A Special Number 19

But in today’s match-up between the Trojans and the Bears, in which Danelo’s parents, Joe and Emily, will be in attendance, the Danelos will get to see a Number 19 take the field. A Number 19 the Danelos say is “like another son” to them.

Cal starting tight end and Mackey Award candidate Craig Stevens switched jersey numbers from 82 to 19 in this, his senior year, in honor of his childhood buddy Mario Danelo. The two had been close friends since their pre-school days as classmates at the Little School on the Point in San Pedro.

“He's been a buddy of mine since pre-school,” the Bear team captain recently told BearInsider.com. (photo, right, Stevens and Danelo in birthday party hats) “He lived a couple of houses away, and we'd always see each other whether it was playing baseball or basketball or soccer.”

Or building tree houses. Joe Danelo fondly recalls the time when Stevens and his son, along with the other neighborhood kids who included former Oregon Ducks punter Matt Dragich, “used leftover scrap wood and material used to build the Mammal Care Center nearby to build a tree house on an old yucca tree across the street.” The boys were roughly 12 years old when they undertook the project, but with the help of their fathers’ carpentry tools, the boys managed to build an impressive three-story tree house.

Danelo, Stevens, Dragich, and the rest of the neighborhood kids “did everything together” Joe Danelo recalls. “They were like brothers.”

“It was a lifetime friendship. They rode bikes, made dirt hills and did motorcross. They played baseball, basketball, roller-hockey,” adds Stevens' father, Mark. “Mario was always at the house.”

Mark Stevens, who is also close with Joe Danelo, told the Danelos of Stevens’ decision to switch jersey numbers to wear Number 19 this season in honor of Danelo. “You’re somewhat taken aback because here’s a friend who has his last year and he has his life, and it tells me what kind of a person Craig is,” Joe Danelo observes. “Friends like that don’t come along a whole lot in life.”

Danelo and Stevens played in two games against each other while in college. Joe Danelo remembers that in both games, “from the stands, you could see Mario and Craig waiving at each other before the game.”

The Danelos have made the trip up north to support both Stevens and the Trojans. “[Today], it’s gonna be hard, because we know it would have been Mario’s and Craig’s last game against each other in college,” Joe Danelo comments. “But Craig is doing this tribute to Mario and it’s a special tribute to a special friend.”

When Number 19 takes the field today, it won’t be to kick an extra point or field goal. Number 19 won’t even be taking the field in Cardinal and Gold. But this Blue and Gold Number 19 will be taking the field to the cheers of at least two Trojan Football parents in the stands. “We are going to the game specifically to see Craig out on the field in Number 19,” Joe Danelo continues. “We see him on TV and it’s special. It’s almost like having another son out there.”

Of his son’s tribute to Danelo, Mark Stevens says, “I am so proud of Craig. He’s a good person, a quiet guy who everyone looks up to. He has the respect of his teammates.” He also has the respect of many in the Trojan community for the wonderful gesture he’s made this season to honor his friend.

Danelo (L) and Stevens (R)

Danelo (middle) and Stevens (far right)

Danelo (L), Stevens (M) and Dragich (R)

Dragich (L), Stevens (M) and Danelo (R)

Stevens (L), Dragich (M) and Danelo (R)

Stevens (L), Mario Danelo (M) and Joe Danelo (R)

 

* A special thanks to the Danelo family for use of the photos in this story