Catholic cousin clash

BY RYAN METZ

Times Correspondent

Don't mind Joe and Joan O'Neill for swapping sides during halftime at Bishop Noll tonight. Both grandparents need to spend some quality time rooting for both Bishop Noll and Andrean. And for good reason.

Their grandsons will square off against each other to open their senior seasons. Rob O'Neill plays for Andrean, while Brendan O'Neill suits up for Bishop Noll.

But didn't each try to sway the grandparents to sit the entire game on one side?

"One of my aunts was joking around saying that maybe an O'Neill section behind the end zone might be a better idea for everyone," Rob said.

Brendan and Rob each start at tight end for their respective schools, while Brendan also plays defense and will look to lock up against his cousin at the linebacker position if they're on the field together.

Each has circled tonight's date on the calendar.

"During the game it will be a little bit different (playing against a family member)," Brendan said. "But he has the same attitude as I do, and we're going to try to hit each other as hard as we can and try win the game for our teams."

The O'Neills are a family deep in football tradition, as Brendan's father, Kevin, and Rob's father, Tim, both played at Noll. Kevin played on the 1975 Noll team that finished 10-0, while Tim eventually went on to play quarterback and earned a spot at Saint Joseph's playing football.

"It's fun to go back to the alma mater," Tim said. "But I'm definitely rooting for Andrean (tonight) because Rob plays for them."

Last season, the O'Neill cousins didn't get a chance to play each other, due to an injury that Rob suffered that kept him out of the game.

The family connection only adds to the significance of the game.

"It's our opening game, they're our rival and we haven't beaten them in a while (since 1996)," Brendan said. "We really want to win."

Last weekend at a family party, to no one's surprise, the two football players started talking trash that likely also will occur tonight.

Brendan said he and Rob probably will gather after the game to exchange pleasantries, but it will be a battle on the field.

"I would expect nothing less because he's a darn good ball player. I'm looking forward to the challenge," Rob said.

Published in the Northwest Indiana Times on Aug. 21, 2009.