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Miller Bugliari Memory Book - Page 5

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Bill Maass (Class of 1970 and Captain, Team of 1969)
It’s difficult to explain Miller’s coaching style, but it definitely includes elements both “soft” and “hard”. The “soft” element is the clear understanding he gives all his players that he cares deeply for each of them – whether they are a 3-year starter or a 1-year bench-warmer. This understanding enables the “hard” elements to work. By “hard” I mean the discipline. A few examples of Miller’s discipline come to mind:

  • During the cooler days of late fall, being required to wear a ski hat after taking a shower so you wouldn’t catch a cold – and then being fined a quarter if you never-the-less did catch a cold. [This idea must have come from his training as a biologist.]
  • Not permitting sophomores to talk during the week of pre-season practice unless a coach or senior addressed you
  • Short haircuts and a clean-shaven face
  • Week-end curfews: 9-10-11 for sophomores-juniors-seniors
  • Wearing the weighted vest or weighted spats as punishment for an infraction of some sort.
  • Practicing for an hour or so directly after the rare game in which the team didn’t hustle as much as it should have.
  • And the occasional raised voice.

What impact did all this have on impressionable boys? Relief, envy and a rise in expectations.

  • Relief that it wasn’t happening to them -> felt by opposing teams (who misunderstood the context and real meaning)
  • Envy -> felt by Pingry football players (who did understood the context and real meaning)
  • But for each of Miller’s players, the impact was a permanent rise in expectations – both for yourself as a member of a team, and for your teammates. If you didn’t hustle, you didn’t play.

I’ve played on numerous soccer teams during the 36 years since I left Pingry, but the only team on which I immediately and perennially feel comfortable is the Pingry Alumni Team.
“Bachagaloop!”
____________________________

My name is Michael White and I graduated from Pingry back in 1986 and was a starter in 85 and 86 and a co-captain of our State and County Championship team in 86.  One of my best friends was Mr. Bugliari's son Boyce. I didn't have a nickname, but I know that if you asked Miller about me, he would say something to the effect of "that was the crazy kid with the headband."

I was first taken aback when I got to the Varsity in 85 with all of Miller's habits.  From the towel to the rubbing the hands, to the wringing of hands going up and down as fast as he could, I didn't know what to think.  Then when we had to run 2 miles in under 12 minutes in preseason, I was made aware very early on that anything less than hard work and teamwork would not be accepted.  I had the two most rewarding years of my sports life playing for him.  There was never a dull moment and I knew that our team would always be put in the best situation to win and do it the right way.

Unfortunately, my most vivid memory in terms of a story happened when we were playing at Lawrenceville my senior year.  I was going up for a head ball when a defender came from behind and accidentally head butted me in the head.  I continued to run around and play as Miller continued to yell at me to get down on the ground.  I kept looking over at him like he was crazy and refused.  He then started walking out on the field and forced me to get down.  It was then that I realized I had been busted up.  I got 50 stitches over the eye.  Three days later, we were to play Union under the lights and I didn't want to miss the game.  Mr. Bugliari and Mr. Lalley came up with this contraption including gauze, foam and a very thick headband so I can play.  Mr. Bugliari before the game came over to me and said I would have no problem tonight because I never used my head when I played anyway.  It was just another example of how he was able to get me to play my best for him. 

I was back in Pingry in May for our 20th reunion and he took my twin 5 year olds down to his office and showed my kids pictures of me and our team on his wall.  He told my kids and my wife that he never had to worry about me playing hard and tough, which was not always the case with Pingry kids.  My son Leo was so impressed that he takes pride in being tough on the soccer field now.  It was a great moment for my family and I am truly honored to have played for a great coach with a great heart. 

Congrats on all your accomplishments coach and continued good luck.

Michael White ‘86

 

 

Pingry and Miller (soccer!) had a profound effect on me and as long as I am alive, I will be grateful to him and the school!

Bart Wood 1960

 

   

Miller was basically everywhere when, for six years, I graced the halls of Pingry at Parker Road and North Avenue.

The Middle School at Parker road was housed on the first floor in the back. 6th grade was in a room to the left by itself, while 7th and 8th grade (Forms I and II respectively) students occupied a large study hall proctored by Otho Vars. Smaller classrooms were off to the left, as one entered.

Upstairs was the senior school, and nobody but a senior dared venture there. It was sacrosanct “up there”, occupied by only the revered and holy.

Well, we in the class of ’54 eventually were elevated to “senior” status, and we left the first floor, with great trepidation, for the second.

At the top of the stairs, to the right, was a large study hall.

On this one (aprox. 1951) day I was in there, with other Pingry “hackers” trying to look busy, when a very strange person appeared in the doorway to the left, at the front of this study hall. He held a large beaker (containing some type of biology detritus, probably stolen from Mr. Kirk’s lab in the rear of the building) aloft while singing part of a very popular Jonie James song, “Here is a heart that is lonely”, and then disappeared as mysteriously as he had arrived.

We new to the upper reaches had not a clue as to the identity of this very strange, most vocal, performing person. What had caused him to do such a thing? Pingry pressures? Advanced non compos mentis? We later learned that it was Miller.

Such was my (our) introduction to another of Pingry’s legends.

I laugh every time I think of that scene!

Jack Bryan, Class of ’54. Retired Senior USAir Captain, and currently an adjunct professor in the Business School at Adirondack Community College near Glens Falls, New York.  

   

 

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