It was only a few weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, when a meeting was held to decide whether to continue playing the upcoming National Public Safety Football League season in the wake of the tragedy.

It was a no-brainer for the New York City Fire Department football team, The Bravest. In a unanimous decision, it decided to play the 2002 season after losing 22 former and active members of The Bravest in the attacks of Sept. 11.

"Everybody wanted to play," said Tom Narducci, a six-year veteran. "Everyone wanted to play for the guys we lost ... to get all the guys together was great and see guys who you hadn't seen in a while. But not to see the guys you were used to seeing when we had meetings, it was a little tough."

The members of The Bravest spent the weekend in State College at Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, and took part in a charity barbecue on Saturday afternoon. The proceeds from the barbecue went to the Alpha Ambulance. The Bravest was also recognized at a pregame ceremony before the Penn State and Nebraska football game Saturday night.

Pudgie Walsh, the founder of The Bravest and head coach for the first 29 years, started recruiting firefighters to replace those who were lost. At the start of the season, The Bravest's roster consisted of 120 players, but it dwindled down to 65 by mid-season. The team had approximately 30 new faces on the squad this year.

"When you put the call out at the fire department everyone comes down, that's just the way it is," said Todd Bilgore, first-year cornerback. "When you need something done everyone comes together, like a brotherhood."

The events of Sept. 11 did not prompt all the new members to join The Bravest, as other factors played a role.

"I planned on joining when I first got on the job, but didn't want to play while I was on probation," said Spencer Moroney, first-year defensive end. "I was playing regardless, and when this happened it was an easy decision."

The Bravest plays a five-game regular season with a few pre-season games against semi-pro football teams. FDNY opened the pre-season against the Kings Bay Knights, where Tom Cullen, who was lost in the attacks, previously played.

Cullen's family was in attendance and his brother was playing defensive line for the Knights.

"The first game was the toughest for everyone," Narducci said. "The first time we were back on the field, and seeing Tom's dad."

The first touchdown of the game was scored when Joe Harris, who played for the Bravest before taking a leave and returning this season, threw a touchdown to Brian O'Neill, who was wearing the No. 3 jersey previously worn by Cullen.

Cullen, who was of the seven active members of The Bravest who were lost, leaves behind his wife, Sue, and his two-year-old son, Tom. He was one of the two quarterbacks for The Bravest in 2001. The other quarterback was Patrick Lyons, who was also lost in the attacks of the World Trade Center. Lyons left behind his wife and a newborn son, who was born shortly after Sept. 11.

The two leaders of the offense ran the team in two totally different ways.

"Tom was funny, that's the difference between Tommy and Patty," Narducci said. "Tom was quiet and reserved and would ask questions. Patty was boisterous and would tell you what to do."

With the loss of the its two quarterbacks, The Bravest opened the regular season without a starting quarterback, and went with a quarterback by committee. There were no ill effects in its opener against South Bay in San Diego, as The Bravest rolled to an easy victory,26-0.

In the second game, The Bravest dropped a 14-12 decision to the Orlando Guardians. The Bravest bounced back to defeat Orange County California Lawmen 3-0, and improved its record to 3-1, after defeating New York Corrections 24-0.

The Bravest entered its final game against NYPD, The Finest, attempting to break an eight-game losing streak. This game is a rivalry that can compare with the likes of Army and Navy, Narducci said.

The Finest came out on top as it had in the previous eight seasons, 10-3, en route to the National Public Safety Football League Championship.

"Always the same, we want to beat them," Narducci said. "With the 22 guys and now without the 22 guys, we want to beat them. The meaning is still the same, nothing changes."