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
"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
posted by Tony Graham at 10:06 PM
4 Comments:
Great story Tony. I am not at all surprised by the David Jiles story at all. Coach cares about the guys as more than just players.
Also, a few questions for you and the other readers of the blog:
1) What are your thoughts on possibly expanding to a full scholarship program?
2) What do you see happening to the NEC over the next 3-5 years (relation to football)? Reason I ask is it seems as though Albany and Central are both looking to up their scholarship total, and Stony Brook is already out the door.
3) Do you know the rest of our OOC schedule for next season? I thought I read somewhere that Stony Brook is on our schedule.
1. Callahan definitely wants to do this...does the administration? I think Gaffney is on board as well, that's just my opinion, I have not asked him (but I will at some point)
2. NEC..good question. Despite "contracts", I believe any school can pay a penalty and leave at any time.
My feeling is MU, Albany, CCSU, and RMU (just semi educated guessing here really) would want to up the scholarships..but the rest - Wagner, SFPA, S Heart would not.
So who leaves..and goes where..to the MAAC?. Who stays? Who comes in.??
Over this off season there may be some major league switching in 1-AA football (the NEC? - perhaps) and we'll have to see who falls where.
3. Stony Brook is on the schedule for next year as a third non-conference game..I didn't mention it because it's not like they have the rep of a Delaware or Lafayette even though they (SBU) may have added another bushel of scholarships..
sooo.. that leaves MU looking for two games if they hope to play 11...no names for you yet...
One other item....I believe MU has only three home games for next year at this point..(Albany, RMU, Wagner)...Lafayette is coming here in 2008...
Tony,
Attached from today's Ssportsnetwork; they've got Monmouth as the underdog (what else is new?). Also is the game a sellout yet?
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
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