MitchMash: Memory of Brendan Looney at heart of Brothers in Arms Classic

Conference calls to promote sporting events tend to be strictly informational. Dry in nature. Laborious even. Zzzzz.

But this one had a different tone. It was full of heart and emotion, sadness and pride.

The first Brothers in Arms Classic is shaping up to be the biggest and most unique high school football event in the country. Maybe ever.

At several sites throughout the country, it features more than 40 teams from 14 states, including numerous national powers such as defending MaxPreps mythical national champion Curtis (River Ridge, La.), New Jersey juggernaut Bergen Catholic (Oradell) and Texas power Trinity (Euless).

But it is the event's backbone — the Brothers in Arms Foundation — that gives this prep football showcase its real merit.

The Brothers in Arms Foundation was created last year to honor the legacy of fallen soldiers, airmen, Marines and sailors, along with their families. 

On the call was Kevin Looney, the father of Lt. Brendan Looney, who was killed in southern Afghanistan in 2010. Brendan was a U.S. Navy SEAL and 2004 Naval Academy graduate. He, along with eight other soldiers, perished when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed.

Brendan was also a three-year varsity football player and two-sport standout at Maryland power DeMatha (Hyattsville), which is a participant in the Classic.

"We have lost a lot of good, young men since 9/11," Kevin Looney said. "And the Brothers in Arms Football Classic will be a way to remember them all. … not just Brendan."

On behalf of the entire Looney family, he went on to thank event chairman Eric Beach, some key coaches and sponsors "for the love and hard work to turn this dream into a reality."

Kevin's voice cracked badly near the end. The call then went silent for a spell. The intriguing national matchups, the television lineup and the logistics took a back seat.

As huge as the event is, the games themselves suddenly felt quite small, a fact and feeling picked up immediately by Gilman (Baltimore) coach Biff Poggi and Sean Sullivan, the director of sports marketing for Under Armour, who were also on the line.

Poggi said it was just an honor to be associated with the Looney family, as well as the event, and Sullivan, addressing the Looney family on the line, related as a parent.

"I can't imagine the sacrifice," Sullivan said. "It is heart-wrenching. … We will never forget. For your family and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, we will not forget. I promise you that."

Brendan was a two-year starting wide receiver in football at DeMatha and three-year starting infielder and All-County baseball player.

The 1999 graduate also started at safety his senior year, returned punts and kickoffs and was the team's holder. "He rarely left the field," said his father.

The Stags went 12-0 his senior season and the team was featured on a box of Cheerios. It's considered one of the best teams in school history and Brendan was selected All-County and team MVP. He also earned the Patrick Glynn Award as the school's outstanding scholar athlete.

Besides football and baseball, he played freshman basketball and also ran track (while playing baseball) at DeMatha, before embarking on college football career at the Naval Academy. He played two seasons there, before learning lacrosse his sophomore season.

He picked up the sport remarkably fast, and not only made Navy's team but was a significant player for three seasons. That's saying something, considering Navy turned into one of the top programs in the country.

During Brendan's senior season in 2004, he and blood brothers Stephen and Billy helped lead the Midshipmen to their first national championship game in 29 years, when they lost to Syracuse, 14-13.

"Brendan was not always the fastest nor the biggest athlete," said his dad. "But he was always determined and didn't know the meaning of quit. He had a great desire to compete and give his all."

Most of all, Brendan was a leader.

"He had a knack of making others and his teams better," Kevin Looney said. "And he helped find a way to help them win."

Click 'Next' for a breakdown of the Brothers in Arms Classic schedule.