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Jim Henry Award
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Joe McCourt, Roman Catholic High SchoolA little over fifteen years ago, the Maxwell Football Club decided to give an award to the Area's High School Football Player of the Year. It was decided by the Board to name this award in honor of our Chairman of the Board, Jim Henry. Jim Henry agreed to have his name on the award on the following conditions: the player had to be a student-athlete, someone who placed academics ahead of sports and this player had to be a young man who was involved with his high school and community; in other words "a good citizen." Ask Roman Catholic coach Jim Murphy how he plans to replace Joe McCourt next season and he says simply: "You can't replace him."The 6-0, 180-pound McCourt was one of the most versatile players in the history of Philadelphia's Catholic League. McCourt, who will graduate in June, played halfback, fullback and wide receiver on offense and linebacker, cornerback and safety on defense. He also did Roman's kicking and handled punt and kickoff returns. "It takes three or four guys to do the job that he did," Murphy told the Inquirer's Todd Zolecki. "I've never seen a player like him since I've been coaching. And I don't know when I'll ever see another Joe McCourt." Tonight, McCourt adds the Jim Henry Award to his long list of honors, which includes Philadelphia High School Player of the Year as named by both the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. He also was named the Catholic League's Most Valuable Player in a vote of the coaches. McCourt is the 16th recipient of the Henry Award, which is presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club to an area high school player who excells both in athletics and academics. McCourt, who is an honor student with a 3.9 grade-point average, qualifies in every respect. McCourt set a school record by rushing for 1,780 yards this season. He also scored 19 touchdowns and 173 points, which was 68 percent of his team's scoring for the season. He was named first team All-Catholic at running back, linebacker and kicker. He also was named the area's top all-purpose player by the Inquirer and Daily News. In the final regular season game, McCourt rushed for 242 yards in a 29-13 victory over Monsignor Bonner. He finished his career with 3,315 rushing yards, also a Roman Catholic record. McCourt had one of his best games against Cardinal O'Hara when he was matched against O'Hara's own brilliant running back, Kevin Jones. McCourt outgained Jones by almost 100 yards as Roman won, 26-21. McCourt's fondest memory is the 1999 Catholic League Red Division championship which Roman won 21-7 over LaSalle. In that game, McCourt rushed for 109 yards and scored the clinching touchdown on a dive into the endzone. It was Roman's first Catholic League football title since 1947. "I watch that once a week," McCourt told Zolecki. "I'll sit down and watch that game and rewind that play 100 times. I'll turn up the volume so I can hear everybody screaming in the background." "I was just so happy for him, winning this (Henry) award," Murphy said. "When I heard that he had won, I ran up to the third floor at school to tell him. I pulled him out of class. I was leaning on the wall because I was out of breath. He's aces. The more you know him, the more impressed you get." McCourt has decided to attend Lafayette College. McCourt said Lafayette coaches told him he would have a chance to play running back. If that does not work, they will put him somewhere else. "I have no problem with that," McCourt said. "I'll play anywhere." |
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