JoeRestic Jr.

You would expect a Father to take more of an interest in his son's activities. The boy had been a football standout at Milford High School and then later at Notre Dame, in all over 80 games, but the father had only seen four of the contests. Was it lack of interest, a bad relationship.

Quite the contrary. There was one persistent problem. Every Saturday that Joe Restic Jr. put on the pads. Joe Restic Sr. had his own game to worry about.

This Sunday, the coach was able to chalk up number five at Boston University's Nickerson Field where Joe played safety in his third game for the Boston Breakers of the new United States Football League (USFL). And helping the home team edge the Washington Federals. 19-16. Joe Jr, also impressed his dad.

The coach is thrilled with his son's progress but says that if he had it to do over again, he would have taken a sabbatical from his Harvard coaching duties in 1978 to watch his son's senior year at Notre Dame.

But while it has been football that has kept the Restics from seeing each other playing and coaching, the person who should know, mother Marian Restic, believes that in reality the sport has brought them closer together.

"They have always been close, but, they have developed great respect for each other's football abilities." Marian says.

However, when it was time for Joe Jr. to make a decision on college, his parents wanted him to go away.

Coach Restic says that it was completely his son's choice in sifting through many college offers--a list that Joe Jr. narrowed down to Harvard and Notre Dame. But the coach did not think that it would have been a wise move for Joe to spend four years in Cambridge.

"He made the right decision going to Notre Dame because being the coach's son is very, very awkward." Restic says, adding. "I don't think he would have been able to share the total squad experience Everyone else on the team knows that whatever happens, it will get back to the coach I wouldn't have Joe isolated and separated for four years"

Joe says he was not hesitant about coming to Harvard and that his decision to attend Notre Dame had nothing to do with his father's coaching job "I think if you deserve a position then no one can complain about favoritism, and there wouldn't be any problems," he says But in the end. Joe felt that he could get a solid education in South Bend while playing for a national collegiate football powerhouse, one which captured the mythical national championship in his sophomore year.

But there was a certain pressure on him to perform well because he was the son of a prominent coach. "Outsiders sometimes put a lot of pressure on me, because they think that the sons of coaches should be good football players," he explains. But he says that his father never put pressure on him to play football.

"I did not encourage him, but I supported him." Joe Sr. comments.

Joe Yonto, the former Notre Dame defensive coordinator and the man who recruited Joe for the Fighting Irish, thinks that the elder Restic's influence was a major plus in Joe Jr.'s training.

"I think he had an advantage being around a man like his father and was better prepared in many ways than most other kids I recruit," Yonto says.

To understand how important that education was to the Junior Restic, one should look at Joe's casual part-time avocation dentistry. He was a pre-med at Notre Dame and decided to go into dentistry because it would be easier to study while trying to pursue a professional football career He is now three semesters of clinical training at the University of Pennsylvania away from adding a DDS to his list of accomplishments. He will complete his degree in the off season

I just hope that I am not as tough on my patients as I try to be on wide receivers, he comments

Though Joe is now well-ensconced in a starting position with the Breakers and is playing outstandingly according to Breaker defensive coordinator Doug Kay it is only recently that he has had such success in the pro ranks Restic just missed making the National Football League's Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams. He says that in the last few years he has gotten some feelers from other clubs but that he had planned on pursuing a career with artificial teeth instead of turf.

Late last year, when the Breakers drafted Joe, he felt that if his education could be worked around the season it would he worth a try. Restic says that "it is icing on the cake" to play in his home area and in front of his family, which includes two sisters and a brother.

Defensive Coordinator Kay says that he has been especially impressed by Joe's "functional intellect" on the field Restic credits much of his success on the gridiron to his father's help in the backyard. "He gave me a deeper understanding of the game, made me a smarter football player," the younger Joe comments.

However, that communication was a two-way street and for all the advice that went from senior to junior. Joe would also help his dad deal with his players.

"Until I saw what the strains were on Joe with a pre-med schedule and football. I didn't know what players go through." Coach Restic says, adding.

"You think you know, but you're not even close."

As far as his immediate future. Joe Jr. is happy in Boston living at home splitting the year between pigskins and human gums. He is optimistic about the USH's future and comments that based on his experiences in NH training camps." There really is no dropoff in play."

It seems to be a perfect situation for Joe and his family His dad, who can finally watch him play, says. "I'm pleased that he is playing here. The opportunity that I missed sort of comes back."