Twenty proud and devoted Gilman alumni spent an evening with the current varsity team for the annual Football Alumni BBQ. The night of camaraderie and fellowship was the perfect precursor to the next day’s home test against St. Mary’s, a game which resulted in a victory for the Hounds.

The event began with a special invitation for alumni to watch the Hounds practice on Brown Field. A sizable crew of 70s-era veterans huddled around the much-beloved head coach of that decade, Alex Sotir. Soon enough, favorite plays and unforgettable games were analyzed with fresh enthusiasm. Nostalgia was omnipresent as alumni watched their contemporary compatriots run through drills and review the playbook. The final whistle to close out practice drove the alums to carry their conversations to the Lumen Center Dining Hall. Several members of the current coaching staff joined them to break down the game plan for St. Mary’s and share highlights from the first three weeks of the season.

It wasn’t long before the boys hustled up from the locker room to join their Gilman gridiron predecessors. Greyhounds of all ages mixed and mingled at round tables. Soon, the remarks portion began, with an introduction from Head Varsity Football Coach Scott Van Zile. Coach Van Zile praised the program's rich history and the respect its alumni have for one another. He shared anecdotes of graduates — whether teammates or players separated by decades — forging bonds in life after Roland Avenue.

As is customary with this event, two alumni guest speakers followed Coach Van Zile. David Emala ’74 was the first to reflect on his Gilman football experience. He shared fond memories of playing for Coach Sotir, culminating in a championship win to close out the 1973 season. Then he identified similarities and differences between his vintage and the modern football equivalent. He acknowledged the greater emphasis on out-of-season training and the proclivity of an up-tempo, pass-heavy offensive style; he noted that it was rare to reach 7-10 pass plays in a game in his day! In regard to similarities, he cited the fundamentals to Gilman’s enduring legacy of football excellence — smarts, toughness, and great coaching — which continued to permeate in 2025.

David Emala yielded the stage to his son, Ned Emala ’13, Gilman’s assistant athletic director and the defensive coordinator for the varsity football team. Given the unique nature of this speaking engagement, he emphasized to the boys that he was speaking as an alumnus of the program, rather than as their coach. Central to his reflections on playing for Gilman was his family legacy. He listed the many football-playing kin who inspired and instilled in him a commitment to working his hardest as a player and coach. Adhering to high standards for effort and excellence brought out his best, and he treasured the opportunity to dedicate his passion for Greyhound football — steeped in family tradition — to the young warriors of today.

Youngsters and veterans hit the buffet and recounted beloved commonalities of Gilman football at their tables. Frequent topics of discussion covered tactics, training, and longstanding traditions. Al Burk ’68 amazed his tablemates by recounting the final game of his Gilman career: a hard-fought victory over McDonogh in an Owings Mills snowstorm. Michael Austin ’76 discussed the joys and challenges of serving as team captain; he was dining with three current team captains. Coach Sotir, his son, Michael Sotir ’78, and David Emala — who was at one time his quarterback — explained to the players the benefits of the Delaware Wing T offense (although it might have sounded otherworldly to them). Tom Booker III ’79 related with the boys in appreciating the resilience and savvy play that typified Gilman football, particularly in competing against larger programs with much deeper rosters.

After an hour of chow and chatter, it was time for everyone to hit the road. The boys were left feeling extra motivated and appreciative of the interconnectedness of the football brotherhood. The alumni were gratified, nostalgic, and confident in the future of their beloved program. Carrying on the legacy falls to the capable hands of the 2025 team, which, in addition to Coach Emala, is led by capable alumni Kevonte Beard ’18, George Hopkins ’88, Nick Schloeder ’85, and Robbie Wright ’06!