer are chronicled in the movie Brian's Song, is a key member of the Plant football squad that will play for the Class 4A state title Saturday afternoon in Orlando. And much like his famous relative, he epitomizes the word "courage."

Piccolo plays despite having diabetes.

"I take a shot with every meal," Piccolo said. "And another at 7 p.m."

By no means is Piccolo a star, but the senior is a special teams standout.

"He's really a guy that would run through a brick wall to make a play," coach Robert Weiner said.

The way Piccolo sees it, he's lucky to be playing at all.

Three years ago, he began dropping weight at an alarming rate. He rarely was hungry, his body didn't feel right, and during a four-week period he dropped 30 pounds.

"Everyone else was getting big," Piccolo said. "I was getting small."

His family feared the worst. When Brian was diagnosed with diabetes, the Piccolos breathed a "sigh of relief," Sonny Piccolo said, even though they quickly learned about the severity of the illness, which has serious long-term effects if not treated properly.

For Piccolo, the shots aren't fun. But playing football is.

Two years ago, he was a reserve during Plant's state championship run. Although he didn't dress in the final, he did receive a ring. A year ago, his health was poor (he couldn't hold his weight) so he took the season off.

Now, Piccolo is back and making the most of it.

"For a guy like that to go through all that he has just to come out and play football, and be with his friends out here is really an inspiration," offensive tackle/defensive end Austin Clark said.

As you might imagine, rarely does a day go by without someone asking Piccolo if he's related to the other Brian Piccolo. But that, he said, is a blessing.

"I definitely think it's cool," Piccolo said.

Not long after the elder Piccolo died, the Bears gave the family a large portrait of him in action. Three decades later, the photo is on the wall in the bedroom of the second cousin he never knew.

As a child, Sonny Piccolo looked up to Brian Piccolo.

As an adult, he still does. Only it's a different Brian Piccolo.

"He has owned (diabetes)," Sonny Piccolo said. "Honestly, he's my hero."

. FAST FACTS

State finals

All games at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Admission is $10 per session.

Class 4A: Plant vs. Tallahassee Lincoln, 1 p.m. Saturday. TV: Sun Sports

Stay current: If you can't make it to Orlando on Saturday, we'll have live updates from the game at blogs.tampabay.com/preps/