Mooney QB has an attitude of gratitude

By Pete Mollica

Cardinal Mooney High senior Dan McCarthy was hands down one of the best high school football players in the state last year and guided the Cardinals to 28 straight victories before an injury sidelined him for the final three games of the Division IV playoffs.

McCarthy, who earned first team all-state and was a finalist for the Mr. Football Award, suffered a herniated disc in his neck in the regional semifinal victory over Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.

He had to watch the Cardinals the rest of the way, including the state final loss to Coldwater, 28-27.

“It was very frustrating not to be out there with my teammates and having to just watch from the sidelines,” said McCarthy. “Although the season fell short for me, I was very proud of my teammates the way they performed in the playoffs and they deserved everything they earned.”

McCarthy, who will be moving on to the University of Notre Dame, had to have surgery on his disc and reports that everything is fine and he’s been cleared by the doctors to resume his football training.

“They cleared me to begin running and weight lifting immediately and by the time fall practice begins I’ll be ready to resume full workouts,” McCarthy said.

He’s leaving for Notre Dame this week to begin summer classes and to join the Irish in workouts.

Notre Dame has been part of his family for years, but McCarthy said he didn’t make the decision to go there until a year ago.

His brother, Kyle, is a redshirt junior with the Irish, and his older brother, Brian, and grandmother are Notre Dame graduates.

“It’s a dream come true for me,” he said. “I always wanted to play college football and now to be on the same team with my brother is so exciting.”

McCarthy said his career at Cardinal Mooney was one that he will always cherish.

“I started out as a freshman water boy watching my brother take the team to a state championship and as a sophomore we again reached the state title game, but lost and that gave us the incentive the next season to go undefeated and win the state title again,” he said.

“My senior year we made another great run and despite the injury it’s something that I’ll never forget.”

McCarthy said he learned how to deal with adversity and to never give up. “Through it all I learned to be thankful for the opportunity just to be out there.”

mollica@vindy.com