Livingston UNICO presented its 39th Annual Brian Piccolo Sportsmanship Award to two Livingston High School seniors who best symbolize the character and ideals of Brian Piccolo.
Brian Piccolo was a fullback for the Chicago Bears who displayed virtues of courage, teamwork, leadership and dedication both on the football .eld and in his personal .ght against cancer.
This year the winners of the Sportsmanship Award are female Taylor Dzama and male Alex Diorio. They both exemplify the “never give up” attitude of Brian Piccolo. They will each receive their Sportsmanship Award Plaque and a scholarship of $1,000 at the June 11 Livingston UNICO meeting.
Taylor Dzama
Livingston High School senior Taylor Dzama is a remarkable two-sport athlete, earning four-year varsity letters in both gymnastics and girls’ lacrosse.
“Of Italian American descent on her father’s side, Dzama has demonstrated unwavering dedication to her athletic career, founding the LHS gymnastics team as a freshman by working directly with the athletic director to establish the program,” said Livingston UNICO member Jim Kedrie.
“Her resilience has been tested through significant injuries, including a foot fracture her sophomore year and a grade four elbow dislocation her junior year. In spite of this, she battled back to full strength in both sports. Despite being sidelined due to injuries, her attendance was always perfect. She continued to show up and support her teammates.”
A four-time NJSIAA state sectional quali.er in gymnastics and a two-year captain for lacrosse, Dzama’s hard work on the lacrosse .eld was recognized when she earned .rst team all-con ference and all-county honors as a junior.
“Her loyalty, leadership, and dedication are evident in her role as a captain, where she balances respect, humor, and humility while serving as a key liaison between players and coaches,” continued Kedrie. “Her inclusivity shines, as she treats every teammate equally, even with her younger sister on the same roster, ensuring fairness and unity within the program. She is the first to share a laugh and the first to get to work. Dzama is the first one on the field, checking in with teammates and prepping practice. She is also the last one to leave. Whether it’s a couple more reps, a ball hunt or helping underclassmen with equipment, she is always the last player off the field.
Brian Piccolo
“A full-year club lacrosse player, she excels academically with a 4.4 GPA, managing a rigorous course load alongside her demanding athletic commitments. She also coaches the youth lacrosse players in town. She is a model of perseverance, sportsmanship, and leadership, making her a deserving candidate for the Brian PiccoloAward,” Kedrie said.
Alex Diorio
“When analyzing the best and strongest captains I have had the privilege to coach, Alex Diorio stands alone at the top of the list,” said head lacrosse coach Brad Dzama. “As a captain, he dedicates himself entirely to the well-being of his teammates, often taking on menial tasks such as sweeping the floor of the team room to provide a cleaner environment for his teammates, or carrying equipment to and from the field to assist a younger player. There is not one ounce of anger or frustration from Alex towards his teammates and opponents. Alex has upstanding character to a level that I, as a grown adult, am completely inspired by and try to emulate within my own life.”
As an athlete, Diorio was a highly decorated wrestler for four years and a two-year captain. As a lacrosse player, he is a strong all conference player and a two-year captain as well. “He is the guiding light of our lacrosse program and the definition of loyalty and dedication,” continued coach Dzama.
Next year, Diorio will attend Lehigh University, where he plans to major in mechanical engineering.
Brian Piccolo
Piccolo’s virtues and ideals were portrayed in the 1971 movie “Brian’s Song” that tugged at the nation’s heart, telling the story of Piccolo’s friendship – one that shattered racial boundaries – with his Black Chicago Bears teammate Gale Sayers, and Piccolo’s final days. At that time, when the teams were traveling, the players’ hotel rooms were segregated, but Brian Piccolo insisted on sharing his room with Gale Sayers, thereby breaking the racial barriers for all NFL teams. Piccolo was played by James Caan and Sayers by Billy Dee Williams.
Piccolo was an outstanding collegiate football player at Wake Forest, leading his team to several conference championships. His lifetime goal was to play professional football, but at just a little over six feet tall and weighing only 205 pounds, he was not drafted. He was signed up as a free agent by the Chicago Bears and made the team in 1965, only to be assigned to the practice squad which meant he could practice with the team but not suit up for games. His determination far overshadowed his physical size and in 1966, he made the team but primarily played on special teams. In 1967, he was moved up to back up tailback behind Gale Sayers. In 1969, he became the starting fullback with Gale Sayers as tailback as a reward for his outstanding perseverance, dedication and courage. He achieved his lifetime dream when he finally became a starting NFL football player.
Unfortunately, on the ninth game of the season he voluntarily left the game because of shortness of breath, something he had never done during all his playing days. Amedical examination diagnosed him with embryonal cell carcinoma, an aggressive cancer. He fought valiantly through several surgeries but succumbed to the disease and died on June 16, 1970.
UNICO National memorializes Brian Piccolo by the issuance of this award throughout all their nationwide chapters.
