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The best of...MU football game notes
From Greg (Do I want to watch MU vs. Seton Hall or Eagles vs. Carolina Monday night?) Viscomi MONMOUTH AGAINST THE PFL... The Monmouth University football team is 1-2 all-time against teams from the Pioneer Football League. Although the Hawks have never faced San Diego, whom they take on in the inaugural Gridiron Classic, they have played Jacksonville and Dayton, who they’ve taken on twice. The Hawks lost the only game in which they’ve hosted a team from the PFL, dropping a 27-14 decision to Dayton on November 5, 1998. They lost at Dayton the previous year by a score of 51-16. Most recently, Monmouth traveled to and defeated Jacksonville 32-28 on November 18, 2000. How come I didn't make this trip? About San Diego Head Coach: San Diego is headed up by third-year head coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh, a two-time PFL Coach of the Year selection, owns a 28-6 record. He has coached the Toreros to a No. 16 national ranking and a 10-1 record. Harbaugh played 15 seasons in the NFL and was a four-year letterwinner as a quaterback at the University of Michigan. He also coached in the NFL under current Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden, while he was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders. My comment: Kevin Callahan coached under....Walt Hamline! Offense: The Toreros sport one of the best offenses in college football at any level, ranking first in the nation scoring (44.2 ppg), total offense (509.7 ypg), passing offense (303.6 ypg) and third down conversion percentage (59.3 %). They are more than just a passing offense, as they sport a balanced offensive attack, also ranking 14th nationally in rushing offense (206 ypg). San Diego is led by their dual-threat quarterback Josh Johnson, who leads the nation in passing efficiency (174.8 passer rating) and total offense (341.5 ypg), while throwing for 34 touchdowns and running for 11 more. His favorite targets are Ben Hannula (54 catches, 536 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Wes Doyle (48 catches, 856 yards, 11 touchdowns), while his main deep-threat in John Matthews (27 catches, 578 yards, 7 touchdowns, 21.4 ypc). Johnson is second on the team in rushing (616 yards) behind JT Rogan, who has rushed for 992 yards and 12 scores on the year. For as good as the offense has been, they have also been efficient, only turning the ball over seven times all season. My comment: Should MU even bother to show up? Defense: For all the publicity head coach Jim Harbaugh and the Torero offense has received, their defense has also been solid all season long, ranking 17th in the nation in total defense (274.1 ypg) and fifth in scoring defense, only allowing 13.5 points per game. They have also intercepted 14 passes, good enough for 17th in the country, just one pick behind the Hawks 15. They only give up 110 yards on the ground, good enough for 14th in the country. They are led defensively by linebacker Kyson Hawkins, who leads the team with 68 tackles. Defensive end Eric Bakhtiari ranks in the top-10 in the country with 19 tackles for loss and leads the team with five sacks. The Toreros fly to the football as a team, as 20 different players have at least 10 tackles, and eight have intercepted passes. My comment - They haven't exactly been playing Ohio State. Of course..neither has MU Special Teams: San Diego’s special teams have also held up their end of the bargain and then some, as they rank in the top 10 in the nation in kickoff return average as their 22.8 yard per return average lands them in 8th. Running back JT Rogan leads the team with 347 yards on 12 returns, good enough for a 28.9 ypr average, including a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. They also limit the opposition to only 17.1 yards per kickoff return, good enough for 17th nationally. They place fifth in the country in punt return defense, holding the opposition to a meager 3.71 yards per return. My comment: MikePizzulli and Andrew Mandeville have to hold up their end for MU Notes MU is one of seven teams in I-AA to have 10 wins on the season and is the only team to record all of it’s wins against I-AA opponents. • Monmouth is 10-0 when leading or tied going into halftime this season. MU’s only loss came against Stony Brook, who led 29-0 at the halfway point. • MU sack leader Erik Yngstrom needs 2.5 sacks to tie former Hawk Jason Gmitter in career sacks with 25.5. Yngstrom currently has 23 career sacks including four in 2006. • 2006 is the third time in four years that the Hawks have won the NEC Championship. It was the fifth NEC title for MU, but this is the first time they have not had to share it with another team. Also: Adam San Miguel needs eight receptions to tie some guy named Miles Austin for the all time MU lead. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
MU football offensive line story for Friday paper
By TONY GRAHAM STAFF WRITER WEST LONG BRANCH - It's the game within the game fans almost never see. When Monmouth University tailback David Sinisi runs for daylight or Brian Boland drills the ball over the middle to Adam San Miguel, somewhere back along the line of scrimmage, removed from the attention of the rooters, center Tom Mauro or tackle Matt Connolly are probably slowly rising from the turf. The Sinisi run or Boland completion means the offensive line has accomplished its mission. ""I love the position because there's always hitting,'' said Mauro, a fifth- year senior graduate of Middletown South High School. ""We don't get a lot of recognition but, to me, when someone gets a 100-yard game, that's a good enough recognition for me. ""It's fun just banging down in the trenches with these guys,'' Connolly said. ""When somebody scores we know we did our job.'' The veteran offensive line of Monmouth (10-1) will be hoping to "do the job" again Saturday when the Northeast Conference champion Hawks (10-1) host the No. 16 University of San Diego, champions of the Pioneer League, in the first Gridiron Classic. The game was arranged last winter by the leagues to assure their respective champions would participate in the post season. ""When you put somebody on their back or you see one of these guys make a good block it's a lot of fun,'' said Connolly. ""Early in the year when Sinisi got his first 100-yard game it really got us all excited,'' said Mauro. ""That's what keeps us striving.'' Striving for the Hawks this season have been Mauro and Connolly, guards Bob Skellenger and Jonathon Dunn, and tackle Nick LoCastro, the lone non-senior on the line. Connolly and Dunn were named All-NEC First team helping fellow all-NEC first teamer Boland, who engineered the league's second-highest scoring offense. They've paid the price to succeed. ""You get banged up,'' said Mauro. "I've had two knee surgeries, Matt has had a couple of surgeries, our hands are always messed up. But that's just part of the game.'' ""Having a fifth-year senior (Mauro) who has started for four years has really helped us,'' said Brian Gabriel, Monmouth offensive line coach. Mauro moved from guard to center replacing last year's fifth year senior John Castoro. "I think physically we've done a great job this year,'' said Gabriel."" Matt Connolly has battled though some injuries but has played very well. ""Nick LoCastro as a young player on the left side has been a very good football player, Jon Dunn has really developed as an All-League selection, a big physical guy who can push people around and he protects very well. It's been a nice bonus as to how good he's gotten."" ""We definitely have a lot of experience on the "O" line,'' said Boland. ""They've done an outstanding job opening up holes for running backs, and protecting me. They've been playing real well collectively as a group.'' Monmouth's line appears to have a size advantage over the defensive line of the Toreros. ""They move around quite well but it's nothing we haven't seen,'' said Mauro. ""In our conference we've been lucky in that we've gone against some tremendous "D" lines. It really has helped us prepare for this. ""I don't think there's anything they could do that's something we haven't seen before.'' Saturday will offer some nostalgia to Mauro and Monmouth's other seniors. ""This is my last game,'' he said. "'My goal, before the year, was to end the season at Kessler Field. ""This is it, the last time I'll ever put the pads on, the last time my family will ever watch me. It's pretty exciting.'' How Monmouth plays Saturday may well be judged on the performances of Boland and the Monmouth defense as it tries to contain explosive USD quarterback Josh Johnson. But deep in the trenches with Monmouth's offensive line, often obscured from view from the stands, is where the outcome could be decided. ""That's just how it is,'' said Boland. ""Those are the guys that usually do all the work. They just don't usually get the credit for it.'' e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Rider-MU post game comments
Here's the place... e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Upcoming MU football coverage in the Asbury Park Press
For those of you who have been requesting a story on the MU O line....we aim to please (sometimes). ..it runs Friday. For Saturday - game advance...For Sunday - game coverage via myself and Steve Edleson...For sometime next week - season wrap up and look ahead to 2007... Any time - recruiting news involving verbal commitments - especially from Shore Conference players. I can't beleive the season is almost over! e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
MU vs. Rider predictons
Please post your predictions on this blog. As for me: MU had a spirited practice Wednesday which included Bunch who is expected to be a "go" for the game. I believe MU will come out more fired up and determined than in recent games and lead a good part of the night. But they're going to need something from the Bunch/Hallett combination. MU is getting around 10 points off the bench this year and half of that from Jhamar Youngbloood. Last year it got about 20 ppg from its reserves. It may play its "you now what off" on defense but it's going to need some fire power, also, to beat Rider. It's not going to win 51-50 as it did over SPC. It's a ""winnable" game but I don't see the Hawks having quite enough to win it unless one or two players produce performances beyond what they have shown most of the season...... Rider, 68-62. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
WMCX
This came in as a comment..so I am posting it to make sure everyone who cares, sees it. Anonymous said... If anyone would like to discuss the Penn Vs. Monmouth WMCX broadcast, I can be reached at 732-263-5254 or at afurgaso@monmouth.edu Aaron Furgason WMCX advisor My thoughts: He's the WMCX boss folks. If you have any further thoughts, pro or con, about WMCX sports casts, talk to him. I am not commenting further on WMCX. They are students who are learning. It's not their fault they are the only media outlet for MU athletics.
MU women's hoops
They host Lehigh tonight. Should be a toss-up game for the Hawks (3-2). Anyone care to comment pre or post game, this is the place. Thank you. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
No fun at the "Zoo?"
Monmouth is 2-10 all time vs. Rider at the Zoo..last winning in 1996....Note how well balanced Rider is with a decent assist to turnover ratio. As we speak Bunch is "probable" per Dave for Thursday. Rickie Crews (class) will not make the trip. The home team had won seven in a row and nine of 10 until Rider prevailed at Boylan Gym last season. Rider (4-1) Nov 18 @Boston U. Won 66-60 1-1 Nov 21 @Delaware Won 77-67 2-1 Nov 25 Northeastern Won 70-69 3-1 Nov 27 Drexel Won 89-81 4-1 Nov 30 Monmouth I hope these are readable..if not I won't run this any more... SUMMARY GP-GS Min FG% 3PT% FT% R/G A/G STL BLK PTS/G ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 01 Thompson, Jason..... 5-5 34.6 .525 .167 .769 9.6 3.8 3 11 19.0 02 Warner, Kamron...... 2-1 9.0 .333 .333 .000 0.5 0.0 0 0 1.5 03 Green, Joel......... 5-5 28.4 .353 .143 .727 3.0 0.0 1 6 6.6 05 Thompson, Ryan...... 5-4 29.8 .469 .400 .875 4.4 2.4 3 1 8.2 11 Hickman, Kevin...... 3-0 2.0 .000 .000 .000 0.0 0.0 0 0 0.0 13 Johnson, Lamar...... 5-0 21.6 .450 .467 1.000 1.2 0.6 4 0 5.4 22 Mouton, Terrance.... 5-5 35.8 .429 .238 .611 3.2 4.4 6 0 11.6 32 Mansell, Harris..... 5-5 33.6 .558 .636 .679 7.4 1.4 4 0 16.2 33 Myers, Robbie....... 5-0 3.2 .000 .000 .000 0.2 0.2 0 0 0.0 44 Vosilla, Kevin...... 5-0 13.2 .538 .000 .333 3.2 0.8 0 1 3.2 TM TEAM................ 5-0 0.0 .000 .000 .000 1.8 0.0 0 0 0.0 Total............... 5 .473 .388 .705 34.2 13.6 21 19 70.8 Opponents........... 5 .403 .333 .696 35.2 13.6 35 11 68.0 SCORING GP FG-FGA FG% 3FG-FGA 3PT% FT-FTA FT% PTS PTS/G -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thompson, Jason..... 5 32-61 .525 1-6 .167 30-39 .769 95 19.0 Warner, Kamron...... 2 1-3 .333 1-3 .333 0-0 .000 3 1.5 Green, Joel......... 5 12-34 .353 1-7 .143 8-11 .727 33 6.6 Thompson, Ryan...... 5 15-32 .469 4-10 .400 7-8 .875 41 8.2 Hickman, Kevin...... 3 0-1 .000 0-0 .000 0-0 .000 0 0.0 Johnson, Lamar...... 5 9-20 .450 7-15 .467 2-2 1.000 27 5.4 Mouton, Terrance.... 5 21-49 .429 5-21 .238 11-18 .611 58 11.6 Mansell, Harris..... 5 24-43 .558 14-22 .636 19-28 .679 81 16.2 Myers, Robbie....... 5 0-0 .000 0-0 .000 0-0 .000 0 0.0 Vosilla, Kevin...... 5 7-13 .538 0-1 .000 2-6 .333 16 3.2 Total............... 5 121-256 .473 33-85 .388 79-112 .705 354 70.8 Opponents........... 5 124-308 .403 37-111 .333 55-79 .696 340 68.0 REBOUNDS TOTALS GP MIN OFF DEF TOT PF FO A TO A/TO HI ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thompson, Jason..... 5 173 8 40 48 17 1 19 19 1.0 27 Warner, Kamron...... 2 18 0 1 1 4 0 0 1 0.0 3 Green, Joel......... 5 142 4 11 15 11 0 0 7 0.0 15 Thompson, Ryan...... 5 149 5 17 22 11 0 12 4 3.0 16 Hickman, Kevin...... 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.0 0 Johnson, Lamar...... 5 108 0 6 6 7 0 3 4 0.8 12 Mouton, Terrance.... 5 179 3 13 16 14 1 22 19 1.2 18 Mansell, Harris..... 5 168 6 31 37 12 0 7 13 0.5 20 Myers, Robbie....... 5 16 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1.0 0 Vosilla, Kevin...... 5 66 8 8 16 7 0 4 5 0.8 6 Total............... 5 1025 36 135 171 83 2 68 74 0.9 89 Opponents........... 5 1025 63 113 176 95 - 68 67 1.0 81
MU vs. USD pre-game comments, predictions
Time to get the ball rolling on this....here is a comment sent to the Callahan story and I moved it over here: Attached from today's Sportsnetwork; they've got Monmouth as the underdog (what else is new?). Also is the game a sellout yet? .... answer 1,700 tickets already sold...more pre-game than any other this year...Tickets are on sale now until game day at the athletic office: for phone orders or personal pick or other info up pls call 732-263-5190.... GRIDIRON CLASSIC No. 16 San Diego (10-1) at Monmouth (10-1), 12:00 San Diego has lived a charmed life in the Mid-Major rankings for the past two seasons. They have often earned the unanimous No. 1 nod in the Mid-Major top 10, and emerged as a dominating team in the ranks. But they still have to prove it by going to Monmouth and beating the Hawks, and that will present one of their most difficult matchups of the season. Monmouth’s defense figures to provide a good test for the San Diego offense, with Matt Hill (74 TT, 3 INT) and Mike Castellano (64 TT, 3 INT) leading a unit that leads the nation with 11.4 points per game allowed and is among the national leaders with 26 takeaways. The Hawks aren’t that bad on offense either, with Brian Boland (2208 yards, 14 TD/7 INT) completing 65 percent of his passes to provide solid play at quarterback and running back David Sinisi (716 yards, 12 TD) finding the endzone consistently. They will provide a test to a San Diego team that took a bit of a step back with a 37-27 loss at UC Davis last week. The Toreros acquitted themselves well against a very good Aggie team, but they struggled on defense against a very potent offense. Monmouth doesn’t possess the same type of firepower, but the Hawks are able to run and pass the ball and should do better than most teams the Toreros faced in a soft regular season schedule. The Hawks defense can keep them in the game too, but they haven’t faced an offense with San Diego’s explosiveness. Quarterback Josh Johnson (3140 yards, 34 TD/4 INT) has completed 67 percent of his passes and has also run for 616 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is among the top quarterbacks in I-AA/FCS, and had that status affirmed with a sixth place finish in the Walter Payton Award voting. The Toreros are scoring 44.3 points per game, and have the firepower to finally break through a tough Monmouth defense. A favorable weather forecast is a nice boost for San Diego, and the Toreros’ offense should be too much for the Hawks to keep up with. San Diego scores in the high 20 or low 30s to win the inaugural Gridiron Classic. Prediction: San Diego 31, Monmouth 17 e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Let's put this in perspective
Like it or not MU's men's hoops record remains "on schedule." They won the games (barely) they figured to have the best shot at winning so far (Ark State, SPC) and missed a chance to steal one at Houston.. They weren't going to beat Penn even with Bunch. They do have more problems than I envisoned:depth, post play, turnovers, but even the TOs vs. Penn 17 or 18 weren' t awful but were compounded by lack of assists and being over matched on the glass..(yeh, Bunch would have helped but how much?) Now comes Rider....to me this was a toss-up game - winnnable but still very much in doubt. Preseason I thought 4-6 wins in non-conference games. That still holds. I had thought back in Sept-Oct. this would be an MU team that could play at the "next level". I was wrong. I also envisioned Bunch being more of a factor and Crews and Simpson at least contributing and maybe even Barlow. There is still time and room for this team to get better. I may have addressed this before but I guess the good news is they're "on schedule". That's also the bad news. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
MU football story on coach Callahan for Wednesday paper
..There's supposed to be picture (s) and I submitted a year-by-year MU record chart to run with this: "My goal, personally, is that some day we have the full compliment of scholarships that every 1-AA team in the nation has. ""I truly believe when we get to that point we'll be able to compete with anybody in the nation.' - Monmouth University football coach Kevin Callahan' By TONY GRAHAM STAFF WRITER It was a sight never before witnessed. There, on the Stonehill College, Mass. football field on the sunny Saturday afternoon of Sept. 11, 1993 a Monmouth University football team was going through pre-game calisthenics. ""You're nervous, excited, anxious to get that first game over with, to get on the field and get started,"" said Joe Little, a Middletown South graduate. That afternoon, then Monmouth rookie coach Kevin Callahan sent Little's 5-9, 180 pound freshman frame into action at linebacker. Little, about five inches smaller and around 50 pounds lighter than most of today's linebacking group, said the Monmouth players sensed the significance of the moment. ""You knew it was going to be history,'' he said. That first under sized Monmouth team of mainly freshmen went 2-5 vs. a mixture of Division I-AA and Division III opposition few fans were familiar with, Now fast forward 14 years. Last Sunday at Kessler Field Dallas Cowboy rookie Miles Austin, the first National Football League player to have worn a Monmouth uniform, was addressing the 2006 Northeast Conference champions. Callahan said Austin's appearance as a member of the Cowboys is an indication of the program's progress. "In 1993 our goal was to, plain and simple, field a football team,'' said Callahan. Saturday the goal for the Hawks (10-1), NEC champions three of the last four years, will be to defeat the No. 16 1-AA football team in the country when the University of San Diego (10-1) visits Kessler Field in the first Gridiron Football Classic matching the NEC and Pioneer League champions. ""It was nice having him (Austin) take the time to come over and wish us good luck,'' said Monmouth senior Brian Boland, the Hawks record setting senior quarterback, a graduate of Brick Memorial High School. ""He just said to go out there and give it everything we've got to bring this one home.'' From playing Stonehill, Hartwick, and Albright in 1993, Monmouth this season defeated Fordham and Colgate of the Patriot League and will play next season at Lafayette of the Patriot League and Delaware of the Atlantic-10. That's a far cry from when he arrived in West Long Branch after serving in assistant roles at Wagner, Colgate, Syracuse, and Albany. Where Kessler Field sits now existed a soccer field with seating for about 50-100, ringed by a track. But even then Callahan said he was thinking football in the long term. ""I felt Monmouth, the University, the athletic program, had a tremendous amount of potential,'' said Callahan. ""The biggest challenge early on was to get the program off the grounds and get it started and to build a program that would be lasting for the future.'' Bob Generelli, football coach at Raritan High School and a former Monmouth assistant, said Callahan's construction blue print for Monmouth has been one of tremendous detail. ""And tremendous organization and tremendous integrity,'' said Generelli who has coached NJSIAA sectional championship teams at Raritan and Middletown South. ""He does it the right way,'' said Generelli. ""It's not about transfers, it's not about short cuts, it's about hard work, a great conditiong program, about monitoring the academics of his kids. ""It's about great defense, special teams, the corner stone of any championship program."" And it's about relationships with his players. Fifth-year senior corner back David Jiles said Callahan seemed to know he was dealing with some personal issues early last year. ""He saw that I was down, he just read me, like he just knew,'' said Jiles. "I tell him this all the time,' I think you're my second Dad.' Jiles said he never thought twice about not returning for his fifth year of eligibility. ""I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing I had an extra year of playing football for Monmouth and didn't take it,''Jiles said. ""I think the kids are proud to wear the Monmouth helmet,'' said Generelli. Now some of those donning Monmouth helmets have been awarded football scholarship money for the first time. Callahan said the advent of scholarships in the Northeast Conference last year signaled a significant step forward for the Hawks. ""It was a boost to the program, really got it going in a new direction to a higher level,'' he said. NEC teams are allowed to offer the equivalent of 30 full rides in football, just less than half the number allowed in 1-AA football by the NCAA. ""As we continue to improve facilities here that are in the plans right now, as we continue to increase scholarships, the program will continue to grow,'' said Callahan. Recruiting guru Chris Melvin of www.ELITERECRUITS.com, said Monmouth is traveleng a path similar to Rutgers, albeit on a different level. ""Coach Callahan has instilled a great reputation in the minds of many of the better football recruits - not just in the Jersey Shore - but throughout the entire state,'' said Melvin. ""With a 10-1 record - things will only get better for coach Callahan and the Monmouth Hawks from the recruiting standpoint leading to successful seasons year in and out." Said Callahan, "My goal, personally, is that some day we have the full compliment of scholarships that every 1-AA team in the nation has. ""I truly believe when we get to that point we'll be able to compete with anybody in the nation.'' That's a long way from 1993 when Little returned a blocked extra point at Stone Hill the first two points in Monmouth history and from when Randy Brewster kicked a last minute field goal to down Sr. Peter's for the first Monmouth victory. ""There was so much relief,'' said Little of the first Monmouth victory. "" ""What a great feeling.'' There have been quite a few since, and Callahan believes, more to come. e-mail tonygsports@aopl.com
OUR MU hoops story for Wednesday/w Calloway comments
The Monmouth University men's basketball had no answer for senior Mark Zoller of Penn Tuesday night. The 6-7 Zoller scored 29 points on 12-of-16 shooting as Penn whipped Monmouth 80-66 at the University of Pennsylvania Palestra in Philadelphia. The Hawks (2-5) who played who played without 7-2 shot deterrent John Bunch (sore knees), were outrebounded 39-27 and committed 18 turnovers with 12 assists. Penn (5-2) had 26 assists on 34 baskets and committed just 12 turnovers. Monmouth coach Dave Calloway said more will be known about Bunch's status for Thursday's game at Rider (4-2) later Wednesday. ""Sure he would have helped (against Penn),'' said Calloway. ""But I don't think we can be blaming it (the defeat) on that. ""We're not beating many teams when we give up 80 points, when they out rebound us by 12, or we have 18 turnovers.'' Trailing by 12 points in the first half Monmouth got within 43-40 early in the second on a layup and three-point play by senior Marqes Alston who led Monmouth with 23 points and grabbed four rebounds. . But Zoller hit a 3 and scored eight points in a row to start a 15-3 Penn run and Monmouth was never able to reduce the lead below double figures. ""The second half we started out all right, Marques got it going a little bit,'' said Calloway. ""But we were small and just didn't do enough. It was most disappointing on the defensive end in particular.'' Calloway cleared the bench in the final minutes as Penn built a 78-61 lead with 2:09 remaining. Senior Dejan Delic and rookie Jhamar Youngblood each added 10 points for Monmouth. Zoller also grabbed 11 rebounds while 6-4 junior guard Brian Grandieri added 19 points for the Quakers and reigning Ivy league Player of the Year Ibrahim Jaaber notched 10 assists and six steals. The defeat dropped Monmouth to an overall record of 1-22 vs. Phialdelphia Division I schools. Monmouth's lone win was 81-60 Nov 30,1999 over Drexel at Boylan Gym. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com -
Comment on Penn game here
Whether you go, listen, or just want to talk about it, this would be the place. I was unable to attend myself, but I will be doing a Press story for Wednesday and talking to Dave after the game. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
MU hoops news
Went to MU men's hoop practice for about an hour today. They didn't look great, too many turnovers, didn't shoot well. Here is the news today: John Bunch (knees) did not practice. Dave said he is "doubtful" for the Penn game. . He might play, but is doubtful. More likely to play Thursday at Rider. Rickie Crews continues to practice...but .will not make the trip to Penn as Dave will not allow him to miss any classes. Dave said he (Crews) might have played at Penn with Bunch out. Don't know about Crews' availability for Rider. Crews will not be red-shirted. Monmouth fans should have real concerns about the center position. If Bunch is too hobbled to play effectively and Corey doesn't snap out of it, this team will not win the NEC. It will not get by Robert Morris and who knows who else if it can't rebound and show something inside maybe besides Marques. I have changed my mind on Sean Barlow. From what I see I don't know that he'll ever help to any extent, in my opinion. Dave told me he plans to employ more of the three-guard set. Also look for Nunner and or Simpson to get some more time. FDU beat St. Peter's tonight by 20. Really, is SPC any better than a mid level NEC team? Rider outscored Drexel in OT. My pick for the Penn game: Penn, 73-59 MU could definitely go winless on this road trip. Of course, I have been known to be wrong. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
MU football vs. San Diego
While we will be running stories in the Press pertaining to game every day beginning Tuesday and I will post key game notes later in the week, thought folks way want to begin talking about it now. So this would be the place to do it until perhaps later in the week. Please for now g-o to the USD web site for the latest info about their team. Even though USD lost Saturday it was to a full 63-scholarship 1-AA team. Basically this game is for the 1-AA "Mid Major"" championship but also seems to represent MU's first legit shot at a 1-AA National Top 25 Ranking. What might be keys to the game, what kind of crowd to you expect, anyone traveling a long distance to the game??..how emotional is this game for anyone??etc. etc. etc.???? e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
A busy week looms
As I mentioned earlier I have MU football, M & W hoops, and high school football duties this week as well. Soo..I may not get to the blog quite as often as usual. But I will post when I can and all comments will be read. Thanks again for your understanding. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
MU hits the road again. How many (any?) do they win this time?
MU wins how many of these next three games? Upcoming road games for MU men's hoops: Tuesday at Penn (3-2) Date Opp. Result Record Nov 10 @UTEP Lost 66-69 0-1 Nov 11 @Syracuse Lost 60-78 0-2 Nov 12 @St. Francis (N.Y.) Won 86-56 1-2 Nov 18 Fla Gulf Coast Won 97-74 2-2 Nov 21 Drexel Won 68-49 3-2 Nov 28 Monmouth Thursday at Rider (3-1)..plays Drexel tonight... Nov 14 @NJ Tech Lost 52-63 0-1 Nov 18 @Boston U. Won 66-60 1-1 Nov 21 @Delaware Won 77-67 2-1 Nov 25 Northeastern Won 70-69 3-1 Nov 27 Drexel Next Monday at Seton Hall (2-1) Nov 11 Caldwell College Won 91-52 1-0 Nov 18 Fair. Dickinson Lost 71-76 1-1 Nov 25 @Morgan St. Won 83-63 2-1 Nov 27 St. Peter´s Dec 2 St. Mary´s (Ca.) Dec 4 Monmouth e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Three part question and answers
A blogger sent to a prior blog a comment and asked questions about..the history of Dave playing MU freshmen, and questions about Jahmar, and Rickie. I thought all three were excellent questions and deserved their own blog and comments which I also posted in the comments section. But here again, for those who may have missed at, are the questions and my thoughts - Question 1: Has a freshman ever been given 30+ minutes a game by dave calloway? R. Johnson maybe? My answer: If you remember back in the record losing streak in the late 90's, Dave started five freshman for a while ..since then.. Rahsaan ..who came to MU as a sophomore.. started almost every game (barring disciplinary issues!)... I remember MU started Cameron Milton in that season opener at Princeton..then Rahsaan came in and nearly won the game..and started almost every game there after... After that there have been only three I recall..Kevin Owens and Tyler Azzerlli started much of their freshman years and you may add Whitney Coleman who started 17 games last year due to injuries (Azzarelli) and those suspensions..players like Chris Kenny and Marques Alston.. they played in almost every game as freshmen but were not starters... Question 2 If not, do you think that would be a bad idea with youngblood if this team doesn't turn things around after the next game? A lot of people are saying this kid's a star in the making, but if you're 2-4 and have looked as bad as the hawks, cant you just roll the dice and let the kid gain experience with on-court time? My answer: The next game (Penn) may be too short a time table. But the main question is? Do you start Jahmar over Whitney or Shipman? No you do not. They are the "experienced" guys in the back court and future leaders of the team along with Jhamar climbing the "leadership" ladder next season. Jhamar, thru yesterday, was tied with John Bunch for fifth most minutes on the team. He is the first guard off the bench and, I beleive, will continue to see increased playing time as the season progresses especially as MU may, in my opinion, go to more three guard looks, especially against smaller teams. Don't worry. He has been playing and is going to play..a lot. Question 3: Do you have any idea if crews is buying into the system? Lets be honest, is he actually going to leave in your opinion? My answer: I'd say, and this is my opinion only, not based on any "inside" information, that's it's about 50-50, really depending to a large degree on how he fares in class. Dave's plan is to have Rickie with the team, practicing, dressing for home games, and for road games that do not interfere with class at least through the first semester. After these three road games up coming, MU is home until the next semester starts. I know Dave is doing everything he can to keep him eligible. It's really up to Rickie at this point. Does he want to put in the time and effort? Hoepfully, for MU fans and himself, he does. I often think about Alpha Bangura and Andre Williams..those two prize freshmen who left MU. Bangura went to St. John's, left there, and floated around, don't know where he is now. Williams transferred to mighty Cleveland State, played, I guess had an OK career, and the team went nowhere. The facts are..in what would have been their junior years at MU ..Monmouth won the NEC behind Rahsaan. Now..if Rickie can see the future as it could develop: It would be that next year he starts with three very good guards in the rotation, and the red shirt big men rotating in. Rickie has a chance to be a household name at MU as is Blake Hamilton (yes, he could be that good), or leave and who knows what happens? The fact he was on the bench yesterday I guess is a good sign. There is no practice Sunday. I will be at practice Monday for a while and see what's happening. I beleive Rickie is friends with Jhamar who, I feel, would be a good influence on anyone. -- e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
My thoughts
After covering the SPC game MU is not a team ready yet to even take the NEC by storm...or at all. But that's not to say it can't win it all by the time the NEC Tournament rolls around. But it has to improve in any number of areas: depth and the low post to me the most glaring for now. I don't think we got to see MU at full strength today anyway with Delic hampered by foul trouble..which again leads to a lack of depth when something like this happens. Dave talked about Bunch after the game and said it's obvious the young man's knees are a problem. Dave noted Bunch doesn't practice full time because of his knees and is rusty. Said bascially MU is hoping to nurse Bunch though the season. At the moment..well at least today..Bunch is definitely struggling with his offense, though he remains a defensive force. I think MU fans would like to see Corey Hallett become more aggressive offensively. It seems if he misses his first shot or shots he puts his offensive game in storage. He must go to the basket harder in my opinion. He's a senior (fifth year) which makes it ridiculous for me to have to be saying this. I'd like to see Dave give Yaniv Simpson the minutes (slim as they are) that are going to Alex Nunner. Alex is just plain struggling, so let's see what Simpson can do. If he's available, it might be time for Rickie Crews to run with the Blue (first) Team at least in practice, in my opinion. He could, stress could, provide a spark at some point this season. Don't know if he is making the trip to Penn. Steve Edelson has a real good column going Sunday on Jhamar Youngblood. Have to think "The Jet" will fast take off as a crowd favorite. Meanwhile, Ship and Coleman did a capable all around job Saturday and the "Jet" flew smartly under control. . MU, I feel, has a slim to no shot Tuesday at Penn which barely lost to Syracuse and routed Drexel (the CAA favorite and always a tough foe for MU) and SFNY of the NEC. e-mail tonygsports@app.com
Our MU hoops story for Sunday
By TONY GRAHAM STAFF WRITER WEST LONG BRANCH - It was only fitting. In a game in which it's own offense stuttered and sputtered the Monmouth University men's basketball team shut St. Peter's out over the final 3:11 Saturday enabling the Hawks to escape with a 51-50 non-conference victory over the Peacocks. ""We wanted to win by more, but we showed toughness,'' said Monmouth sophomore guard Whitney Coleman who led the Hawks with 17 points and tied his career high with three 3s. With 2.9 seconds showing and Monmouth (2-4) in front by the final score, the inbounds pass in forecourt by guard Quentin Martin of St. Peter's (2-3) sailed over the outstretched arms of 6-10 Corey Hallett of Monmouth and beyond 6-8 Todd Sowell of St.Peter's stationed under the basket. The loose ball was scooped up on the baseline by Tim Spitler of St. Peter's but his eight-footer fell short at the buzzer as the Boylan Gym crowd of 1,955 exhaled with relief. Apparently they had some company in Monmouth's coach. ""It was a win, it wasn't a pretty game,'' said Dave Calloway. ""We've talked about the schedule we've played and that could be better than 2-4,'' said Calloway. ""But we're a few points away from being 0-6,'' he said. ""I'd say that's a cause for some nervousness, signs of concern, very large signs of concern. ""We've got a lot of work to do,'' said Calloway. ""We're playing very good teams but our goals are to get better as a team and get better as a program. Two and four is not very good, I don't care who you're playing."' On the final play Hallett said the Monmouth plan was to keep the ball away from the basket. ""And we had two fouls to give so we were going to use them before anything happened,''said Hallett. ""We got the stop we needed, we won the game.'' ""The big 6-10 (Hallett) made Quentin Martin throw the pass a little off target,'' said John Dunne, first year St. Peter's coach. ""Maybe if he (Martin) wasn't having that kind of pressure he could have delivered it better. It was a little bit of a loose ball, Tim Spitler picked it up and he just didn't make the shot.'' Monmouth trailed by as many as nine points with 7:58 remaining as junior guard Raul Orta went 4-for-4 from downtown and scored 20 points to lead St. Peter's. But the Hawks rallied behind a steal and jam by Coleman and a pair of game tying 3s. Shipman's first trifecta of the season evened the score at 47, and after a Kevin Spann 3 with 3:11 left lifted St. Peter's ahead, Dejan Delic rained in a trey to make it 50-50 with 2:42 showing. After both teams combined to fail on the ensuing five possessions Delic sank the first of two shot foul with 32 seconds left and the Monmouth defense focused in on preventing St. Peter's, which hit nine 3-point baskets, from launching from deep. ""Our whole goal was not to let them get any 3's,'' said Coleman. ""So we wanted to not let them get any perimeter shots off and we did a good job of that.'' With the game clock winding down Dunne called time with 3.7 remaining and Monmouth then intentionally gave the two fouls leading to the final play. But Calloway was not about to leave Boylan Gym overjoyed. ""We've got a ways to go,'' he said. ""If we want to go where we talk about where we want to go, we are not even close.'' NOTES...John Bunch, who blocked six shots, crumpled to floor clutching his knee with 4:30 left but soon rejoined the team on the bench. Calloway said Bunch was available to return to action but elected to stay with a smaller lineup....Shipman had six assists, two turnovers, three steals, and five rebounds. Coleman set a career high with five steals. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Football: San Diego loses..a question for you
Question - Does this take any glint off the Gridiron Classic or do you prefer that USD has lost?? From the AP: DAVIS, Calif. (AP) -Jon Grant completed 25 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns to help UC Davis snap San Diego's 18-game winning streak by beating the Toreros 37-27 on Saturday. Marcus Nolan ran for 167 yards and one touchdown and Tony Kays had 10 catches for 151 yards and one TD for UC Davis (6-5) who clinched its 37th straight winning season. The game was tied at 25 in the second half when Nolan scored on a 2-yard run in the third quarter and receiver Chris Carter's 11-yard run in the fourth at the 6:19 mark gave the Aggies their final points. Josh Johnson passed for 344 yards, two touchdowns, and scored another TD on the ground for San Diego (10-1) who had not lost a game since Sept. 24, 2005 to Princeton. John Matthews and Wes Doyle combined for eight catches and 235 receiving yards for the Toreros. AP NEWS The Associated Press News Service e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Post your comments on SPC game here
Heading out now to Squan/Wall football and then to MU hoops. See you all later! e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Late night blogs
Is there a full moon tonight? Don't get me wrong. I appreciate everyone who blogs in..most comments make excellent to lively conversation, and I truly enjoy discussing MU sports with everyone. But, as I have stated, some comments I just will not run. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
MU football coverage, etc.
For me, personally, this is going to be one of the busiest weeks upcoming I can remember, and involves a big week of MU coverage, with a big chunk of help from APP columnist Steve Edelson. Saturday - by Tony G. Andy Bobik. He didn't make as name for himself as a Colgate linebacker but his defenses at MU are making a name for themselves in the NEC and 1-AA football. Tuesday - Steve Edelson writes on San Diego coach Jim Harbough. Wednesday - By Tony G. Kevin Callahan had a little desk, no office, no field, no team when he started Monmouth football. Now the Hawks are dominating the NEC and are on the rise in 1-AA football. Thursday - Edelson on Josh Johnson, the dynamic USD quarterback. Friday - Tony G on Monmouth football. Subject to be determined. Any nominations? Saturday - Tony G advance on Monmouth-USD game. Sunday - Tony G game coverage, Edelson column. For the following Thursday: Tony G wraps up the season and mainly a look to 2007. and in between for me, MU men's and women's hoops, and some high school football. This is definitely cutting into my fishing time! e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
MU hoops pre-game notes
As with football, they are now available via the web at the MU web site courtesy of Chris (no nickname for him yet) Tobin. Maybe "the Tobster," "Hoops", "CT," or.."No Nickname" for the nick name? As also with football I will run a few of the notes here I feel may be a little extra noteworthy with my take: MU needs to improve on the following numbers: Monmouth is connecting on 69.8% (60-of-86) from the free throw line in 2006-07, well behind the school season-record of 77.1% set during the 1990-91 and 2004-05 seasons. The Hawks connected on 20-of-25 free throws in the loss to Houston (11/18). Call collect, not long distance! The Hawks are hitting just 28.6% (28-of-98) from beyond the arc after the first four games of this campaign, as MU is averaging 19.6 3-point attempts per contest. Monmouth is 82-for-159 in two-point attempts (51.6%). On the other hand: Senior Dejan Delic set new career-marks for himself as he carded 33 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double, in the Hawks’ loss at Houston (11/18). The forward connected on 10-of-14 from the field, including 6-for-9 from beyond the three-point arc. He was also almost perfect from the free throw line, as he went 7-for-8. His six three-point field goals made was also a career-high. He added 20 points, on 5-of-7 shooting at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Overall...I think Deki and Marques are going to have big years, especially in the NEC. YOUNG-BLOOD (good pun there by Mr. "No Nickname") Monmouth freshman Jhamar Youngblood infuses new life into the Hawks, as the speedy rookie has contributed 8.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, six steals and six assists in his first five games in the Blue and White. In his collegiate debut, the guard from Tournament of Champions-winner, St. Patrick’s, dropped in eight points against ODU (11/10). He was also one of three players to score in double-figures against Houston (11/18), as he dropped in 12 points. Youngblood set a new season-mark at TAMUCC with 16 points on Monday. REDSHIRTS (why don't they wear red shirts?) Monmouth freshmen post players Dutch Gaitley and Adam Dobriansky will both redshirt this season. The Master is back! Monmouth assistant coach Ron Krayl is entering his 30th season on the sidelines for the Hawks. The mastermind behind the Hawks’ matchup zone defense, Krayl scored over 2,300 points in his playing days at Sioux Falls (I am shocked he had time to launch all those shots while playing fanatical defense!) A draftee in both the ABA and the NBA (Philadelphia 76ers- they could probably use him now the way they play defense!), Krayl also played during his service with the U.S. Army, with the likes of Mike Krzyzewski and Fran Dunphy. UP NEXT (could be a long night, so MU needs to win Saturday)... Monmouth returns to action on Tuesday, November 28, when the Hawks travel to the University of Pennsylvania for a non-conference game at the Palestra. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
More Saint Peter's preview
From SPC game notes.. don't know if these are on the web. Will try to do this now for most MU men's games...especially the home games... Peacocks Head Coach John Dunne Ithaca Class of 92...comes to Saint Peter's after serving as an assistant at Seton Hall for five years...is in his first season as head coach (2-2)...first win came on opening day, a 67-56 win over UMBC at the Yanitelli Center...he became the first Saint Peter's head coach since Bob Kelly to win his first game on the Peacock bench...was named the 14th head coach in SPC history on May 24, 2006...resides in Florham Park, NJ with his wife Marlene and their daughter Chloe. Tracking (Todd) Sowell's Block Party: Todd Sowell (6-8 junior) entered the 2006-07 season 10th all-time at Saint Peter's with 76 blocks...he already holds the single season record with 57 last season and the single game record with seven against Canisius on 12/9/05...through four games this season he has nine blocks, giving him 85 for his career and putting him in sixth place on the all-time blocked shots list. History: Saint Peter's vs. Monmouth This will be the 34th meeting between these two New Jersey Institutions...the first meeting was during the 1963-64 season, a 94-59 Saint Peter's victory...Last year Saint Peter's came up with a 73-60 victory over the eventual NEC Champions in a game that featured a pregame ceremony honoring the late George Jefferson last season...this will be the 11th straight season that the Hawks and the Peacocks have met...Saint Peter's holds a 6-4 advantage is the previous 10 meetings...the Peacocks last won at Monmouth in 2002, 72-63. Saint Peter's vs. Northeast Conference Tonight (Saturday) is the second of three games against Northeast Conference opponents for the Peacocks and their second in a row...Saint Peter's fell to FDU on Tuesday night and will face LIU (12/31)...Saint Peter's is 150-77 (.660) against Northeast Conference schools...their best record is against Fairleigh Dickinson (36-11) who was Tuesday night's opponent...the Peacocks have played each school in the NEC at least twice, except for Robert Morris and Sacred Heart...SPC has never faced either team...the Peacocks also has a .500 or above record against every team they have played in the NEC. Records vs. NEC Opponents: Central Connecticut: 3-3 Robert Morris: 0-0 Farleigh Dickinson: 36-11 Sacred Heart: 0-0 Long Island: 18-9 Saint Francis (NY): 31-26 Monmouth: 18-6 Saint Francis (PA): 6-6 Mount St. Mary's: 2-2 Wagner: 33-14 Quinnipiac: 2-0 e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
SPC preview, prediction
Some St. Peter's Notes Monmouth won't be facing former St.Peter's scoring machine Keydren "KeeKee" Clark, whose paltry total of 3,058 career points merely rank him No. 6 all-time in Division I. I beleive Dave Calloway personally attended his graduation to make certain his career was complete. Seriously, St. Peter's is now the recipient of more balanced scoring led by sophomore guard Kevin Spann (16.0 ppg.),junior guard Raul Orta (14.1 ppg), and 6-8 junior Todd Sowell (14.0 ppg., 10.3 rpg.). Sowell had 21 points and 11 rebounds and Spann 20 points Tuesday in a 72-65 loss to Monmouth Northeast Confernece rival Fairleigh Dickinson (2-1). St. Peter's has also lost to Kennesaw (what team is this?) State (1-3) while defeating first year Division I NJIT (2-2) as well as UMBC (2-2). Monmouth is 6-17 all time vs. St. Peter's losing last year in Jersey City, 73-60. Today along with reviewing the NEC vs. opposition (see prior blog) I was able to finally catch up on my own MU stats (men and women) which I keep in a book every year, game-by-game, for handy reference. I also subscribed to college rpi.com for the year, where MU is currently ranked 177 with a schedule strength of 89. The NEC is No. 16 in conference RPI (14-25 record) which isn't bad at all. If that ever holds up it'll be its best conference RPI ever I believe. At the moment this (MU men) is a disjointed team playing erratically. The jury is still out on how much of this is due to the quality of opposition and will iron itself out over the course of the NEC season, or will prove to be inherent flaws particular to this ball club. With all that being said, turnovers and all, MU has been in every game except Texas CC. So I have to think they beat SPC. But, to be honest, I'm not sure. Prediction: MU, 68-62. Trivia question: What conference is Kennesaw State in? No fair going to the internet. Oh.. lets end the suspense. They're in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Anyone who knew that should be hosting an ESPN show. e-mail tonyygsports@ol.com
So....what does this all mean?
Had a little time today...reviewed all the NEC men's hoops records and the records of their non-conference opponents...opponents combined records are in parenthesis. Though included records of all D1s did not list every single opponent... Monmouth 1-4 (18-4) Clemson is 6-0, Houston 3-0, ODU 4-1 beat Gtown, Ark State is 3-3, TEX CC 2-0 SFNY 0-5 (17-7)..losses to Syracuse, UTep, got killed by Penn which MU visits Tuesday, lost to Maine and U Mass CCSU 1-3 (11-9) only win over winless UNH..lost to Mich (6-0), Eastern Mich and Davidson (4-2) FDU 2-1 (5-4) beat SPC (2-2) and S Hall, was smacked by Providence LIU 1-2 (8-3)..beat Binghamton, lost to Minn. and Columbia (4-1), that's not British Columbia! MSM 1-3 (8-3) beat JMU, lost to West Va. QPac 2-1 (6-4) does not include game with non DI Concordia College, Qpac beat Lehigh which visits MU, gave U Conn a tough opener. RMU 3-0 (3-8) beat Fla Int (2-3), Marshall (1-1), UNH (0-4) Sac Hrt 2-3 (8-11) lost to UNC, lost to Lehigh, beat Iona, Albany SFPA 2-0 (2-2) record is vs. St. Bonnie (2-2, does not include game with non D 1 Lock Haven) Wagner 1-3 (4-9) ..Seahawks do not look good and sked not that tough..Only win over Md. Eastern Shore. Lost to Lafayette, Manhattan, W & Mary. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Reminder
Dave asked me to remind everyone about: "AUTISM AWARENESS DAY" AT HOME OPENER ON SATURDAY Main points: On a day when the Hawks will receive their NCAA rings in honor of last season's NEC Championship, Monmouth will host a clinic for children at 1 p.m. This will be followed by a pizza party in the Rebecca Stafford Student Center. The package also includes a ticket to the game at 4 p.m. The ring ceremony will precede the game. For more information about the event, please contact Monmouth University Athletics at (732) 263-5188. Also, please wear orange to show your support for Autism Awareness. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Wednesday men's hoops practice
Along with the two losses, heard Texas visit was sort of like the trip from hell....messed up plane reservations..long bus rides, etc. All in all, glad I wasn't there! Today I was there (practice) for the last hour and MU looked tired and ragged. Bunch banged his knee early and DNP (rode the bike instead). Dave said he should be fine for SPC. Other Hawks looked a little dinged up as well. MU was turning the ball over today against itself..not a good sign but I think this was a fatigued team, physically and mentally. . Good thing for MU the SPC game isn't Thursday. Rickie ""The Rookie" Crews was back at practice and Dave said "will be available" Sat night. However he said Rickie will not travel with the team if it means missing class, that Rickie must be focusing on his academics and cannot afford to miss any classes. This will remain in effect through the balance of the first semester. MU fans can only hope things work out for him Rickie..,he's raw, will make mistakes, but has splendid athletic ability. Yaniv Simpson practiced today with the white (second) team. Is eager to contribute but missed a lot of time with his injuries. He can shoot, but right now a little out of sync with the offensive flow, was my impression. You know who I thought looked good today...?? Big Sean Barlow.. Got some time with the Blue (first team) towards the end of practice. Now, there's a fine line between practice performance and game performance but I'd like to see him get some minutes here and there. Just my opinion. MU needs someone else off the bench right now besides "The Jet" to lend a hand ,whether it's scoring, rebounding, playing defense, etc. etc. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Have been busy
Today writing stories for this weekend and visiting MU hoops practice..so haven't been on the blog since about noon. Hopefully I will get to it later tonight. Thank you for your patience..
CSTV to carry Gridiron Classic
Announcement today from NEC and probably one coming from MU soon. Go to northeastconference.org for more info... I believe CSTV is carried by Comcast but not Cablevision....related info is listed in the release. e-mail tonygspots@aol.com
Fantastic finishes
By the way..I have added my comment to the "How to get MU to the next level" blog.. Now, to this topic. The women's game Monday night brought back for me some MU (men) thrilling and agonizing finishes, especially in recent years. What ones did you actually attend (good and or bad, or maybe were listening to ) and did you leave early (or shut the radio off) thinking the game was won or lost? Was anyone at the women's game Monday? Again...I have never seen an ending like the one Monday night, women, men, high school, you name it. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Our story on All NEC football
Folks... There is more at the MU and NEC web sites As it brought home the Northeast Conference championship in football this season, Monmouth University (10-1) brought home a bevy of awards when NEC post season honors were announced Tuesday. Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan was named NEC Coach of the Year for the third time in his career and freshman running back David Sinisi NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year. Overall, 11 Monmouth players received honors equaling its team high first set in 2004 when it went 10-1. Named to the All-NEC first team offense were Monmouth senior quarterback Brian Boland, a Brick Memorial High School graduate, and senior wide out Adam San Miguel. Monmouth seniors Matt Connolly and Jonathon Dunn were named to the first-team offensive line. Two Hawks were named first team on defense in senior Mike Castellano (Freehold Township), a three-time honoree at linebacker, as well as senior Matt Hill in the secondary. Named second team on offense from Monmouth were Sinisi and junior tight end John Nalbone while defensively cited were senior linemen Brian Sweeney, Erik Yngstrom (Freehold Township), and corner David Jiles. ""I'm happy that our players have been rewarded for all of their hard work and dedication,'' said Callahan. ""They are very deserving to be recognized as All-Conference performers.'' As for his own award Callahan, alsohonored in 1998 and 2003, gave credit to his staff. ""While being recognized by your peers as Coach of the Year is a good thing, the award is really more indicative of the hard work our entire coaching staff puts in throughout the year,'' he said. Now in his 14th season as Monmouth's only coach, Callahan has led the Hawks to five NEC championships since the inception of the league in 1996, including three of the last four years. The Hawks will represent the NEC in the Gridiron Classic against Pioneer Football League champion San Diego (10-0) at noon Dec. 2 at Kessler Field. Sinisi finished the regular season first among NEC freshman rushers and third overall with 716 yards on 4.4 yards per carry. Boland helped lead the Hawks to their first outright NEC Championship throwing for 2,208 yards and 14 TD, and enters the postseason with 7,667 career passing yards, second in NEC history. San Miguel tops the NEC with 6.36 receptions and 78.7 yards per game, while totaling 866 receiving yards on 70 catches, including six touchdowns. Monmouth's 11 selections was tops in the league, with Albany and Robert Morris each having 10. Stony Brook defensive back Cory Giddings, a graduate of Ocean Toswnship High School, was named NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Wagner junior Piotr Czech, a graduate of Keyport High School, was named All NEC first team place kicker. - Tony Graham Also....Josh Dudash (TR South)..was named seond team QB e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Reviewing our non-conference picks for MU men's hoops
I recently discovered (like five minutes ago!) one could go back in archives and locate former blogs..You learn something new every day...!! Here is a blog I did in Sept. looking at MU's non conference men's hoops schedule..... So far.. they are, realistically, on schedule for 4-6 non-conference wins including this anticipated tough start. I had Clemson as a toss-up game, and more or less it was. Here is the old blog: Thought some of you may be interested in this. Went to Lindy's College Basketball magazine and put down the magazine's predictions for all of Monmouth's non-conference men's baskeball opponents. Here they are, though not in exact order of MU's schedule. They are listed home or away with the league favorite in parenthesis. Also a W means I think MU wins the game, L is a loss, T is a toss up: Old Dominion (A) 6th in 12-team Colonial Ath. Association (Hofstra) L Clemson (N) 9th in 12 team ACC (UNC)T (I think MU has a chance) Akransas State (N) 7th in seven-team Sun Belt Eastern Division (New Orleans) W Lehigh (H) 3rd in eight-team Patriot League (Bucknell)W St. Peter's (H) 9th in 10-team MAAC (Marist, our old NEC buddy)W Rider (A) 8th in MAAC T Penn (A) 1st in Ivy L Loyola Marymount (H) 3rd in eight-team West Coast Conference (Gonzaga) T Hartford (H) 9th in 9 team America East (Vermont) W Seton Hall (A) 14th in Big East (UConn)L Houston (A) 2nd in Conference USA (Memphis)L Texas A & M Corpus-Christie (A) third in Southland (Sam Houston State)L How many wins for MU do you see? Lately Monmouth has not done well in non-conference games...I think MU can beat Ark State, Lehigh, St. Peter's, maybe Rider but it's on the road, and Hartford. Maybe Loy Marymount in an upset as it's here. That's about 4-6 wins of 12. 5-6 wins Ok to good. Less than 4, not good. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Today's MU football story
IN GRIDIRON CLASSIC Hawks facing unfamiliar foe High-powered San Diego team a mystery Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 11/21/06 BY TONY GRAHAM STAFF WRITER Some time this morning, game films of the University of San Diego football team are expected to arrive in the office of Monmouth University coach Kevin Callahan. That will be the first exposure for Callahan and his staff to coach Jim Harbaugh's high-powered Toreros (10-0), whom the Hawks (10-1) host in the Gridiron Classic. The game pitting the Northeast Conference-champion Hawks against the Pioneer League champions gets under way at noon Dec. 2 at Kessler Field. Callahan said with Monmouth preoccupied with winning the NEC championship, he wasn't paying attention to developments on the West Coast. "We don't know very much about them at all," Callahan said. "We went through our season one week at a time, I didn't even know what San Diego's record was until yesterday (Sunday). "I never bothered to check. It didn't matter. I knew they're (nationally ranked) and putting up big numbers, a lot of points." While San Diego junior quarterback Josh Johnson has been putting up points for the highest scoring offense in NCAA Division I-AA football, San Diego lost a few voting points in this week's Sports Network Top 25 I-AA poll while Monmouth edged closer to its first Top 25 national ranking. San Diego slipped from 14th to 16th in the TSN poll, while Monmouth garnered 103 voting points, the 27th highest total in the nation. Monmouth was 29th in the last poll. San Diego and the Hawks remained ranked first and second, respectively, in this week's TSN Mid-Major Top 10. While Monmouth is idle until Dec. 2, the Toreros play their final regular-season game Saturday at I-AA independent California-Davis (5-5). Monmouth coaches will not be in attendance, as live scouting is not permitted by the NCAA. Monmouth officials announced Monday reserved seats priced at $15, which are held exclusively for Blue and White club members, have gone on sale, with general admission seats priced at $10, and Monmouth student tickets priced at $5 going on sale Wednesday. "We started selling tickets at 9 o'clock (Monday)," said Greg Viscomi of the Monmouth football office. "And already we've had significant interest." e-mail tonygspports@aol.com Forgot to put this on the blog Monday. Reason I am blogging this now - even though you can access it on the Press link to collegiate sports..is so anyone may comment on it directly.
Recruiting review
I have been meaning to research this for some time now. There was some earlier discussion as to how MU wound up with no contributing juniors to this year's team....so I finally was able to dig some media guides out of the rubble that passes for my desk at work..and..in looking at the 2003-2004 media guide..kids that could be seniors or red-shirt juniors now we find as newcomers: Brian Boxler, Marques Alston, Dejan Delic, Corey Hallett, Brett Fragel, and Brent Stephens...the latter two left on their own but Fragel not until a year later. Boxler was a one-year player but worth it. I think the other three speak for themselves. Those who, theoretically, could still be here. Fragel, a very, very raw 6-10 kid, and Stephens. Newcomers for 2004-2005 then were: Fragel (a recruited walk on), John Ager, John Bunch (who had to sit out that year); Brent Wilson, and that was it. Ager failed out. Fragel left that year without playing. Wilson was a reserve for two years. That leaves Ager (MU doesn't need another guard) and Fragel who wasn't as good as Dobriansky or Gaitley are now. I forget what year Drexel transfer Jamil Moore came and went. And there was that other big kid, 6-8 transfer from Drexel (I forget his name), who was dismissed from MU before he ever played. Don't beleive he or Moore would still be here now anyway. Bottom line...some very good players and or contributors were recruited. Some others didn't pan out. That's college basketball. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Monmouth women: Most unbelievable finish I may have ever seen
for Tuesday Press: By TONY GRAHAM STAFF WRITER WEST LONG BRANCH … Monmouth University's Charisse Johnson couldn't stop laughing. It was as if the senior forward couldn't believe what had just happened Monday night at Boylan Gynasium. Then again, who could blame her? ""I was struggling all night, so I'm excited I hit the most important shot,'' the senior forward said. In what may have been the most incredible ending to a game in the more than 40 years of college basketball at Boylan Gym, Johnson swished the second of two Monmouth 3-pointers in the final 3.2 seconds to catapult the Hawks to a 62-61 nonconference victory over St. Peter's. To make it even more ironic, Monmouth had made just seven of 35 shots from downtown all season, missing its first eight attempts Monday. Then junior point guard Brianne Edwards swished a desperation trey from the left corner to bring Monmouth (2-2) within 61-59. St. Peter's (2-2) then threw away the inbounds pass with 1.7 seconds showing. ""We needed a stop,'' Monmouth coach Michele Baxter said. ""We knew we didn't want to foul, we knew we had to get a five-second count. We put the pressure on and they ended up turning the ball over. ""We got what we wanted, the last look of the night.'' What Monmouth didn't get was a set play in its ensuing timeout after thinking it could take a second timeout, which the team learned it did not have. ""So we had to rush out on the court,'' Baxter said. ""We didn't even have a play,'' Johnson said. It didn't matter. Veronica Randolph, who had made Monmouth's other two 3-pointers of the game, delivered the ball to Johnson, who let it fly from the right wing. When it went in Johnson was nearly engulfed in a sea of celebrating teammates while the Peahens looked on in stunned disbelief. ""We said, "Let's get the ball in,'‚'' said Johnson, who nailed her second trey of the season. ""I saw an opening,'' she said. ""I knew she (Randolph) was going to pass it and I was ready to shoot.'' ""You've got to get a little lucky,'' Baxter said. Monmouth appeared to need more than luck most of the game when it trailed by 16 points in the first half, then roared back in the second to take a few brief, two-point leads. But when St. Peter's dropped in seven free-throw attempts in the final 2:37 and Monmouth hit a cold spell, the outcome appeared decided. ""We just kept our composure and came out strong in the second half,'' Johnson said. ""That's what we knew we had to do.'' Sophomore Jennifer Bender led Monmouth with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Edwards added 11 points. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Monmouth men: Hawks over turned again
This for Tuesday Press In losing three of its first four games the Monmouth University men's basketball team had at least been able to say it was in each game almost until the end. That was not the case Monday night however. The end came early when Texas A&M-Corpus Christi jumped out to a 8-0 advantage in the first five minutes and defeated the visiting Hawks, 71-54. Monmouth (1-4), which trailed at the half, 40-23, was never closer to the Islanders (2-0) than 15 points in the second half. ""Whitney (Coleman) has four turnovers in the first five minutes and all of sudden we fall behind big,''said Calloway. ""He wasn't the only one.'' Tunrover prone Monmouth finished with 20. ""We're a team that tries to control the tempo,''said Calloway. ""When we fell behind like we did we couldn't do that.'' After Monmouth cut the lead to 45-30 with 16:37 left in the game, on a Marques Alston jump shot, the Islanders pushed the lead to 62-36 with 6:55 remaining. ""In our our losses our guards have way too many turnovers,'' said Calloway. ""Of our guards two are sophomores (Coleman and Mike Shipman) and one is a freshman (Jhamar Youngblood). ""They hey have to play like juniors and sophomores with the schedule we're playing.'' As a team the Islanders shot 58 percent from the field. ""Our defense wasn't very good either,''said Calloway. ""They scored some off our turnovers and then when we had to press which isn't our strength."" ""We have to work on all phases of basketball,'' said Calloway whose team will next practice on Wednesday. Senior Dejan Delic led Monmouth with 20 points and Youngblood had a career high 16. Scooby Johnson had 22 points to lead the Islanders and Cedric Smith 19 combining to shoot 17-for-20 from the floor. ""We're going to work on trying to get a win,'' Calloway said. Monmouth plays its first home game of the season 4 p.m. Saturday when it hosts St. Peter's (2-1). e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
MU women host St. Peter's
Tonight at 7 p.m. St. Peter's is always a tough out in the MAAC. If MU can win (as it did last year) or hang in the game all the way, it could translate into the Hawks having at least a decent season in the NEC. Anyone who goes or would like to comment on the game, please post your remarks here. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
MEN'S BASKETBALL TO HOST "AUTISM AWARENESS DAY" AT HOME OPENER ON SATURDAY
This seems like it's definitely worthy of blog note ..(froim the MU web site) MU to use 2006 home opening to promote awareness for autism WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - In a continuted effort to give back to the community that supports it annually, the Monmouth University men's basketball program will use its 2006 home opener against St. Peter's, on Saturday, November 25, as "Autism Awareness Day" in Boylan Gym. The Blue and White, who compete with in-state rival St. Peter's at 4 p.m., on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, aim to promote awareness for autism, which effects numerous children in our own area. "This is a great way to promote a worthy cause," stated Monmouth head coach Dave Calloway. "It is also a great way to bring the community together." On a day when the Hawks will receive their NCAA rings in honor of last season's NEC Championship, Monmouth will host a clinic for children at 1 p.m., followed by a pizza party in the Rebecca Stafford Student Center. The package also includes a ticket to the game at 4 p.m. For more information about the event, please contact Monmouth University Athletics at (732) 263-5188. Also, please wear orange to show your support for Autism Awareness.
Miles Austin
From the MU web site: FORMER HAWK MILES AUSTIN PACES DALLAS COWBOY’S SPECIAL TEAMS All-time leading receiver in Monmouth history returns kicks for Cowboys WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- After being put on the inactive list for three straight games, former Monmouth University wide receiver Miles Austin has played solid for the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys in their last two contests. Austin returned a pair of kicks in Dallas’ 21-14 win over the previously unbeaten Indianapolis Colts yesterday on national television. Austin had two returns for 59 total yards for a 29.5 yard average. With his team trailing 14-7 in the fourth quarter, Austin returned a kickoff 28 yards, setting up a Cowboy drive that ended with a Marion Barber touchdown. Austin made his returning debut against Arizona on Nov. 12, when he returned two kicks for 39 yards with a long of 22 yards. The Garfield, N.J., plays on almost all of the Cowboy’s special teams units, recording three tackles on the season. Austin became the first former Monmouth player to earn a NFL contract when he was signed to the Cowboys after a solid training camp and preseason. He put his talents on display in a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, hauling in a 48-yard touchdown reception from Cowboy’s quarterback Tony Romo. The Cowboys are 3-0 this season when Austin is in the lineup, 3-4 when he is on the inactive list. “It is good to see that Miles is making a positive contribution to the Cowboy’s special teams,” said head coach Kevin Callahan. “He is talented and hard working player so it comes as no surprise that he is making plays for them.” After three seasons as a starter with the Hawks, Austin left West Long Branch as the MU career leader in catches, receiving yards and touchdown catches. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com As you can see I am re-running on the blog, some of the releases from the MU web site I feel are of considerable interest, and that folks may miss if they do not check the MU web site. Shall I continue in this vein, or do most of you go regularly to the MU web site and thus this service would not be needed? Thank you TG
More MU football Classic information
This from the MU web site and Greg (Eagles season in tatters) Viscomi... Figured I'd place it here as well for those that may otherwise not see it... GRIDIRON FOOTBALL CLASSIC TICKET AND EVENT INFORMATION Tickets on sale immediately to Blue/White Club members, Wednesday for the general public WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Tickets for the inaugural Gridiron Football Classic, featuring Monmouth University hosting The University of San Diego, will go on sale today, Nov. 20 for Blue/White Club members and Wednesday for the general public. Members of the Monmouth University Blue/White Club will be able to purchase (2) reserved seats for $15.00 per ticket and general admission seats for $10.00 per ticket. Members will also be able to sign up and attend the Pre-Game Blue/White Club Tailgate for $15.00, which will be held in the Student Center starting at 11:00 a.m. on Dec. 2. The tailgate will have a variety of food along with a beer and wine open bar. If you are interested in joining the Blue/White Club please contact Clint Wulfekotte at (732) 263-5750. All General admission seating will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. and will be priced at $10.00 per seat. On Friday, December 1st, Everyone is welcome to attend a special edition of Callahan’s Corner at 11:30 a.m. in MaGill Commons on Monmouth’s campus. The luncheon, where Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan will go over the Gridiron Football Classic will cost $10.00. After lunch, Coach Callahan will answer questions from attendees. Those interested in attending Callahan’s Corner must RSVP by Nov. 29, 2006. After the game is over there will be a free post-game celebration in the student center open to the public. For more information or to order your tickets, please contact the MU athletic department at (732) 263-5190. Breakdown of Ticket Prices: $5.00 - Students (valid Student I.D. required) $10.00 - General Admission (tickets go on sale on 11/22) $15.00 - Reserved Seating (available to active Blue/White Club members only) The Hawks and Toreros will face off on Saturday, Dec. 2, in the first Gridiron Football Classic, which will take place at Kessler Field in West Long Branch, N.J. e-mail tonygsports @aol.com
Gridiron Classic Game time ..it's at noon!
A blogger just noted to me..the tentative time for the Gridiron Classic is 12 noon, not 1 p.m. on Dec. 2 as I had listed. My bad. The NEC is also trying to get the game on TV so it could perhaps change from that. But right now it's at noon. Thanks for the correction!
MU men's hoops: how to get to the next level?
This from a blogger and I thought it was such a good question I'd give it a life of its own: How do we get this program to that next level? How does MU start winning 5-6 non conference games or more every year? Do you think they schedule too tough? I mean they always play 2-3 very tough teams, then 2-3 in that solid solid mid major level, then maybe 2-3 that could go either way, and then 1-2 that they should win. I don't know the answer, but I wish I did. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
New MU Hoops Poll question
Started this inside on another blog comment, but before receiving any feed back thought it might merit its own blog. Thus..here it is: Who was the MVP on last year's MU men's NEC championship team? You may only pick one player.... Heck..I'm having trouble answering this one.. Tyler? Chris? Marques? Bunch? Deki? Bazaz? e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
How does 1-AA football get away with this?
Look at all these teams with three and four losses! Eight!! and six of them are at large teams which had at least three losses!!! One automatic has five losses. That would be Lafayette, an automatic qualifier from the Patriot League at 6-5. MU opens at Lafayette next season. To me: the 1-AA playoffs are like a closed little club. I don't know how they get away with it. But more 1-AA leagues are sprouting up and I have to feel sooner than later they will have to expand the field and or offer more automatic bids. As I see it MU had to go 11-0 to have a "very realistic shot" and then it was 50-50 at best, and maybe 40-60, in my opinion. Here is the schedule, note the records ... November 25 at Boone, North Carolina (ESPNU at 3:30 p.m. ET) Coastal Caro. (9-2) at No. 1 Appalachian St. (10-1) November 25 at Bozeman, Montana Furman (8-3) at Montana State (7-4) November 25 at Charleston, Illinois Illinois State (8-3) at Eastern Illinois (8-4) November 25 at Youngstown, Ohio (ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET) James Madison (9-2) at No. 4 Youngstown State (9-2) November 25 at Amherst, Massachusetts Lafayette (6-5) at No. 3 Massachusetts (10-1) November 25 at Hampton, Virginia New Hampshire (8-3) at Hampton (10-1) November 25 at Carbondale, Illinois Tennessee-Martin (9-2) at Southern Illinois (8-3) November 25 at Missoula, Montana McNeese State (7-4) at No. 2 Montana (10-1) The 2006 championship field consists of eight automatic qualifiers and eight at-large qualifiers. AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS (8) Massachusetts: Atlantic 10 Conference Montana: Big Sky Conference Youngstown State: Gateway Football Conference Hampton: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tennessee-Martin: Ohio Valley Conference Lafayette: Patriot League Appalachian State: Southern Conference McNeese State: Southland Conference AT-LARGE QUALIFERS (8) James Madison: Atlantic 10 Conference New Hampshire: Atlantic 10 Conference Montana State: Big Sky Conference Coastal Carolina: Big South Conference Southern Illinois: Gateway Football Conference Illinois State: Gateway Football Conference Eastern Illinois: Ohio Valley Conference Furman: Southern Conference DIVISION I FOOTBALL LABELS During its August 3 meeting, the Division I Board of Directors approved a recommendation to delete the labels Division I-A, I-AA and I-AAA from NCAA use. Additionally, the Board adopted the title “NCAA Division I Football Championship” to replace the “Division I-AA Football Championship." Finally, the Board adopted the terms “Football Bowl Subdivision” and “NCAA Football Championship Subdivision” to refer to the level of football played by Division I members. -Courtesy NCAA e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Our Monday APP story on MU football reaction to being passed over for 1-AA playoffs and its look ahead to USD game
By TONY GRAHAM STAFF WRITER Mixed emotions, but mostly excitement over its post season football game. That was how Brian Boland, quarterback of the Northeast Conference champion Monmouth University football team (10-1), said the Hawks reacted to word Sunday they will, as originally anticipated, play 1 p.m. Dec. 2 vs. Pioneer League champion University of San Diego (10-0) in the Gridiron Classic at Kessler Field. Sunday a crowd estimated at between 300-400 made up of Monmouth football players, their families, and fans, gathered at the Monmouth student center to learn whether the Hawks might instead be granted one of eight at-large berth to the 16-team field in the 1-AA playoffs. The bid did not materialize. ""It's a little disappointing not to make the playoffs,'' said Boland, a graduate of Brick Memorial High school. ""But we're bascially playing for the Mid-Major national championship and it's going to be a home bowl game,'' said Boland. The Gridiron Classic was arranged during the off season by the NEC and PFL to offer its championship teams a post season opportunity. Had an NEC or PFL championship team earned a 1-AA playoff bid the second place team or team or teams would have played in the Gridiron event. According to Ron Ratner, NEC Associate Commissioner, Sunday marked the first time an NEC team had been considered for the 1-AA playoffs. He said the 1-AA East Region Advisory Committtee, of which he is a member, had recommended Monmouth, among other teams, to the national committee which selected the field. ""They (Monmouth) were certainly under consideration, nationally, along with the schools from the Atlantic-10 that were chosen,''said Ratner referring to at-large berths gained by James Madison and New Hampshire. "It's tough, there's so few at large bids to play with,'' he said. Ratner said he was "a little surpised Montana State (7-4) got in. That was the only real surprise out of the field,'' he said. ""They (national committee) went pretty much by the book on this.'' ""The goal from the very beginning of the season was to win our conference, the results of which would be to play in this bowl game,''said Boland. ""The whole 1-AA playoff thing kind of came up towards the end of the season. ""That really wasn't our goal from the beginning of the year. Now we can start game planning and getting ready for San Diego.'' San Diego, coached for former National Football League quarterback Jim Harbaugh, is currently ranked No. 1 in the Sports Network 1-AA Mid Major Poll where Monmouth is No. 2. USD is also ranked No. 14 by TSN in its Top 25 national poll. Monmouth is not ranked, though it had the 29th highest vote total nationally last weeek. The Toreros' 18-game winning streak is tied with Ohio State for the long gest in Division 1 and 1-AA football. They are led by junior quarterback Josh Johnson, a Payton Watch candidate, the honor which goes to the top offensive player in 1-AA football. USD leads all of 1-AA football in total offense including scoring (46 points per game) while Johnson, 6-3, 195 pounds, continues to rank nationally in five I-AA top-three statistical categories - 1st in total offense (338.10 ypg), 1st in passing efficiency (179.3 rating), 1st in points responsible for (27.0 ppg), 3rd in total passing yards (2,796) and 3rd in passing yards per game (279.60). He is now 21-1 as a starter calling the Torero signals. USD plays at 1-AA independant California Davis (5-5) Saturday. "I think you're going to see a fantastic (Gridiron Classic) game,'' said Ratner who said it will match the contrasting styles of defensive minded Monmouth vs. the explosiveness of San Diego. ""It's good to bring post season game to this area and I think it's going to generate a lot of interest because of the personality of Jim Harbaugh and Josh Johnson being a really, talented quarterback,'' Ratner said. Like Monmouth, USD had been hoping for a 1-AA playoff bid but games against non-division I-AA opponents Azusa Pacific and Dixie State were believed to have damaged its chances. Ratner said the best thing that happened to the NEC this season, including wins over over nationally known opponents, was laying the ground work for futute years. ""By being in the playoff discussion with the national committee, the conference's name as well as Monmouth's name and, to an extent Albany's name as well, are out there now,'' Ratner said. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com Note to blog folks ..there are some comments from Harbough on th USD web site..nothing about MU though
MU in Gridiron Classic vs. San Diego, Dec.2, 1 p.m. at Kessler Field
Hawks were passed over by 1-AA football committee for teams that lost Saturday including Montana State (7-4). e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Anyone in Teaxs with MU hoops/or general comments
Anyone go to Texas or have comments on MU's games on this trip?? Please post here. Also..MU women (1-1) look to boost their record, hosting St. Peter's (2-1) 7 p.m. Monday. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
MU 1-AA hopes
Had trouble publishing this before..just to be safe..wanted to note only two of up to five teams MU needed to lose to help their 1-AA playoff bid lost Saturday..so looks like Gridiron Classic vs. USD to me. 1-AA field to be announced on ESPNews 1-130 p.m. or there abouts Sunday. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Monmouth 1-AA hopes
Here is the list we had earlier this week on teams MU probably needed to lose to boost their 1-AA hopes: UNH (7-3) to Maine (6-4) Coastal Carolina (8-2) to Charleston Southern (9-1) Montana State (7-3) to Montana (9-1) S. Illinois (7-3) to S. Utah (3-7) Illinois State (8-2) to Northern Iowa (6-4) Eastern Ill. ((7-4) to Jacksonville State (6-4) and here's what happened UNH won, 19-13 Coast Car. beat Charls Southern, 31-17 Mont State LOST to Montana, 13-7 Southern Ill beat S. Utah, 39-0 Ill State LOST to Northern Iowa, 38-27 Eastern Ill beat Jacks State, 28-24 Bottom line..only two of those five teams lost... doesn't help MU all that much I would think. My guess is, Gridiron Classic vs. USD. Field announced Sunday on ESPNnews around 130 p.m....but tune it at 1 pm just to be safe.... That's (GC) fine by me. Should be a good game.... e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Hawks fall to Houston
MU story for Sunday..from combination of MU web site, Houston web site, Assoc. Press, and talking to Dave: Plagued by 27 turnovers and a critical late dry spell the Monmouth University men's basketball team fell to Houston Saturday, 89-80, in a non-conference game before 3,615 fans at the Hofheinz Pavilion. The Hawks (1-3) wasted the first career double double of senior Dejan Delic who scored a career high 33 points, and a double double of 15 points and 10 rebounds by senior Marques Alston. After Monmouth sophomore guard Michael Shipman (nine points, six assists, eight turnovers), made two free throws to bring the Hawks within 79-77 with 5:29 remaining, Monmouth failed to score on its next five possessions with three turnovers and two missed layups. Senior Oliver Lafayette of Houston (2-0), who scored 29 points, made it 81-77 with two foul shots with 2:17 left to play. Delic drained his sixth three-pointer to make it 83-80 with 1:18 left, before Houston's Jahmar Thorpe threw down a fast break dunk and Monmouth did not score again. "We got five stops (when it was 79-77) and couldn't take advantage,'' said Dave Calloway, Monmouth coach. ""You're not going to win many basketball games with 27 turnovers . ""They didn't force 27 turnovers. It comes down to toughness and we weren't tough enough.'' Houston scored 28 points off the Monmouth turnovers, a problem that has hurt the Hawks this season. Monmouth had 25 turnovers last weekend in a loss to Clemson. Calloway took little solace from his team's highest point total of the season. ""Right now we're 1-3 so it's kind of hard to look at the positives,'' Calloway said. Monmouth rookie Jhamar Youngblood added 12 points, while 7-2 center John Bunch added seven points, a career-best tying 11 rebounds, and four blocks. Monmouth trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half and 12 in the second half, but tied the contest at 64-64 with 11:03 left, as Youngblood dropped in a layup. Delic kept the Hawks close, scoring nine straight points as Monmouth trailed 74-73 with 7:01 remaining. Monmouth visits Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1-0) 8 p.m. Monday. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Saturday Press story on MU men's hoop Texas trip
By TONY GRAHAM STAFF WRITER A need to be more in control. Of himself and of his team. That's how point guard Michael Shipman of the Monmouth University men's basketball team views the situation as the Hawks (1-2) head to Houston (1-0) and Texas A & M Corpus Christi for two more non-conference games. Two losses in the first two games last weekend in the Cox Classic against Old Dominion and Clemson, in which Shipman had four assists and 11 turnovers, gnawed at the psyche of the sophomore from Delaware. ""I was frustrated after the Clemson game, I honestly felt we should have beaten them the way our team played, especially in the first half,'' said Shipman who said after the game he talked with coach Dave Calloway as well as family members who had made the trip. ""I talked to them and they expressed I needed to relax and play my game and really look to be a leader for this team, even if I'm only a sophomore,'' said Shipman. ""It's going to be tough but I think I'm ready for it.'' Shipman said he's looking forward to more challenging games this weekend. ""The more competition we get, the tough teams we face in the beginning of the season, should help us in tournament time,'' he said. ""We'll be prepared for those type of games, we'll be experienced against teams from tougher levels and tougher conferences.'' Calloway said, while there's no Duke or Kentucky on Monmouth's pre-conference schedule, it makes it no less demanding. ""It looks like it might be one of Clemson's better seasons and one of Houston's better seasons,'' said Calloway. ""But even on top of that, with our so-called mid-major schedule, Old Dominion and Texas A & M, every mid major school we're playing is good.'' Monmouth will play 12 non-conference games this season and it's record vs. these opponents will be factored into the realm of seedings if the Hawks reach the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years. In its last three NCAA trips, 2006, 2004, and 2001, Monmouth was seeded No. 16 (first round/play-in game last year), No. 15 vs. Mississippi State, and No. 16 vs Duke. ""Do we need to win every one of these out of league games?'' said Calloway. "That's impossible, we already lost two. But we've got to start winning more than we're losing.'' Including the Cox Classic Monmouth is now 5-18 the last three years in non-conference games going 3-8 last season and 1-8 in 2004-2005. Houston shot 18-for-38 from 3 when it won at Rhode Island 102-99 in its season opener. ""We'd like to hold them to half ot that'' said Calloway. ""We'll see.'' Six players finished in double-figures led by seven-footer Chris Daniels with 13 points in 12 minutes for Texas-Corpus Christie in a 90-53 win Thursday over Texas College. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Press story on MAAC
This will appear Saturday. Don't know if it will go in all editions. Here it is: By CAROL GORGA WILLIAMS COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU WEST LONG BRANCH … It appears the borough's Board of Adjustment could vote favorably on the $34 million plan by Monmouth University to construct a multi-purpose athletics and activities center on campus, provided neighborhood concerns about traffic and parking can be ironed out. The board put off a formal vote late Thursday but of the seven members who could hear the plan, six said they would approve it, if their concerns are addressed by the Dec. 14 meeting. The seventh, member Ellen Anfuso, said she wasn't sure yet how she felt. The others expected to cast votes are Board Chairman Rocco W. Christopher, board Secretary Irven Miller, and members Douglas Bostwick, James Meola, John M. Aria and Samuel Guidetti. Bostwick and Meola expressed reservations about voting for the proposal until they saw the conditions of the approval. At particular issue for Bostwick was limiting the number of ""capacity events'' that could be annually held at the center. Capacity events are those that would draw 4,000 or more attendees. University Attorney Wendell A. Smith initially proposed 25, but quickly suggested 20. When he mentioned 15, Bostwick said he wanted the opportunity to examine the center's schedule and then determine a realistic number. ""Trying to meet the happy medium is where my heart is,'' Douglas said. ""...I just think 20 is a lot, in my personal opinion.'' ""I want to see a MAAC Center,'' added Aria. ""I want to see it was as little impact on the surrounding community as possible.'' While Smith, university attorney Marc D. Policastro and Board Attorney Thomas Klein work on a number to bring to the board at its December meeting, officials also will consider solutions to other neighborhood concerns, such as prohibiting parking on neighborhood streets during events and potentially providing valet parking, to control any overflow. While Monmouth University officials maintain the 3,000 parking spaces available at the university are sufficient for the center's need, Smith also said the university would continue to negotiate. The university intends to use off-duty police officers to direct traffic during events but officials said Thursday the borough may not have enough officers to meet the demand, and Christopher said the university could be forced to look to neighboring departments to find officers willing to earn a little overtime. ""We keep talking about capacities,'' Christopher said. ""Capacities are going to be set by ticket sales. You're not going to have tons of people. It's already been downsized. It was supposed to be much bigger...This is inherently beneficial. It is a school. The law says it is inherently beneficial.'' The audience Thursday night seemed divided among opponents and supporters. ""I can't see how it is possible a 5,000-seat MAAC is not going to have a terrible impact on our city,'' said Irene C. Tsakiris of Hollywood Avenue. ""We can't get to our homes now and it is just going to be worse and worse. A smaller MAAC is something that needs to be considered.'' Other opponents said it was time for the school to consider a satellite campus where a MAAC would be welcomed. John Brockreide of Hollywood Avenue, and his father, also John Brockreide, spoke of the university's role in the community, which they said was a positive one. ""I think it has been an asset to the community and to us,'' said the younger Brockreide. e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
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