Colella grew up in Albion, New York, and played three sports at the city's Charles D'Amico High School.

[1] He returned a kickoff for a touchdown and kicked two extra points in a Canisius Golden Griffins win over the then-undefeated Long Island Blackbirds in 1940.

[4] The Cleveland Browns, a new team under formation in the All-America Football Conference, signed Colella soon after the 1945 season ended.

[5] He was among five players who joined the Browns when the Rams moved to Los Angeles before the 1946 season; the others were Chet Adams, Don Greenwood, Mike Scarry and Gaylon Smith.

[7] Cleveland coach Paul Brown said in 1948 that Colella provided "the type of punt we want against such dangerous receivers as the Rockets and Buffalo Bills have.