Wagner College Athletics

Al Palladino played an integral role in helping lead the 1960 Seahawks to a perfect 9-0 record, their first-ever undefeated season, which kicked off one of the greatest eras in Wagner football history. While serving as a co-captain in 1959, he helped lead Wagner to a 6-2 record which was the Seahawks' first winning mark in nine seasons and began a stretch of six straight non-losing seasons. After transfering from Wake Forest, Palladino became a three-year starter who played both offense (guard) and defense (linebacker) on Grymes Hill. The physical 5'9" Palladino was regarded as a dominant and aggressive two-way player throughout his career. "Alfie was our leader, he was always in the bottom of the pile near the ball," said teammate John Campi ('62). "His play was not measured in flash and dash. He is more effectively measured in bams and thuds. He was a 6'3" fearless pulling guard stuffed into a 5'9" highly-motivated, tenacious body." A standout player at nearby Curtis High School, Palladino served as a member of the Wagner Board of Trustees for 24 years, co-chairing and participating in the Wagner College Investment Committee, as well as supporting the Touchdown Club and the Hugh L. Carey Institute for Government Reform. A past honoree of Wagner College's DaVinci Society, Palladino and his wife Christine, a Wagner alumna, were named John "Bunny" Barbes '39 and Lila T. Barbes '40 Wagner Alumni Laureates for their service to Wagner College in 2015.