Audible: The inspiring story of Dan Cummings

By Guest

By Matt Benedetti

On the 20th anniversary of the 1998 Xaverian Division 1 Football Championship, Journey Forward founder Dan Cummings reflects on a remarkable high school football career, setbacks and developing the courage to persevere.    

Two decades have passed since sophomore Kevin Tully kicked a 34-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the 1998 Division 1 Super Bowl to give the Xaverian Hawks an improbable comeback victory against the vaunted Everett Crimson Tide.

The wild 23-21 comeback win at Boston University’s Nickerson Field served as an example to Dan Cummings that quitting would never be an option and that sustained commitment is ultimately rewarded.

Although two decades have passed, Dan recalls the historic game as if it were yesterday. On a night that featured the two best teams playing for the championship in one of the most competitive states in the country, the hard fought contest appeared locked up by the Crimson Tide, powered by the sensational junior tailback Diamond Ferri. However, Xaverian made history by snatching victory from almost certain defeat in the closing seconds in arguably one the most exciting high school games in Massachusetts. As a senior reserve defensive tackle, Dan clearly recalls the jubilant celebration among his teammates and the abrupt reversal of fortune from heartbreak to euphoria.

Dan will never forget the electric atmosphere as well as the pregame tension.

“I knew it was the biggest game of my life and had butterflies on the bus ride all the way to BU,” said the Hyde Park native. “I remember going onto the field and hearing the Hawk Squad amongst the massive crowd cheering us on; it was an incredible feeling.”

Everett held a wide statistical advantage in yards (339-205) and ball possession throughout the game. After the Xaverian defense stopped Ferri on a pivotal fourth and inches play, the Hawks advanced the ball on a drive deep into Everett territory, culminating in Tully’s first field goal of the season.

“I thought it was probably over with 1:25 minutes left and had tears in my eyes,” said Dan. “My brother John (former Hawk) consoled me and congratulated me on a great season and left to beat the traffic.”

As Tully lined up to kick, Dan vividly recalled the entire Xaverian team knelt along the sidelines in a show of unity in anticipation with all of them jumping to their feet as the ball headed towards the uprights, pleading for three points.

“It’s good … it’s good … it’s GOOD!!”

Pandemonium reigned and Dan remembers the Hawk sideline erupting in what became the greatest moment of his life. He recalls embracing defensive coordinator Al Fornaro and them both yelling, “We did it! We won the Super Bowl!”

He soon found his brother Timmy, also a former Hawks player, who had just fielded a call from an incredulous Johnny, who had heard the raucous cheer from his car on Commonwealth Avenue.

“You did it kid! You won the Super Bowl!” commended his older sibling.

Dan described the rapid shift in outcomes as well as the corresponding feelings. “It was the biggest emotional 180 that I have ever experienced,” he said.

Life events would soon unfold that would test Dan’s physical and emotional well-being in unimaginable ways. Soon, he would need to draw strength from previously latent reservoirs of courage and marshal an implacable resolve honed during a remarkable high school football career at both Don Bosco Technical and Xaverian Brothers High School — a career that took him from a 0-11 nadir to a state championship in the span of a year.

Accident and Recovery

On June 24, 2000 while enjoying an early summer day on Cape Cod with friends, Dan Cummings suffered a life-altering injury after diving into a shallow lake. Less than a year after graduating from Xaverian Brothers High School, Dan was now facing life as a quadriplegic.

Several doctors told him that he would never walk again, but Dan decided that this grim prognosis was simply not an option. He earnestly began the assigned rehabilitation workouts but quickly discovered that the exercise regimen was inadequate.

“As a football player, I knew how to train and how it was supposed to feel,” he recalled. “After these workouts, I wasn’t tired at all.”

After extensive research, he found an intense training program based in California that matched his expectations. Against his family’s wishes, Dan moved 3,000 miles to California and began his own journey to walk again.

It may have taken a him over a year to tie his shoes without assistance in less than an hour, button his clothing or live independently, but he achieved these goals and was certain that he would one day walk again.

He also promised himself that he would create a commensurate facility back in Boston to allow those living with spinal cord injuries a journey forward to a better quality of life.

After four years living out west, Dan left California with just a walker and the concept of launching the facility that would soon become Journey Forward.

Through bulldog determination, a steadfast approach and support from family, Journey Forward, a 510(c)(3) nonprofit was launched in 2008.

In the intervening decade, this innovative Canton-based facility has attracted clients living with spinal cord injuries from across the country. Journey Forward has garnered public accolades for the many private victories experienced by their clients faced with paralysis.

Dan firmly believes that his recovery and Journey Forward would not have been possible without the lessons learned playing high school football for both Don Bosco and Xaverian.

“Playing high school football shaped my life in more ways than you can imagine — I knew how to train, work out, and push through the pain,” he said.

Habits learned on the gridiron proved invaluable.

“In the fourth quarter when you are exhausted, you’ve got to dig deep and keep going, keep pushing,” he said. “You have to realize that losing is never an option.”

The mental challenges can be just as formidable.

“A lot of people quit when they hit a plateau and that’s when the mental toughness comes in,” he said. “When I come out of these plateaus, I feel stronger than when I started.”

Don Bosco

Keep trying, keep pushing and good things will happen. –Rob MacIntosh, 1997 Don Bosco Interim Head Football Coach

In the fall of 1997, Dan Cummings was entering his junior year at Don Bosco Preparatory High School in downtown Boston. The leadership of the iconic former technical Catholic all-boys school had recently announced its closing the following year.

Despite the looming closure, Dan was excited about the upcoming football season. He knew it would be a challenge to field a competitive team with a diminished roster of 28 players. As an undersized lineman, Dan knew that he would be logging plenty of minutes on both sides of the ball but also be playing a leadership role.

As well, he was cognizant of the fact that most of his 27 teammates were short on scholarship talent but long on resolve.

Dan knew the upcoming season would be a difficult one. What he could not predict, however, was that the lessons learned during this arduous campaign would indelibly influence his life in the years to come.

“We were a mentally tough team,” he said. “We lost every bleepin’ game but we fought every game.”

The ’97 Don Bosco Bears struggled throughout the year and lost 11 additional players through attrition as well as every game. Due to the loss of players, Dan did everything but sell cokes in the stands. He played offensive guard, defensive tackle and special teams, rarely leaving the field.

When asked if he considered quitting, he emphatically said, “No, no, it never crossed my mind.”

Seth Turnbaugh, a teammate on both the Don Bosco and Xaverian teams, shared his recollection of Dan that year.

“He was the most positive player on that team and hit so hard off the line,” Turnbaugh recalled. “As the losses piled up, some guys quit even before turning in their pads.”

“But Dan was a leader and always fighting — he motivated us to keep working,” he said.

Don Bosco Head Coach Rob MacIntosh felt Dan personified the attitude of that overmatched but steadfast team.

“That was a tough team and Dan led by example,” he said. “You might be able to slow him down, but you’re never going to beat him — there’s absolutely no quit in Dan.”

“He worked his tail off, never complained, and gave you everything he had,” said MacIntosh.

He loved playing for Don Bosco despite the challenges. He may not have loved the arctic wind coming off the ocean at Columbus Park in South Boston or eluding broken glass at Science Park. He most certainly did not love taking two trains and a bus to get to his home in Hyde Park after a long day.

Playing football at Don Bosco was hard, but that extra effort made it more meaningful too.

Xaverian

In football, quitting is not an option. It’s not the number of times you get knocked down, but instead the number of times you get up that matter. –Xaverian Head Football Coach Al Fornaro

As Don Bosco closed its doors forever, Dan considered his options for senior year and ultimately decided on Xaverian, the alma mater of his three older brothers.

It turned out to be the right decision.

The perennial Catholic Conference powerhouse boasted state-of-the-art facilities and a full roster of gifted players.

“I was amazed that this beautiful field was right outside the school and that I didn’t need to hop on the Orange Line to get to practice,” he recalled.

Dan made a positive impression on his coaches, many of whom taught his brothers.

“He was an intense, tough yet free-spirited young man,” said Fornaro, the current Xaverian head coach. “Coming over for just his senior year, he embraced being the new guy and did not ever back down in practice. Dan recovered a pivotal onside kick against Everett in the Super Bowl — never try to sneak one past a Hyde Park kid!”

Fornaro is proud of Dan and how he has responded to adversity and also believes his football experience influenced his recovery.

“I believe playing football, with the physical and mental demands, gave Dan a foundation from which to draw upon after his accident,” he said. “I’m sure there were days during practice that he dreaded the demanding PT but knew it was for his betterment so he pushed through — exactly what he is doing now.”

Dan is proud of playing for both the now defunct Don Bosco Technical High School and Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood and grateful to both institutions for their support since the accident.

“I am a member of the Class of 1999 at Xaverian but feel as if I graduated from both schools,” he said.

On October 20 of this year, Xaverian Brothers High School inducted the 1998 football champions into the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Dan was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict — he was hosting approximately 500 guests at Journey Forward’s 10th anniversary gala at Moseleys on the Charles in Dedham.

The celebration was a huge success and raised thousands of dollars for individuals seeking treatment for spinal cord injuries.

Dan regrets missing the Xaverian induction but managed to celebrate with over 500 Hall of Famers gathering to support Journey Forward.

Please consider donating to Journey Forward: https://journey-forward.org/donate

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