This thread was initially deleted by a volunteer mod. We apologize for the deletion. The OP has written us confirming they did indeed run at Navy under Cantello. We believe in free expression, even if its negative in tone.
Rojo should do some journalism here. If you have the name and graduation year of this person, you can easily look up the roster and contact his teammates to see if they saw Cantello push him down.
As it stands, the OP says other midshipmen were present when he was shoved, but he doesn't remember who......You don't remember your own teammates? With an experience so traumatizing, you don't remember talking about it to your friends who saw it?
BTW in the summer of 2003 when the alleged shove occurred, Cantello would have been 73 years old. Though he once broke the world record in the javelin, he was 5'7 in his prime and probably 5'5 at the age of 73. The OP said this 73 year old at 5'5 is a "physically menacing figure" ??
I agree 100%. This is a claim that a coach assaulted his athlete. If rojo has the name of the athlete, they should contact his teammates and seek the truth.
If they aren't interested in the truth, they should delete the thread.
Whoever the volunteer moderator is was smarter than the Brojos. The thread should be taken down absent far more corroboration than has been presented.
I agree 100%. This is a claim that a coach assaulted his athlete. If rojo has the name of the athlete, they should contact his teammates and seek the truth.
If they aren't interested in the truth, they should delete the thread.
Whoever the volunteer moderator is was smarter than the Brojos. The thread should be taken down absent far more corroboration than has been presented.
"Cantello had a direct negative impact on the readiness of the United States Navy and the United States Naval Academy, as it robbed countless midshipmen the opportunity to properly develop as student-athletes and midshipmen in their preparation to join the fleet. The system failed."
I think OP's points about the negative impact Coach Cantello had on both the athletic and professional careers of those under his guidance is very valid and worth reiterating.
I just don't know what can be done about it now.
I think it's also worth saying that the program seems much more successful since Aaron Lanzel took over. Cantello never had a sub-4 miler as midshipman (only those who accomplished that after they were mids). Aaron has had what? 3-4 since he started?
Please show me where I called the OP a liar. If I did, I would apologize, as I indicated he should use a different forum, rather than this public one, unless he has facts and provides his name. I also only provided background to my interaction with Al Cantello and with his athletes and former athletes, posting a different experience than the poster. Other posters have accused me of lying, being abusive and being an abusive coach during my long career, despite admitting they do not know me. I guess it is just something they need to do.
Seems to me if you have issues you might want to read all the posts and review what has been provided for viewing. I do believe that it is nothing more than a duck shoot to throw out accusations of bullying, lying and abusing my athletes as a nasty way of responding to my posts in response to the original post.
I am writing this in response to the "Pete Schuder defense" guy. I would appreciate it if you used another name for your posting, since you are not me.
I am done, I have nothing to be ashamed of during my long coaching career. I am happy I don't have to deal with people like those posting here. Fortunately, 99% of the athletes and coaches I encountered in my long career were polite, respectful and enjoyed coming up to Boston and competing on both our old Armory track and the new facility. Too bad there seem to be some individuals who don't appreciate other people's efforts on their behalf, but that is life.
Best wishes and I hope those who feel a need to continue to flame and bash me, I hope it will make your day.
I think OP's points about the negative impact Coach Cantello had on both the athletic and professional careers of those under his guidance is very valid and worth reiterating.
Please show me where I called the OP a liar. If I did, I would apologize, as I indicated he should use a different forum, rather than this public one, unless he has facts and provides his name. I also only provided background to my interaction with Al Cantello and with his athletes and former athletes, posting a different experience than the poster.
Too bad there seem to be some individuals who don't appreciate other people's efforts on their behalf, but that is life.
Best wishes and I hope those who feel a need to continue to flame and bash me, I hope it will make your day.
great more passive aggressive, hypocritical nonsense from you. You first claim that you believe Cantello's accusers and then immediately discredit the accusations. Simple because, what....that he was nice to YOU? Aww, how sweet. As if no one in the history of the world has ever treated his peers differently than his subordinates.
I have no idea what kind of coach you were, but your logic SUCKS
Navy use to come down with about 100 athletes and stay a week at my school during spring break. I would run the 1,500 and 5,000 and win them both. I was not a 1,500 runner and I lapped several Navy in the 5,000. Great picture in my college yearbook with me leading 12 Navy guys. Nothing special about my time that day.
So I think it is a combination of the guy couldn't coach and he didn't have much to work with.
IDK what year this was, but Navy has, and still does have a JV and Varsity team. It's actually one of the reasons I feel grateful for my time on the team. Cantello would routinely take 25 Plebes on the team. Yeah, by Firstie Year, that group was probably down to 5.
So they are certainly competitive on the track when they run their best guys. I hate to say it, but you most likely ran against the JV team.
IDK what year this was, but Navy has, and still does have a JV and Varsity team. It's actually one of the reasons I feel grateful for my time on the team. Cantello would routinely take 25 Plebes on the team. Yeah, by Firstie Year, that group was probably down to 5.
So they are certainly competitive on the track when they run their best guys. I hate to say it, but you most likely ran against the JV team.
They brought a varsity team to SLU in Hammond, Louisiana . I actually ran against Navy a few different times in the south.
I invited the JV from a phone call that he made to Ocean County College in Tom's River, New Jersey
Cantello had great success coaching at Navy. Keep in mind he was limited to athletes that wanted to join a military academy and serve their country after graduating. He could not recruit internationally.
From his retirement announcement: The program's success at the conference level carried over to the national scene with 12 total appearances at the NCAA Championships. Following the program's first-ever NCAA appearance in 1972, the Mids competed at the 1974, 1975, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1997, 2016 and 2017 championships. The 1985 team recorded the highest finish for a Midshipmen squad as they placed seventh overall in the nation.
As a frame of reference, everyone made a big deal about Air Force placing 7th in the country this year. That only matches Cantello's best finish at Navy....and Air Force has the advantage of altitude and Air Force is much less physically demanding than Navy, especially in 2022.
I do didn't see much on the record list at Navy during his years but I do see some great times including a couple this year.
This is just a LIE. There's only one outdoor distance record that was set after he retired, and it was by .4 in the 1500 with the assistance of super shoes. There's only 1 indoor distance record set after he retired, and it was run in super shoes on Boston University's track (I don't count the 1000m record because it's not regularly run).
Two of Navy's three total sub 4 milers were recruited by Cantello.
I do didn't see much on the record list at Navy during his years but I do see some great times including a couple this year.
This is just a LIE. There's only one outdoor distance record that was set after he retired, and it was by .4 in the 1500 with the assistance of super shoes. There's only 1 indoor distance record set after he retired, and it was run in super shoes on Boston University's track (I don't count the 1000m record because it's not regularly run).
Two of Navy's three total sub 4 milers were recruited by Cantello.
Don't know what list you are looking at. I am looking at the top 10 lists. Also the 1,000 was run more before then currently. The 1985 team doesn't have any top ten distance runners on the list.