Weiser to honor former coach, recognize social issues, with helmet stickers
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Longtime Conrad Weiser coach Al Silveri will be memorialized with a sticker on the Scouts’ helmets for the remainder of the season.
A round emblem with Silveri’s initials will be displayed on the top of Weiser helmets; it is one of three stickers making its debut for Friday’s game at Garden Spot.
The Scouts are also recognizing breast cancer awareness with a pink ribbon helmet sticker and “Morgan’s Message,” representing the mental health cause, with a butterfly sticker.
Silveri, who spent 54 years coaching, died in July at age 76. He was an assistant coach for seven seasons at Weiser before becoming head coach in 1988.
Honoring Silveri, whom he succeeded in 2003, is important to Moyer, a long-time assistant under him.
Recognizing the social issues is important to Moyer as well.
“(Cancer awareness) is near and dear to everybody’s hearts,” said Moyer, whose son Erik, a former all-league linebacker at Weiser, has been battling spinal cancer for several years. “We’ve always been big supporters (of this cause). We’ve worn those (stickers) since at least 2003.”
“Morgan’s Message” strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health issues among student-athletes.
“In the last five years mental health issues have really come to life, especially in sports,” Moyer said. “Everybody’s dealing with so many issues. (We’re glad to do) anything we can do (to support this effort).
“Football’s a great platform to be able to do some of these things. We wear (these symbols) with pride and honor.”
Silveri won 102 games over 15 seasons, including a pair of Inter-County League championships and a perfect regular season in 1996. He has the highest winning percentage in program history.
He coached at Wyomissing for 30 seasons, most recently in 2023. He was head coach at Muncy for two seasons.
Silveri has been honored at Wyomissing in several ways this season. A plaque recognizing his contributions to the program was added to a wall outside the field house near a bench where Silveri could often be found before and after practices.
Players are wearing helmet stickers honoring him and coaches are wearing patches on their sleeves.
Al Silveri offered tough love, a shoulder to lean on
Silveri was on the sidelines for 400 wins, coached 15 league champions and was on the Spartans’ staff in 2012 when they became the first Berks football team to win a PIAA championship.
Silveri was the lone member of the inaugural class of the Berks County Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2003. He was revered by his contemporaries.
Silveri, a fullback and guard at Mahanoy, was hired as a teacher at Wyomissing in 1970 and joined the staff of Roger Evans, Wyomissing’s first head coach.
He moved on to Weiser in 1979, where he coached for three seasons under Ferdie Kuczala, including the Scouts’ first unbeaten team and Inter-County League championship in 1981.
