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Page 14 — Saturday, September 8, 2001 Relt;Singel mournedContinued from page 1 tragedy.Believe me, this is a tragic loss to our football family, he said. “He was a brother to some of his teammates and a great friend. As far asthe coaching staff is concerned,Timmy epitomized everything we look for in a football player. ... Timmy was a fighter, and believe me, lie fought this thing to the very end. I know he didn’t quit. .IUP defensive coordinator Paul Tortorella, who worked closely with Singe! every day, said what he'll remember most is Singel's smile, die same one that made such an impression on Johns.He always had a smile on his face, Tortorella said. “He was so easy to coach. He did everything you’d ask him to do. Actually, he’d do anything for you. He was just that kind of kid. And he was alwayssmiling.One of Singel's teammates, senior nose tackle Tim Buffone, developed a close bond with Singel because of one instance where Singel’s generosity made an indelible impression.I remember his freshman season, I forgot to bring my toothbrush to camp,” Buffone said. “I was standing there brushing my teeth with my finger and he came over to me. He said, ’Bro, you need a toothbrush?' I said, 'Well, I don't want to use yours.’ But he said, ‘My sister works In advertising and she gets them for free. I have an extra one. Do you want it?’“It was always a joke with us after that. That’s die kind of relationship I had with Tim. I loved him; he was like a brother to me.In addition to Singel’s smile, many people who were close to him remember his character. It was often cited as his best attribute.“Timmy is the kind of guy that I’d loved to have come to my house and take out one of my daughters,” Cignetti said. “He’s just a special person. ... He always said, ‘Yes, sir’ or‘No, sir.'”That attitude likely came from Page, who has mentored die Laurel Valley football program since 1979.Singel graduated from Laurel Valley in 1999 where he was an Appalachian Conference and Southern Allegheny Coaches Association all-star.Singel was redshirted at IUP in 1999, but played all II games last season as a reserve free safety and special teams player. He had six tackles in the school's season-opening 31-10 victory over Findlay last Saturday.“When you’re in the coaching business,” Page said, “you become acquainted with many fine individuals. Quite often the emphasis on memories is on the negative, but it wasn't that way with Tim for me.Police still investigatingContinued from page I football team, fell backward from the curb between Grant and Locust streets as the northbound tractor-trailer was passing at 12:24 a.m., police reported. The truck’s rear tires hit Sin-gel's head and shoulders.The rig was composed of a brown flip-up cab and a flatbed trailer with a load secured by binders, police reported.Police also are seeking the occupants of a tan Buick who may have seen the accident as they drove by.Tim is one of the finest young men I've ever been associated with. He was one of the most intense football players I've ever known, and he was one of the best all-around players I ever coached.”But there was more to Singel than a football player. As a student atlUR he carried a 3.5 grade-point average with a major in safety science.Everytiling about him was solid, Tortorella said. “He was a genuine person. The football aspect of him didn't matter, he was just a good kid.”Johns, who remembers Singel as a shy freshman when he first walked into the team's office three years ago, said she developed a special bond with not only Singel, but many of his teammates.I get kind of motherly with them all,” she said. “I get more attached to some of them because I see them every day. Especially the kids, like Tim, who I remember coming in here for the first time.”With the Indians, Singel took an unselfish approach to being a backup at safety. He did everything he was asked to do, and according to Buffone, did it to the best of his ability.'Anything he did, he didn’t give you 100 percent,” Buffone said, he’d give you 120 percent or 150 percent. He'd always go that extra mile. You didn’t even have to be around him to know what kind of guy he was. He was a good guy. I j ust ask that everyone pray for his familyMost everyone said Singel loved football and loved playing it for IUF. Page recalled a time when, as a sophomore at Laurel Valley, Singel wrote down his goals for football. What he wrote, according to the coach, was to play for IUP Buffone said Singel was the definition of what an IUP football player should be.“His attitude toward the game, his love for die game and the way he played the game were die way you are supposed to do it, Buffone said. If you wanted to define IUP football, Tim Singel's picture would be right there with the definition.But Singel almost walked away from the sport he loved so much this summer. After spending his freshman season as a backup, Singel contemplated quitting die team and just being a student.“We talked a lot about it, Page recalled. He came over to my house one Sunday night and we talked for about three hours. He said he just wasn't sure if he still had die passion for the game that he used to have.” Buffone, who was selected by his peers as one of the team’s co-captains, took it upon himself to call Singel and try to bring him back.“I told him, ‘I want you on my senior team,”’ Buffone said. 'This is my senior season, and I want to make a run at this thing and I want you on that team because you mean that much to me and to the team.' He knew where I was coming from.”Singel chose to come back just before fall camp started. Page said he was elated with the decision. But he was not alone.”1 was ecstatic,” Tortorella said. “I knew that if he didn't want to come back, that he’d grow to regret it. He told me he didn’t know if he still had the hunger for football anymore. He just needed time to sort tilings out, When camp opened on Aug, 9, the Indians-felt optimistic about a run at an NCAA Division II championship.But Cignetti said the team has to get through this loss before it can look too far ahead.“It’s a time for prayer and sorrow,” Cignetti said. We offer our prayer and support to the Singel family ” Team members had not yet decided how they would pay tribute to Singel.“I'm sure we'll do something,” Cignetti said.A memorial service has beenscheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the St. Thomas More University Parish at 5 p.m.His presence will always be in our locker room,” Cignetti said, “and his spirit will always be with us when we play..“He was such a special guy, Tortorella said. “No matter what happened, he always had that smile on his face. There wasn't a bad bone in that kid’s body. He had a great sense of humor, and he was one of the most popular guys on the'team: But he was always smiling.”(A complete obituary will appear in Sunday’s Gazette. The Kenneth A. Stuart Funeral Home in New Florence is in charge of arrangements.)
Newspaper Details
Indiana Gazette
Indiana, Pennsylvania, US
Sat, Sep 08, 2001
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
PA, USA 24 Aug 2021
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