Did this really happen? Phillies are 2007 National League East Champions

OK, OK.

I know this has nothing to do with the blog topic ...but..as many of you may be aware (please see my profile) when I'm not involved with MU and other assignments I live and die (usually the latter) with Philadelphia professional sports teams.


As a fan - this is why I try to give MU fans as long a leash as possible.

I have to say - outside of the Phillies winning the WS in 1980 and the Eagles the NFL title in 1960, this was just about the most exciting if not unbelievable moment in my rooting life.



So, if any Philadelphia, Mets fans, or anyone would like to comment or vent on this truly remarkable development ......feel free.

Why not?

And yes...I have in the past called for Charlie's head!!

Probing for Poise/Our MU fball story for Monday

By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER


Monmouth University football coach Kevin Callahan had no problem lauding Delaware's ability.
""Delaware is extremely talented,'' said Callahan of the No. 12 Blue Hens in the wake of the 42-7 Delaware victory Saturday night.

""In a lot of positions they had more team speed than we did,'' he said

But what mostly concerned Callahan after Saturday was not a talent issue but a poise issue.

""I don't think we competed with poise in an adverse environment and that's something we've got to be able to do,'' said Callahan. ""I'm not sure we were able to maintain the poise in the moment of competition the way you need to do to win football games and be a good football team. ""That's something we need to learn to do.''

And how does Monmouth do that?

""We need to continue to play these type of games against this caliber of competition,'' he said. """By doing that you learn how to play that way. The fact we have several first year starters who have not been in that situation before, I think that fact was magnified in this game.''

Callahan noted Delaware has been playing well all season, not just Saturday. ""The outcome of our game was no different than any of the CAA (Colonial Athletic Association) games they've played so far,'' he said.

Delaware has rolled past three CAA opponents by an average margin of 22.3 points.

""But there are certain situations where I would have hoped we would have been able to compete with poise as I call it and not come unraveled a little bit,'' Callhan said. ""I think early on wedid that and that was just what we knew we couldn't do in this game.

""When we had everybody covered we couldn't get to the quarterback,'' said Callahan. ""We had a couple of drives on offense where we couldn't finish them off.

""I would just hope we learn from this, move on, and we keep working to become a better football team.''

Monmouth senior wide out Adam San Miguel said Monmouth has been more competitive than its record. The Hawks dropped their first three games by a total of 16 points.

""Aside from Delaware it's not like we were out of the games,'' he said. ""We're right there, on the verge of being a typical Monmouth team like last year and before. It's been little things here and there.''

NOTES...Monmouth reserve defensive tackle Jeff King (Raritan), a sophomore, left the game with what Callahan described as sprained knee. He said King's status for Saturday's game at Sacred Heart (2-3) is undetermined... Sophomore quarterback Andrew Mandeville (Raritan) went five-for-five for 43 yards in a fourth-quarter relief role...David Sinisi has scored five of Monmouth's seven TD this season.

Hawks no match for Hens /more here than in Sunday Press

By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER

NEWARK, Del. - It was a majestic sight the likes of which a Monmouth University football team had never witnessed,
After the Hawks quietly entered the field and made their way to their bench Saturday night the University of Delaware team exited a tunnel beneath a delirious, mostly yellow and blue clad thunderstick banging crowd, and past a 300-member band on its way to its sidelines.
It was Monmouth's first experience playing a tradition-rich long time national Football Championship Subdivsion force and, as most expected, it wasn't a pleasant one.
The Blue Hens, No. 12 in the Sports Network FCS Poll, defeated Monmouth 42-7 before 21,431 at Tubby Raymond Field.
All the scoring took place in the first half as Delaware improved to 5-0, the school's best start since it began 9-0 in 2003 on its way to the then 1-AA national championship.
Monmouth fell to 0-4 for the first time since the 2002 season when it won its next game and went on to finish 2-9.
""First half, it was a little chaotic, it was loud, it was a new scene for us,'' said T. J. Cerezo, a Monmouth senior linebacker. ""Once we got settled I think we played a lot better than we did than in the first couple of drives.
""A team that is that good is going to caitalize on us having a little trouble in the beginning.
""Once we got a chance to sort everything I think we played pretty well.
Monmouth managed to surprise the partisan crowd, the largest ever to see it play, when red shirt sophomore David Sinisi (21-69) burst eight yards into the end zone cutting into a 14-0 Delaware lead with 2:39 left in the first quarter.
It not only extended the longest individual streak in the nation of a player scoring a touchdown to 16 consecutive games but marked the first touchdown allowed by Delaware in the first half this season.
Sinsi was hugged by some of his teamates in the end zone and pointed to the stands as ran to the bench following the 74-yard drive in 10 plays.
""I just thought we needed to get more possessions on offense, more stops on defense, and more opportunities,'' said senior wide out Adam San Miguel.
""I think we should schedule games like this more often. I didn't really see a big gap talent wise.''
But after Monmouth scored its young defense, with just two returning starters, was almost powerless to halt the Delaware onslaught for the balance of the first half.
Back ups for both teams played much of the second half.
Delaware scored on five of six first-half possessions as senior Omar Cuff rushed for 73 yards and two TD while snatching a seven-yard pass from senior quarterback Joe Flacco for another.
In the half Flacco completed 14 of 16 passes for 199 yards and two scores and junior corner Fred Andrews returned a pass by Monmouth quarterback Brett Burke pass 78 yards for a TD.
Delaware has now outscored its opponents in the first half, 135-12, 79-0 in the second quarter.
Cuff, who did not play in the second half set a school career record for touchdowns with 52.
Delaware pulled Flacco (15-19-0, 215 yards) during its first possession of the second half after he went over the 200-yard mark for a school record 10th consecutive game.
Burke (18-25-2, 132 yards) went three quarters before sophomore Andrew Mandeville, a Raritan High School graduate and red shirt freshman Ryan Folsom played in the fourth. Monmouth freshman defensive end Garrett Cullo (Ocean Township) had a fourth quarter sack.
NOTES....Monmouth visits Sacred Heart (2-3) 1 p.m. Saturday when it attempts to avoid going 0-5 which occurred in 1999. Monmouth has never dropped six in a row to open a season. Sacred Heart will be coming off an 18-15 loss to Wagner (3-1). The game is the first of five in a row against Northeast Conference opposition....Monmouth Saturday night faced its third current member of the Colonial Athletic Association, the others being Maine to open the 2007 season and Towson against which it went 1-7. Monmouth will face a fourth CAA team in 2008 when it visits the University of Rhode Island.

MU men's/women's hoops update

Got over to Boylan Gym Thursday..idea being to watch the men and women's team in pick up games...women did not play. Watched the men for about an hour..

This was actually my third trip over since early Sept. ...first two observations were not as long as I would have preferred and wanted to see as much as possible before writing a review..

Ok...

.
Men.

We'll skip over "The Jet" and Whitney. They look fine.

James Hett - freshman PG. Going to be a very nice player, pure point guard. If players are open he'll find them. Seems sure-handed with the ball. Drives well to the hoop. I'm NOT saying he's John Giraldo, Tylers Azzarelli, etc.. Not fair to say that.

But I see the similarities with Tyler. However, with so few veteran players around will be asked to contrebute even more than TA did as a freshman.

George Barbour, R.J. Rutledge.
Barbour (foot problems) did not play yesterday. Just saw a glimpse of him on one of my other trips..not enough to evaluate. Little glimpse I got he did not make a major impression one way or the other.

RJ - turned an ankle early yesterday, didn't play much. Again, just saw a glimpse of him on my other trips. Slender kid, definitely a shooter. Should eventually prosper from Hett and the MU offrense.

Nick DelTufo...saw a little more of him. One afternoon looked very good. Other times has had some trouble finishing....I think he'll be OK to good as he progresses throughout his career. Remember - we're talking freshmen here, and so much of this is projection

Others: Adam Dobriansky, Dutch Gaitely, Shawn Barlow. Adam - foot problems, played just a little yesterday. Earlier pick up game I saw was promising. Skilled player..we'll see. Dutch - seems to be the biggest, broadest of the MU big men. Might be the best rebounder. Still plenty of work to do on offense. Shawn - has his moments, good and not so hot. Working hard on his post up game. Who the heck knows?

Phantom sighting at last.

Rickie Crews is alive and well as we speak. I think he and Jhamar are getting close so that's a good thing. As we saw last year, lots of raw talent, I would rather see him take the ball to the basket than shoot from outside. Has ability for sure. What that translates into? Again..we'll have to see.

Yaniv Simpson. The good news. He's healthy, hasn't tripped on the Boylan Gym floor. But he hasn't been shooting as well as I - personally - would hope.


Alex Nunner - shot the lights out yesterday. Was on fire. Then one other trip over, was less than on fire. He'll have his chance. He's a third year player..maybe he can become more consistent this year....But I've learned not to bank on what I see or don't see in pick up games and even practice...


So...as I view it ..""Hett and the Jet"" and Whitney probably start in a small lineup. Any and all other positions and rotations are up for grabs...At this stage - I give an edge to Crews and Nunner - (Alex off the bench) to see significant time...Hey, that could change
tomorrow.

I think especially the big man rotation will be a revolving door all year unless one or two players begin to separate themselves...

Summation - Now - again - haven't seen all the players near as much as I would like especially the newcomers. But...as we speak - I have no reason to change my 10th place pick in the NEC....though one would hope MU should at least be able to challenge for an NEC Tournamen t berth...

Women

Brianne Edwards (knee) won't be ready for start of practice but could be close to "100 percent" by Christmas per coach Baxter.

Other injuries - Marisa Jimenez (shoulder), Lakia Barber (ACL) will start practice on a limited basis and progress from there - all this from Michele.

I think senior center Lindsey Zegowitz maybe ready for a break out year along with sophomore Brooke McElroy...

New JUCO point guard - Marbely Montas - very quick, gets to the hoop and dishes. Slight of build though and probably not a great outside shooter ( in my opinion) - but a very good point guard and - I envision - will have a good assist to turnover ratio ...Anyone who follows this team knows turnovers have been a BIG problem for MU over the years...


Jen Bender - still a rebounding machine, especially on the offensive glass. MU needs a more consistent year from her.

The two new big girls, 6-3's Samantha Schanuel and Elizabeth Kurdika have a definite upside, appear physcially y strong...need polish - but they're freshmen. They could be very good down the road. Not sure how much - if at all - they'll contribute this year, but I think one or both may at some point.


News item - first two rounds of the women's NEC Tournment will be held at LIU, the final at the highest remaining seed. I don't like it. That was the vote of the women coaches including Michele. Men remain at home courts throughout

Summation - I haven't mentioned everyone, but I think this team, with almost all seniors and juniors and everyone back but one reserve from last year's 18-13 team (10-8, NEC) should make its most serious run for the NEC championship since it got to the NEC final in 2004.

MU vs. Delaware Preview story for Saturday - includes more quotes, notes then will make the paper, also injury and player updates

Delaware a big step up for Monmouth


By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
When left guard Jonathan Dunn was being recruited by Monmouth University, lining up opposite a team the caliber of the University of Delaware never entered his mind.
""I never thought we would,'' said the 6-foot-5, 315-pound fifth-year senior, a graduate of Washington Township High School.
When Dunn was a high school senior in 2002, Monmouth's non-conference opponents were Lafayette and Morgan State.
""We've come a long way since then,'' Dunn said.
Tonight, Monmouth (0-3) visits Delaware (4-0) to play before an expected sellout crowd of 22,000 at Raymond Field in Newark, Del. The Blue Hens, of the Colonial Athletic Association, are ranked No.‚12 in the Football Championship Subdivision Sports Network Top 25.
The non-conference game will mark the largest crowd ever to see Monmouth play football, the highest ranked FCS opponent the Hawks have ever played, and Monmouth's first game against a former FCS national champion. Delaware won the then I-AA championship in 2003.
Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan said the game was scheduled in 2004.
""They (Delaware) were looking for a game in the 2007 season,'' he said. ""I felt it would be a good opportunity for our program to play a game against a school that has a very rich and long football tradition and also expose our players to a great game day atmosphere.''
Is Delaware the best opponent the Hawks have faced in its 15 seasons?
""Quite possibly,'' Callahan said.
So far this season the Blue Hens have beaten William & Mary (49-31), West Chester (41-14), Rhode Island (38-9) and Towson (27-7). Delaware's offense ranks fifth nationally, averaging 483 yards of total offense.
The squad is led by 6-foot-6 senior quarterback Joe Flacco and senior running back Omar Cuff. Flacco ranks ninth nationally in total offense (281 yards per game) while Cuff leads Division I with 14 rushing touchdowns.
Delaware ranks seventh in rushing defense, allowing 80.5 yards per game, and 12th in scoring defense.
Sophomore strong safety Anthony Bratton, with 29 tackles, leads a unit that on 23 first-half drives has allowed one field goal.
""They are a good team,'' Dunn said. ""The best team I've seen on film.'

Added quotes for the blog

Callahan, Monmouth's only coach since the team first took the field at Stonehill in 1993, said his vision has always included a steady growth.

""I thought back when we started the program that hopefully the day would come when we would be playing the likes of Colgate and Delaware and Lehigh and Maine and schools such as that,'' he said.

""That day is here, not just this year but in the years leading up to the present. These are the type of teams players in our program want to play,'' said Callahan. ""For many of them it's the reason why they came here.''


Callahan on Albany's win over Delaware last year
""I think maybe it's an indication teams in the NEC can step out side the conference and compete against other conferences. We saw evidence of that last year.

""I don't think we're looking at last year, we never try to look at the past or the future.''

Note - Del. was 5-6 last season

Repeating item that will run in Saturday Press (below) - MU to begin a home and home with URI (away) next year giving MU non-conference games with Maine and URI in '08.

Notes
Monmouth has scheduled a home-and-home series with Rhode Island, also a CAA school, beginning next year in Kingston, R.I. .‚.‚. Fifth-year senior tackle Nick LoCastro (knee), who has missed the last two games, is ""good to go'' and redshirt freshman linebacker Jeff Brady, who has also missed the last two games with a medical issue, has been cleared to play, according to Callahan. .‚.‚. Of two players who have yet to play this season, Callahan said redshirt junior defensive back Marcus Shell (groin injury) could see action in two weeks, but redshirt freshman defensive back Joe Arneth (Jackson Memorial) ""at this point is concentrating on academics.'' Callahan declined to say wheher Arneth will play this season.

My personal opinion - No.

MU men's soccer Thursday night

I know this on on the MU web site but am copying it here for any comments..


MONMOUTH MEN'S SOCCER BATTLES TO SCORELESS DRAW AT PRINCETON

PRINCETON, N.J. - The Monmouth University men's soccer team battle to a scoreless draw at Princeton on Thursday night. The draw improves Monmouth's record to 4-2-2 on the season, while the Tigers push their mark to 0-6-1. Goalkeeper Daniel Schenkel made a career-high eight saves for the Blue and White, as the senior registered his fifth shutout of the season.

Princeton held an 18-8 advantage in shots, and an 8-4 edge in corner kicks in the 110 minutes of action.

"The team showed a lot of character and composure to get a tie on the road," said head coach Robert McCourt. "Princeton was a fiesty team and made it difficult on us tonight."

Senior Tom Gray and junior John Castro fired three shots apiece for the Hawks, while senior Damon Wilson's lone shot came in the second overtime, that went just wide of the cage. Schenkel now has 18 shutouts with the Hawks in his second season with Monmouth.

Monmouth returns to action on Tuesday, October 2, when the Hawks host NJIT at 4:00 p.m., on The Great Lawn in their final non-conference game of the y

NEW combo story on possible NEC football bid to FCS and expansion - with new info on NJIT/Bryant status - if accepted

This may run in Friday Press


By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
Final NCAA approval of a 2008 automatic qualifying avenue to the FCS (formerly 1-AA)
football playoffs for a Northeast Conference football champion could take place next spring
according to Ron Ratner, NEC Associate Commissioner.

Ratner said football bracket expansion was one of the key issues tackled by the NCAA
Championships/Competition Cabinet last week.

""With near unanimous support, the Cabinet voted to place football bracket expansion from
16 to 18 teams as its number one funding priority,'' said Ratner.

""This would establish an opening round of competition featuring two games the week before
the first round of the playoffs.

""With additional conferences on the road to meeting AQ (automatic qualifier) requirements,
the door was also left open by the Cabinet for discussions on further expansion of the bracket
down the line.''

He said the recommendation now will receive further study and prioritization within the
full NCAA budget, and finally go to the NCAA Board of Directors for approval in its April
meeting.

""If this goes though the NEC will have an automatic bid in some form in 2008, and one
additional at large berth will be added,'' said Ratner.

Until now the FCS had been locked into a 16-team playoff with eight automatic bids which
annually left the NEC waiting in vain for its champion to receive an at-large berth.

""The other question is how the playoff would be formatted and that's something that hasn't
ever really been tackled yet,'' said Ratner.

He said the two additional games would be construed as an opening round where the winners
would feed into the 16 team bracket.

"Off the top of my head, the NEC could be one of those four teams in the opening round or
be placed into the (16-team) field depending on how the playoff is structured,'' Ratner said.

''It's a huge step forward for the NEC,'' said Kevin Callahan, Monmouth coach. ""The fact
that the NEC will have an automatic bid in 2008 is tremendous for the conference.''

Possible NEC expansion (contains NEW info)

Ratner said NJIT in Newark and Bryant College, a Division II school in Smithfield, R.I.,
have applied for membership to the NEC and that league presidents ""could vote'' on the matter
at an Oct. 17 meeting.

NJIT's major sports include men's and women's basketball and soccer, as well as baseball,
while Bryant also has football and has been a Division II power in men's lacrosse which the
NEC would then sponsor.

Ratner said NJIT is already Division I in soccer.

this new info also from Ratner


If accepted, NJIT would begin competing in NEC regular season competition in 2008-09. Men's and women's soccer would be immediately eligible for NEC and NCAA Tournament competition. All other sports could compete in the postseason and be eligible for the NCAA Tournament in 2009-10.

If accepted, Bryant would have the option of competing in NEC regular season competition in 2008-09, or could choose to begin in 2009-10. Bryant would be eligible to for NEC and NCAA Tournament competition in 2012-13.




Football notes
When Monmouth running back David Sinsi tries to extend his current NCAA all divisions streak
of scoring a touchdown to 16 consecutive games Saturday at No. 12 Delaware (4-0) he'll be
facing the No. 4 ranked rushing defense in the FCS which is allowing 80 yards per game and has
yielded three rushing touchdowns. Ironcially, Monmouth is No. 22 in the nation in total
defense and Delaware No. 23 ....Wide receivers Troy Yudin and Steve Dowens (Middletown South)
set career marks in receptions last week at Stony Brook, with Yudin making four catches and
Dowens five.

MY FRIDAY Prediction with scores of Del. games and records so far of opponents - MU football note worthy vs. Delaware

For game info please go to either web site.

But I thought it is interesting that - in football- this will be for Monmouth:

1. The largest crowd (22,000) ever to see MU play

2. The highest ranked FCS opponent Monmouth has ever met (Del. is #12)



3. The first time MU has ever played a former national champion (Delaware won 1-AA in 2003)



Delaware game-by-game

Aug 30 William & Mary (2-2) Won 49-31
Sep 8 West Chester (D2, 3-1 nationally ranked #20) ) Won 41-14
Sep 15 Rhode Island (0-4) Won 38-9
Sep 22 Towson (2-2) won 27-7

Some notes..Towson beat Central Conn. State, 20-10; was buried by U Mass 36-13, W & Mary beat VMI 63-16 and Liberty 48-41; lost to #17 Va. Tech 44-3...URI has lost to Fordham (27-23), Army (14-7), and Hofstra (37-24)





My prediction: Delware, 28-7.

My MU prediction record: 2-1.

Some Georgian Court Volleyball info from the coach

Bellow is the invitation the coach has sent to every high school and volleyball program in the tri-state area.



Hello and thanks a lot for supporting all our home games!!!

It has been a lot of fun and a VERY LARGE, INTENSE, LOUD CROWD, who played the 7th player
in the court and has been helping us BIG TIME!

Your support has help us to the number 1 spot and undefeated in our conference CACC.

The following matches mean a lot to our program and we are looking forward to, once again, seeing you there
and sharing the time with you!

Here is the next few games at home.

SATURDAY Sept 29 POST UNIVERSITY* HOME Noon
TUESDAY October 9 PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITY* HOME 7:30 PM

Our full schedule is here...

http://www.georgian.edu/athletics/volleyball_schedule.htm

Thank YOU!!!!


Francisco J Casado
Women Head Volleyball Coach


This is my email address (casadof@georgian.edu, casadof@verizon.net) if anyone wants more details about our GCU volleyball season,

NEC expansion plans

Ron Ratner of the NEC told me yesterday that NJIT in Newark and Bryant College, a Division II school in Smithfield, R.I., have applied for membership to the NEC and that league presidents ""could vote'' on the matter at an Oct. 17 meeting.


NJIT's major sports include men's and women's basketball and soccer, as well as baseballl, while Bryant also has football and has been a Division II power in men's lacrosse which the NEC would then sponsor.

Ratner said NJIT is already Division I in soccer.


Below is in today's Providence Journal...

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

SMITHFIELD — Bryant University has beaten the clock in one hurdle to elevate its athletics department to Division I. A final answer could come down as soon as next month.

Last month, the NCAA moved to stem the number of schools hoping to make the jump to Division I. Its board of directors enacted a four-year moratorium on schools applying to move up. The moratorium, which is effective immediately and runs until August of 2011, does not affect 20 institutions that already had begun the process of reclassifying. Bryant filed its notice with the NCAA last spring, and therefore is exempt from the moratorium.

“It caught us by surprise, to be honest,” Bryant athletic director Bill Smith said of the moratorium. “We knew the NCAA was evaluating its transition plan, so to get in before the door slammed shut is a relief.”

Bryant is now in an “exploratory period,” where it is evaluating whether its successful program in the Northeast-10 Conference is ready to make the move up to Division I. Bryant officials have until June to find potential conferences that would be a good fit, and also to decide whether to apply for admission. If Bryant does move forward, it will file another application with the NCAA and begin a four-year process during which it will upgrade its schedules with Division I opponents.

If Bryant reapplies, then next fall its athletic teams would be ineligible for Northeast-10 and Division II championships, as well as any Division I championships. Bryant teams would become championship eligible in Division I starting in the fall of 2012.

The biggest hurdle to Bryant’s potential move is finding a spot in a conference. Smith says proceeding as an independent school is not an option, so landing a spot in an Eastern-based league is the top priority. Bryant wouldn’t be a candidate for conferences like the Atlantic 10 or Big East, but it is exploring other leagues, especially the Northeast Conference, according to sources. The school would love to be considered for the Patriot League and perhaps the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), but those talks haven’t gone very far.

“We’ve had discussions with three commissioners,” said Smith, who declined to discuss which leagues Bryant has expressed interest in. “The conference is the biggest thing. We want to be competitive in whatever conference we’re accepted into. If we’re not able to find a home in Division I, we’d rethink our strategy.”

Bryant has had extensive discussions with the Northeast Conference, which now includes 11 members: Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson, Long Island, Monmouth, Mount St. Mary’s, Quinnipiac, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis (N.Y.), St. Francis (Pa.) and Wagner. Six of those schools, not including football-only member Albany, play football. A team of NEC officials visited Bryant last month. Expanding the NEC will be the major topic of discussion at a meeting of the conference’s presidents next month.

“Bryant is one of the schools our membership committee has explored,” said Ron Ratner, the NEC’s associate commissioner. “They’re a good fit because they have football, and they’d give us enough schools to form a men’s lacrosse program. It also has a beautiful campus and is a strong academic institution.”

The NEC also is considering adding the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Asked if the NEC’s presidents could vote to add either school next month, Ratner said, “You never know. There may be (a vote). Both schools would like an answer sooner than later.”

There's more to this story on the PJ web site...

MU football chat/questions

MU is 0-3.

At this point in the season what did you think the record would be?

What has been the problem (s) so far?

At the current record, are you surprised? Very upset? Figured this would happen? Not that concerned, they can still win or tie for the NEC?

With a 10-game schedule their final record will be?

My answers:

1-2

Problem (s) - Key mistakes

Am I surprised? A tad. Thought they'd have at least one win.

Final record: 3-7, 4-6 at best.

Latest on NEC football going into the FCS (formerly 1-AA playoffs) in 2008

Just spoke with NEC associate commissioner Ron Ratner. Here is info for part of a story we will run later this week


The other part will deal with - two schools apply for membership to the NEC. Who do you think they are....



Final NCAA approval of a 2008 automatic qualifying avenue to the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly 1-AA) football playoffs for a Northeast Conference football champion could take place next spring according to Ron Ratner, NEC Associate Commissioner.
Ratner, said football bracket expansion was one of the key issues tackled by the NCAA Championships/Competition Cabinet last week.
""With near unanimous support, the Cabinet voted to place football bracket expansion from 16 to 18 teams as its number one funding priority,'' said Ratner.
""This would establish an opening round of competition featuring two games the week before the first round of the playoffs.
""With additional conferences on the road to meeting AQ requirements, the door was also left open by the Cabinet for discussions on further expansion of the bracket down the line.''
He said the recommendation now will receive further study and prioritization within the full NCAA budget, and finally go to the NCAA Board of Directors for approval in its April meeting.
""If this goes though the NEC will have an automatic bid in some form in 2008, and one additional at large berth will be added,'' said Ratner.
Until now the FCS had been locked into a 16-team playoff with eight automatic bids which annually left the NEC waiting in vain for its champion to receive an at-large berth.
""The other question is how the playoff would be formatted and that's something that hasn't ever really been tackled yet,'' said Ratner.
He said the two additional games would be construed as an opening round where the winners would feed into the 16 team bracket.
"Off the top of my head, the NEC could be one of those four teams in the opening round or be placed into the (16-team) field depending on how the playoff is structured,'' Ratner said.

Ratner said three leagues - the Pioneer (San Diego's league) , IVY, and SWAC, though eligible, have not sought automatic qualification to the playoffs. He said the Big South (Stony Brook) will apply when it becomes eligible in 2010 ..

MU men's and women's hoops

Anyone want to comment?? Here you go...

I'll have some thoughts myself later this week...currently bogged down with....uh.....football (MU and high school)

MU football - More frustration for the Hawks

I watched this game on the S Brook web site and then KC called me... I don't know how the MU video stream went last week, but I thought this was nothing special..I linked it up with the MU play-by-play on MCX and they did a nice job......

The MU write up and full stats are available at the MU web site...


By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER

The frustrating losses continue to mount for the Monmouth University football team.
""When you turn it over three times in critical situations it makes it very difficult to win,'' said Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan after the winless Hawks turned the ball over twice at the Stony Brook one-yard line Saturday night and had a late rally fall short, 21-15, in a non-conference game before 4,831 at LaValle Stadium in Stony Brook, N.Y.
Trailing by the final score Monmouth (0-3), which has lost its games by a total of 16 points, regained possession with a 1:11 remaining, and a pass interference call gave it the ball on the 17-yard line of Stony Brook (3-1) with four seconds left.
Quarterback Brett Burke's 39th pass attempt of the night, intended for tight end John Nalbone over the middle, was incomplete as the game ended.4
""Nalbone did get free in the middle,'' said Callahan. ""I thought we had a good play called, a good shot. He was open, he was very close to scoring a touchdown.''
Burke who threw for almost all of his career high 193 yards in the second half, connected with his former Wall High School teamate Ron Lauch with an eight-yard TD pass to bring Monmouth within six points with 2:11 showing.
Quarterback Josh Dudash of Stony Brook (17-for-29, 184 yards), a 2003 Toms River High School South graduate, tied a Stony Brook record with the 39th and 40th touchdown passes of his college career.
Despite earlier damaging turnovers Monmouth got within 14-9 with 12:45 left in the game when David Sinsi (115 yards), who fumbled at the goal line near the end of the first half, scored from the one.
The TD extended Sinisi's nation's longest collegiate streak of games scoring a touchdown to 15 games.
Stony Brook, however, added insurance points when Tyler Santucci picked off a pass by Burke leading to Dudash connecting with tight end Kevin Halonski on a six-yard TD pass for a 21-9 lead with 3:39 left.
Trailing a 7-0 late in the first half Monmouth appeared poised to tie the game when senior defensive end Chris Reed picked off a tipped Dudash pass setting up the Hawks first and goal at the nine yard line.
On third down Sinisi fumbled as he tried to dive into the end zone and Stony Brook sophomore Josh Auerbach recovered on the one.
""He (Sinsi) was reaching to get the ball over the goal line and lost control of it,'' said Callahan.
Trailing 7-3 in the third quarter, following a 31-yard field goal by Fred Weingart, an errant snap on a punt try gave Monmouth the ball on the Stony Brook 13.
On third and seven at the Stony Brook 10, Burke found running back Bobby Giles for a first down but Giles fumbled at the one with the ball rolling into the into end zone for a touchback. ""We come away with no points,'' said Callahan.
Six plays later Dudash connected with junior wide out Dwayne Eley for a 46-yard TD and a 14-3 three-quarter lead.
NOTES...The road only gets tougher for Monmouth which 7 p.m. Saturday visits Delaware (4-0), No. 11 in the latest FSC poll...Lauch, a 6-5 junior, made the first three receptions of his college career for 24 yards..


.

NEC football moves closer to FCS playoffs

Re : The NEC in the FCS NCAA playoffs in 2008 - Word from Ron Ratner of the NEC is that -

""Football bracket expansion was one of the key issues tackled by the NCAA Championships/Competition Cabinet this past week. With near unanimous support, the Cabinet voted to place football bracket expansion from 16 to 18 teams as its number one funding priority. This would establish an opening round of competition featuring two games the week before the first round of the playoffs.''

Sounds like a play-in game to me. I will write more on this next week

MU football vs. Stonybrook/Predictions/comments

Below from the MU web site


HERE IS A LOOK AT THIS WEEKEND’S MATCHUP...
Monmouth enters into today’s game against Stony Brook with an 0-2 record for the first time since the 2002 season.
The Hawks return to the field after an idle week. Monmouth failed to get a win at home against Robert Morris on Sept. 8, falling to the Colonials 20-17 despite jumping out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Monmouth’s Dave Sinisi will be looking to extend his current scoring streak to 15 straight games against Stony Brook, while quarterback Brett Burke will be looking for his first career win under center.
For the second straight game Monmouth won the turnover battle, but it wasn’t enough as RMU’s Michael Walser booted a 36-yarder with seconds remaining to lift the Colonials to a three point win.
Stony Brook comes into today’s game with a 2-1 record after losing a 42-6 game against FCS powerhouse Youngstown State. The Seawolves are an Independent team after leaving the NEC this year. They will join the BIG SOUTH beginning next year.

My Pick: Stonybrook, 27-14. Seawolves have too many weapons. Monmouth needs to create turnovers to hang in there.

My record: 1-1.

MU football update

Talked with KC Wednesday..

LoCastro - "questionable" for Stony Brook

Brady (medical issue) is out

Skellenger - has not played much if at all (coaches' decision)


12th game next year? - not that likely. What is likely is NEC getting the automatic bid in some form, play in, etc.) ) to the FCS playoffs...

MU men's soccer (4-1) vs. George Mason (2-2) 3 p.m. Wednesday

Make predictions, pre and post game comments.

How much will MU miss Wilson??

Also... Steve Edelson of the Press will be covering the game for Thursday paper...

MU football news update

Talked with coach Callahan this afternoon:

1. Nick LoCastro - about 50-50 for Stony Brook game.

2. Matt Fullam - back up Q back has left the team. A blogger had reported this but - as I will do with most all rumors - I will confer with the appropriate coach to determine validity.

When a rumor does not run it means: 1. it's not true, or 2. it's an ""off the record, team matter,'' etc.

Callahan on local radio/from the MU web site

Just thought I'd out this on here..especially since our high school football writer - Steve Falk - is a regular on the program....


CATCH MU’S KEVIN CALLAHAN LIVE ON WOBM 1160AM TONIGHT

Callahan to talk Hawk football during the AutoLenders High School Football Show



WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Monmouth football coach Kevin Callahan will appear on The Shore Sports Network’s AutoLenders High School Football Show tonight during the 7 p.m. hour to talk about Monmouth football.



Callahan will appear during the 7 p.m. hour to talk about Monmouth’s football team, which features 28 former Shore Conference players. The two-hour high school football show is co-hosted by six-time NJ Sports Broadcaster of the Year Kevin Williams, former Brick Memorial coach Ed Sarluca, Monmouth football alum and current MU adjunct professor Matt Harmon, Asbury Park Press football writer Steve Falk, and Shore Conference Sports.com’s Scott Stump. Last week Monmouth’s head coach traveled to Val’s Tavern in Rumson to conduct the segment live, a photo gallery of the event is available at www.GoMUHawks.com.



Local fans can hear the program every Thursday until late November on 1160 AM in Ocean County and 1310 AM in Monmouth County from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

MU men's soccer (3-1) vs. Delaware (0-4) Saturday 3 p.m. and MU women's games Friday and Sunday

A little bit about Delaware from the UD web site..It's last game - lost to Rutgers Tuesday 3-0


Delaware, playing one of its most challenging schedules ever, hasn't scored a goal in 274:42. The Hens have been shut out in three straight matches for the first time since October of 2005, but head coach Ian Hennessy said his squad is primed for a run in conference play.

"We continue to create but are having difficulty putting goals away at the moment," said Hennessy, whose Hens are 0-4 to start the season for the first time since 2000. "We were matched up well again tonight, but in the end it is the little details that are catching up. The effort is there and I hope that these games will help us make the conference tournament, our main goal this season. We have a tremendous group of young men and they will rebound from tonight."

The Blue Hens return to action on Saturday, when they finish their five-game road trip at Monmouth. Kick-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.

MU women hosting Seton Hall Friday and Lehigh Sunday...make comments on soccer action here....

Locals in college football For Thursday Press

I am placing this on the blog because I think those that those who otherwise may not see this story may be interested in some of these players..


Also, there are more players here than will run in Thursday's paper because there are no space limits on the blog..

And also..if you are aware of any other locals playing college football or care to update me early each week please do so via tonygsports@aol.com



By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER

Despite a big day from red shirt freshman Knowshon Moreno (Middletown South) Saturday, then No. 11 Georgia (1-1) fell to South Carolina 16-12. Moreno had 14 carries for 104 yards, both of which set career highs in his second game. His 50-yard run in the third quarter helped electrify Georgia's Sanford Stadium sell-out crowd of 92,746. Moreno had 70 yards on 20 carries in Georgia's 35-14 season opening win over Oklahoma State... Georgia defensive tackle Kade Weston (Red Bank Regional) has accumulated seven tackles, a sack, and five quarterback pressures...Troy State senior Kenny Cattouse of Keyport has rushed for 54 yards and a TD in the Trojans' first two games, losses to Arkansas and Florida. In 2006 the Trojans' leading rusher saw action in 12 games, eight as a starter, finishing with 810 yards on 168 carries...Wisconsin redshirt sophomore tight-end Garrett Graham (Brick Memorial) caught his second touchdown pass in as many weeks. Graham, caught two passes for 11 yards and a score in a 20-13 victory over UNLV. In the season opener he caught his first career touchdown (11 yards) in a 42-21 victory over Washington State on his way to three catches for 38 yards...Stony Brook senior quarterback Josh Dudash, a Toms River South graduate, threw for 233 yards and a TD when the Seawolves defeated Bucknell, 48-20, to start 2-0 for the first time since 2003. Dudash hit on 21 of his 30 attempts as he eclipsed the 200-yard mark for a second straight week. In two games sophomore defensive back Cory Giddings (Ocean Township) has registered five tackles. ship) has registered five tackles. Mike Lepore, a redshirt freshman wide out, is on the Stony Brook roster after transferring from New Hampshire...Joe Mele (Manasquan), a senior linebacker, had five tackles for Northeastern (0-2) in a loss to Richmond. Mele had seven tackles in a season opening game vs. Northwestern. In 2006 Mele started all 11 games and ranked second on the Huskies in total tackles with 61.. True freshman Mike Mele, Joe's brother, had two tackles for Syracuse (0-2) in its season opening game vs. Washington...New Hampshire safety Ryan McGuinness (Howell) made two tackles including one for a loss in a defeat by James Madison....St. Francis, Pa. fifth year senior Lou Beninato (Colts Neck) had 11 tackles and a fumble recovery as the Red Flash bowed to Morehead State, 21-14...Senior Piotr Czech (Keyport) hit field goals of 49 and 19 yards as Wagner (1-1) lost in overtime to Iona, 17-14....U CONN redshirt sophomore Donald Brown (RBC) had 87 yards on 20 carries in a victory over Maine.... Sacred Heart running back and former Point Boro fullback Brian Friedman ran for 27 yards on six carries in a 41-20 victory over Assumption and 24 yards on four carries in a 54-14 victory over La Salle ...Free safety Jarrett Sanderson (Long Branch) had six tackles for Bowling Green in a loss to Michigan State after collecting seven tackles in an overtime victory over Minnesota...Quarterback Stephen McGrath (Manasquan), running back Adam Hansen (St. John Vianney), and lineman Dan Cooper (Freehold Township), are senior regulars for Marist (0-2). T


In Division III

Sophomore quarterback Bill Winters, a Brick High school graduate, helped spark
Fairleigh Dickinson College at Florham to a 20-17 overtime win over Juniata. With the win the Devils, led by former Shore Conference coach Rich Mosca, are 1-0 for the first time since the 2004 season and only the second time since 1996. Winters had a 16-yard touchdown run to send FDU to a 7-0 lead also had a 20-yard run during the drive. FDU upped the lead to 14-0 with 5:03 left in the first quarter on a 23-yard touchdown strike from Winters to senior tight end Ray Kwiatkowski (Monsignor Donovan). Winters finished with 14 rushes for 89 yards and Kwiatkowski caught two passes for 38 yards. Defensively for the Devils sophomore defensive tackle Nick Cusanelli (Brick) had a sack and three tackles for loss...Montclair State senior quarterback Mike Jump (Toms River South) completed 14 passes for 150 yeards helping lead the Red Hawks (1-0) to a 14-7 non-conference win over Wilkes University. Senior linebacker (Rumson) made nine tackles.

On the weekend of Aug. 31-Sept. 1

Rowan senior quarterback John Rankin (Toms River North) completed 18 passes in 35 attempts for 166 yards when the Profs dropped their season opener at Christopher Newport, 23-17. In the game junior linebacker Chris Pinto (Southern) recorded 11 tackles and freshman outside linebacker Dan Hopkins (Jackson Memorial) posted one interception....Six Shore Conference alumni suited up, five from Salisbury University when the Sea Gulls downed Albright University, 42-12. Ryan Hesnan (Brick), Josh Leonardis (Pinelands), Chris Loveland (Central), all manned linebacker spots for Salisbury where Garrett Burgess (Southern) and Joe Falco (Ocean) are reserve running backs. Dan Duddy Jr. (Central) was the long snapper for Albright.... Kean senior kicker Jonathan Robinson (Brick) was tabbed the New Jersey Athletic Conference Football Special Teams Player of the Week following a record-setting performance in a 48-7 victory over USMMA-Kings Point. In the game Robinson connected on a career-high four field goals, the second highest single game total in program history, and 4-of-5 extra point attempts to become the program's all-time leader in both categories. His successful kicks of 38, 35, 25 and 35 yards game him 15 career field goals. In the win, sophomore Jared Chunn (Monmouth Regional) rushed for a career high 118 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown run. Senior A.J. Roque (Matawan) eclipsed 6,000-career passing yards, as he finished with 155 yards passing and freshman running back Chris DiMicco (Lacey) had touchdown runs of 12-yards and seven-yards....College of New Jersey sophomore quarterback Chris James (Brick Memorial) was 15-for-32 for 123 yards with one interception in a 15-0 loss to Muhlenberg.

Various college websites and http://www.eliterecruits.com/ contributed to this report.

Thursday Press story on Hawk Vision

Hawk Vision gives fans a whole new outlook


Video streaming of sports events has arrived

By TONY GRAHAM

STAFF WRITER


WEST LONG BRANCH - Holding a walkie-talkie in one hand Saturday, Jarred Weiss sat in the
Monmouth University football press box with his eyes focusing on more than what was
transpiring on Kessler Field.

His eyes were darting back and forth to a TV monitor on his left, a control panel in front
of him and a lap top on his right.

As the game between Monmouth and Robert Morris unfolded Weiss, a junior communications
major from Springfield, was checking his monitors, pushing buttons on the control panel and
issuing instructions to two student cameramen wearing headsets.

Pete Mulroy, a Monmouth senior from Staten Island, manned one camera just outside the press
box. Joe Segreto, a sophomore from Toms River, was stationed along the Monmouth sidelines.

As the action unfolded the cameras captured every Brett Burke pass or Dave Sinisi run and
XOS Technologies sent them into cyberspace.

World wide video streaming of athletic events had arrived at Monmouth.

""Camera One (outside the press box), you're live,'' Weiss would say into the
walkie-talkie.

""Ready (camera) Two. Two, you're live, just try and stay with coach (Kevin Callahan) or
Burke coming off the field.''

Labeled Hawk Vision, it now means anyone with broadband internet access from West Long
Branch to western Australia, may follow the live video of many Monmouth home athletic events
including football, men's and women's basketball, and baseball, with video of some other
sports including men's and women's soccer in the works. Some games may be blacked out locally
due to television contract obligations. Many of the events will also be archived.

""Viewing the game on the computer screen was an event I thought would never happen,'' said
Henry Spence, a 1967 Monmouth graduate who watched the game from his residence in Palm Beach
County, Fla. ""The game came across clear and was exciting to watch.''

As it was Saturday, the video is synced, when available, with the audio broadcasts of the
Monmouth student radio station, WMCX (88.9 FM), already on the web.

In addition, the sports which currently lack audio and video, such as soccer and women's
lacrosse (in the spring), may be followed in progress on the net via Game Watcher, the XOS
version of the more widely known Game Tracker.

Game Watcher can be found on www.gomuhawks.com on the schedule pages for individual sports.

While Game Watcher is free, Hawk Vision packages include a cost of $6.95 per month, or
$59.95 for the entire athletic year. More information is available at the Monmouth web site.

""It was a pretty big undertaking for the athletic department,'' said Greg Viscomi,
Monmouth assistant director of athletics communications.

""It was a learning experience,'' said Weiss. ""It was a lot of fun trying to get
everything coordinated and being part of the first broadcast.''

The Sinisi streak

The streak of Monmouth University tail back Dave Sinisi of scoring at least one touchdown in 14 consecutive games is the longest in the nation at any level of Division I football according to the Monmouth Sports Information Department. Sinisi, a red shirt sophomore from Cedar Grove, scored both Monmouth touchdowns in Saturday's 20-17 loss to Roibert Morris.

MU football at CCSU on TV /more info on the NEC web site

NEC To Televise Two Football Games

With the Northeast Conference beginning its 12th football season, the league announced plans to televise a pair of games on Northeast regional outlets.

The first game airs on October 27th when defending NEC champion Monmouth travels to Central Connecticut State. FSN-New York will broadcast the contest live at 11:00 am.

MU football -follow up story for Monday paper...

By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER

Whenever tailback David Sinisi went to the sidelines with leg cramps Saturday the Monmouth University offense cramped up.
In the three series in which Sinisi either did not participate or was not in the rotation Monmouth managed one first down after racking up seven in the Sinisi-led two opening drives which he capped with TD runs.
But even when the redshirt sophomore, who accounted for 192 all-purpose yards (61 percent of Monmouth's offense) lined up in the backfield after his two touchdowns, the Monmouth offense suffered penalty cramps.
""We had too many penalties,'' said Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan Sunday. His team was flagged for eight penalties for 108 yards in the 20-17 Northeast Conference defeat by Robert Morris. And with the Hawks' offense in uncertain mode after its two scores, several of the penalties proved costly.
On Monmouth's first possession of the second quarter, with the Hawks ahead 14-0, a holding call wiped out a Monmouth drive that had reached the RMU 43-yard line.
On Monmouth's first possession of the third quarter, with the game tied at 14, an illegal block cancelled an 11-yard run by quarterback Brett Burke.
And, perhaps most damaging, was the delay of game penalty just after Monmouth had secured a fourth-quarter first down at it own 26-yard line with the game tied at 17.
""We were slow getting out of the huddle and up to the line of scrimmage,''said Callahan. ""And then we failed to recognize the 25-second clock was running so low.''
Monmouth's failure to advance paved the way for Michael Walser's game-winning field goal, his second field goal of the game.
The Hawks also suffered some ill fortune while RMU was driving for a game-tying TD in the third quarter.
During the 71-yard drive Monmouth's Kevin Walsh forced a fumble by RMU running back Myles Russ. But the loose ball was scooped up by quarterback Erik Cwalinski who who ran 18 yards to the Monmouth 40.
""It was unlucky,'' said Callahan.
The Hawks promptly shot themselves in the foot on the ensuing kick off with a holding call that negated a 17-yard return by Bobby Cole.
""Right now we're 0-2 and I honestly feel we should be 2-0,'' said Callahan. ""There are several reasons why we're not.
""We're still committing a lot of mistakes that are keeping us from being efficient on both sides of the ball. If you're going to win games you've got to eliminate those things. I still feel we're a good football team and have the ability to be a good football team.
""We've just got to keep working on a lot of the little details in order to improve.''
A bight spot Saturday was the kicking of junior Fred Weingart who showed no ill effects from the torn ACL in his kicking foot that ended his 2006 season. Weingart nailed two extra points and a career long 42-yard field goal.
""It was just a lot of re-hab,'' said Weingart, a graduate of New Egypt High School. ""I've been doing well in practice getting a lot of reps and getting my strength back. So I've been good to go.''
Ironically, Walser's two field goals came after the first year kicker last week missed two extra points and a field goal attempt in a loss to Dayton.
Monmouth has the first of its two bye weeks this week before visiting Stony Brook (2-0) 4 p.m. Sept. 22.
NOTES...Monmouth defensive back Ayo Falae recorded three pass breakups and linebacker Tom Larkin his first career sack.

MU football vs. RMU/Hawk Vision/Ground Breaking for the MAC

Please make post game remarks here and also about the Ground Breaking if you so desire. Also: did anyone watch on Hawk Vision and how was it.?? Am doing a story on Hawk Vision for next week so if you would care to comment on Hawk Vision for the paper please e-mail me your thoughts and also phone number ...

Thank you.

MU football preview vs. RMU/make predictions

This is basically the Press story that will run Saturday..this is also a longer version of what will appear in the paper...

Since I am locked into high school football Fridays these advance MU stories - as is this one- are usually written off interviews done Thursday or during the week .

My pick: MU, 24-20 .

Season Record: 1-0.


By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
WEST LONG BRANCH - The Monmouth University football team's 2007 home opener, a first time accompanying live video streaming of Monmouth football on the internet, and ground breaking for the school's new 4,000 Multi-purpose Activity Center (MAC).
It's all part of Saturday's busy and historical day on the Shadow Lawn campus.
""The most important thing is the football game,'' said Monmouth athletic athletic director Marilyn McNeil of the Northeast Conference game, the first NEC contest of 2007 for the defending champion Hawks (0-1) and Robert Morris (0-1).
""But in terms of the day here in Monmouth athletics this is monumental,'' said McNeil referring to the ground breaking ceremonies which will be held at noon in the parking lot behind Boylan Gymnasium, the site of the new athletic facility.
"'I've been waiting 15 years for this,'' said McNeil. ""The idea that this is going to become a reality, it's going to change us so positively.''
McNeil said the MAC should be ready for the 2009-2010 men's and women's basketball season.
""I'm excited the ground breaking is surrounded by the football game,'' she said. ""Because it's all about all of what we mean in college athletics. This is a building for the fans, the students, the community.
""This is the right century here,'' she said. ""We've been hiding in the last century for too long.''
On Kessler Field the Hawks today hope Saturday marks the beginning of a drive to a fourth NEC championship since 2003.
""It's a must win,''said quarterback Brett Burke. The red shirt junior, was 14-for-25 for 173 yards with one TD and no interceptions last week in his first collegiate start, a 21-14 setback at Maine.
""The way football is, every game is important but a conference game, this early, it's a must win,''said Burke, a Wall High School graduate. ""That's how we have to approach it.''
Kevin Callahan, Monmouth coach, said facing an NEC opponent this early in the season, ""makes it a very big game.
""They were one of the teams in my preseason coaches poll that I picked right at the top of the Conference because of the many veteran and experienced players they have returning. They're a scary team to be playing this early in the year.''
In the poll, Albany was picked No. 1, Monmouth No. 2, and Robert Morris was picked tied for third place with Central Connecticut State.
Burke said it was good to get his first start under his belt. "'It's not very good that we didn't win,''said Burke. ""I felt comfortable. I just have to improve this week and the offense as a whole, we have to improve.''
Where as Monmouth's secondary, with just one returning starter, did not face a furious passing attack last week vs. run-oriented Maine, Saturday should be different.
Erik Cwalinski, Robert Morris' junior quarterback who threw 19 TD passes in 2006, last week hooked up with senior flanker Mario Hines on a 62-yard bomb in a 23-12 loss to Dayton.
Cwalinski (18-39-1, 236 yards vs. Dayton) was also sacked five times.
""It (Maine) really wasn't a game where you could get a specific evaluation of the secondary,'' said Callahan. ""I think that will change this week.''
The live video streaming will involve two cameras, one at the pressbox level and another on Kessler Field according to Greg Viscomi, Monmouth's sports information director and video maven.
The production will be directed by Jarred Weiss, a Monmouth junior.
There is a fee to watch and detailed information is available at http://www.gomuhawks.com/.
""Everybody's doing it,''said McNeil of the internet streaming. ""It really is a service and it's time that we stepped up,'' she said.
NOTES...Starting left tackle Nick LoCastro (knee) will not play Saturday said Callahan who said more will be known on the status of the 6-6, 295 pound senior when results of an MRI are received. Derek Rosinski, a 6-6, 300 pound sophomore, is slated to start in his place....With 147 career catches senior Adam San Miguel needs three to tie the school record set by second year Dallas Cowboy Miles Austin...Redshirt sophomore running back David Sinisi will be trying to score a touchdown in a 14th game in a row. His current streak is the longest in the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision, formerly known as 1-AA).

MU men's soccer wins, 2-0. Game Watcher (GameTracker) debuts on MU web site

Did anyone notice - MU got its Game Watcher going for MU men's soccer today. This is a free service..so now fans unable to attend may follow the home games live..MU deserves some kudos for for getting this up and running so quickly on the Great Lawn


Below is the game report from the MU web site where there is more info:


WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Monmouth University registered its second shutout of the season, and ninth out of its last 11 matches, en route to a 2-0 victory over Manhattan College on Friday afternoon, in its home opener on The Great Lawn.



Monmouth reserve Rob LaRocca (Holmdel, N.J./CBA) got the Hawks on the board first, as the junior received a pass from senior Michael Millar (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) in stride and beat Manhattan keeper John Ciano to the far netting. LaRocca’s goal, in the 36th minute, was his first of the season.



The Hawks made the score 2-0 five minutes into the second stanza as senior Tom Gray (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) drove a free kick from 30 yards out just inside the far post. Gray, a Hermann Trophy Watch List performer, scored his first goal of the season.

Anyone attend and or care to comment on the game, Game Watcher, etc??

MU women rolled past St. Peter's, 3-0

MU info on HawkVision

This is also on the MU web site.. but I am also posting it here for your comments and possibly questions, though any major questions I would refer to gviscomi@monmouth.edu ...as I am highly unofficial...

ALSO..on the front of the MU web site...on the right - go to HawkVision and click on FREE (my favorite word) for the link to the video of the MAC...I just watched it...it'll make Fla. Alum want to move back to Jersey!!!...

A few notes regarding this from Greg Viscomi (Mr. HawkVision):

There will be two cameras for football, one in the Press box, one at field level. Jarred Weiss, an MU junior (also a men's hoops manager) will be the director selecting what cameras to use (no doubt the start of an ESPN career for Jarred). The video will be linked up with the WMCX audio .
When games are complete they will most likely be archived for pay subscribers. You may sign up now!!. Read below and on the MU web site..

Video is also planned for men's and women's hoops home games, baseball, and possibly some lacrosse and soccer, aiming at the NEC Soccer Tournament should MU host it. I have to check and seed if Game Watcher for soccer (the non video) will be up any sooner this season......






..WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Monmouth University Department of Athletics is proud to announce the launch of Hawk Vision packages, an initiative that offers new and exciting ways to keep up on all Hawk’s action. Hawk Vision brings exclusive audio/video streaming right to your home & office, offering live & archived audio/video clips of select home games & events throughout the year.

Hawk Vision Packages include a cost of $6.95 per month, or $59.95 for the entire athletic year, and entitles members to video coverage of all Monmouth home football games, all home men’s basketball games (note: some games may be blacked out due to television contract obligations) and all home women’s basketball games.

Also available will be select home men’s soccer games, as well as select home women’s soccer, lacrosse and baseball home contests. Included with purchase will be audio coverage of all home football games, as well as all home men’s and women’s basketball games.

There is also a section devoted to original content, which will feature coaches shows and
high-lite films of various Hawk’s teams. Monmouth will also be running gamewatcher, a live stat tracker for football, basketball, baseball, women’s lacrosse and select other sports.
Also available are new Mobile Alerts, which entitles subscribers to receive text message updates on their cell phones. The price to the fan is $4.99 per month and fans receive at least seven scoring alerts per football game. To sign up, fans can text PRODUCT
CODE to 54444 or contact the Monmouth University Department of Athletics for more details at 732-571-5188.

Game watcher can be found on the schedule pages for individual sports.

MAC Ground Breaking announcement - this from the MU web site

Am running it here for your comments....

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth University is proud to announce the schedule of events for the groundbreaking of the new Multi-purpose Activity Center (MAC), this Saturday, September 8 at 12:00 p.m. The Hawks kick off their 2007 home opener against Robert Morris at 1:00 p.m. on Kessler Field.

“The MAC groundbreaking is a dream come true for students and athletes alike,” said Dr. Marilyn McNeil, Monmouth’s Vice President and Director of Athletics. “It will raise the stature of our 19 Division I programs but will also serve as a hub of activity for all students. Located near the heart of the campus, we envision the MAC to be a destination place for everyone.”

The MAC, which will serve students, faculty, employees, alumni and residents of the local community, is slated to contain a multi-purpose gymnasium with 4,100 installed seats and a 200M, 6-lane indoor track. The new building will also be home to the University Bookstore, the Monmouth University Athletics Hall of Fame, home and opposing locker rooms, educational and administrative areas, a new Varsity Club, and a new Fitness Center.

The structure, which will encompass 152,400 square feet and take approximately 24 months to complete, cost about $57 million and has no comparable facilities in Monmouth County.

The Activity Center will expand the scope of Monmouth’s intramural and recreational programs and enhance its 19 NCAA Division I athletic programs the university sponsors.

Scheduled to appear at the groundbreaking are Monmouth University President Vice Admiral Paul G. Gaffney, along with Jeff Mills, Vice President for University Advancement, Dr. Marilyn McNeil, Vice President and Athletics Director, Patricia Swannack, Vice President for Administrative Services and Al Schiavetti, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Also scheduled to appear are Peter Bruckmann, President of the Alumni Association, West Long Branch Mayor Tucci, Assemblyman Sean Kean, Brenda Weare, NEC Commissioner.

Advisory from MU re: home football games

MU has asked me to post this on our blog as a public service..sooo...here it is..


Dear Hawk Fan,

Please be advised of the following changes at home football games for the 2007 season:
§ Boylan Gymnasium will be closed to all spectators starting 2 ½ hours before kickoff, during halftime, and post-game.
§ Additional restrooms will be located in the Kessler Field area.
§ There will be two entrances to Kessler Field. The Main Ticket Gate will be open as usual, along with an additional ticket gate at the west end of Kessler Field.

The Monmouth University Athletics Department appreciates your understanding of these new policies. Thank you and Go Hawks!

Big Saturday at MU

For one thing there's the home opening football game 1 p.m. vs. Robert Morris but also:

1. At noon in the back parking lot will be the ground breaking for the MAC

2. MU's Game Tracker and live video debuts for the football game. Sooo....MU alumni anywhere on the planet (with a computer) will be able to watch MU home football action live from here on into infinity. From what I understand the video is to be tied into to the audio broadcast on WMCX ...

A look at the MU men's hoops non-conference schedule - how many do they win?

Last year's records are in parenthesis. Other than the Paradise Jam and Seton Hall , the other numbers are: the returning starters each team is bringing back and where each team is picked in their league and how many teams are in their league per Lindy's which is now on the newstands...

As I come across other publications I will list where they have MU picked.


Non-conference opponents:


at Colgate (10-19) 3 starters return; picked 4 of 8 in the Patriot League

at Seton Hall (13-16)

at Paradise Jam: Notre Dame (24-8)


Paradise Jam Summary below - for more on each team and brackets go to paradisejam.com



Seattle, Washington -- Eight division I men’s basketball teams will travel to St. Thomas to participate in the 8th annual U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Tournament at the University of the Virgin Islands. Basketball fans can look forward to an impressive men’s field, with three of the 2007 participants earning berths to the NCAA tournament last March. Georgia Tech (20-12), Notre Dame (24-8), and Winthrop (29-5) each competed in the NCAA tournament, with Winthrop advancing to the second round with a win over fellow 2007 Paradise Jam participant, Notre Dame. Georgia Tech lost to UNLV in the first round. Although these three NCAA-hardened squads bring high expectations to the islands this November, they will be hard-pressed by the other five teams also seeking early season success. Wichita State (17-14), Baylor (15-16), Charlotte (14-16), Monmouth (12-18) and Illinois-Chicago (14-18) round out the eight-team Paradise Jam field, making it one of the most competitive, neutral court, early season tournaments in America. Three of the 2007 participants are returning to the islands for the second time to compete in the Paradise Jam: Winthrop (3rd in 2004), Wichita State (2nd in 2003), and Monmouth (3rd in 2003).

Looks to me MU gets the loser of Wich State-Baylor in the second round and then probably Ill.-Chi in the last game..

at Saint Peter's (5-25) 4 10 of 10 MAAC


(H)Penn (22-9) 2 3 of 8 IVY

at Hartford (13-18) 3 6 of 9 Am. East

(H) Rider (16-15) 4 5 of 10 MAAC

(H) Fla. Atlantic (16-15) 3 5 of 6 (Eastern Div., Sun Belt)

Lehigh (12-19) 3 3 of 8 Patriot

(H) Princeton (11-17) 3 6 of 8 IVY

MU news and notes/Men's hoops sked now here and at MU web site/MU recruiting Middletown South QB

Saturday MAC ground breaking at noon, LoCastro has been listed as "questionable."


This from NJ Varsity.com

(Patrick) Campbell's recruitment has also remained busy during the summer months."Recruiting got a little bit stronger with the text messages and the phone calls, but the schools have mostly remained the same," said Campbell, who is receiving the most interest from Buffalo, Army, Temple, Stony Brook, Monmouth, and Albany.

Campbell is 6-3, 210. I saw him last year. Prototype college QB......

Date
Opponent
Location
Time (ET)
Results
Media
Sun, Nov 04
William Paterson University (Exhibition)
West Long Branch, N.J.
4 p.m.
Fri, Nov 09
Colgate University
at Hamilton, N.Y.
7 p.m.
Sun, Nov 11
Seton Hall
at Newark, N.J.
2 p.m.
University of Virgin Islands Paradise Jam
Fri, Nov 16
Notre Dame
at St. Thomas
8:30 p.m.
Sat, Nov 17 - Mon, Nov 19
TBA
at St. Thomas
TBA
Wed, Nov 28
Saint Peter's
at Jersey City, N.J.
7 p.m.
Sun, Dec 02
Sacred Heart *
West Long Branch, N.J.
2 p.m.
Thu, Dec 06
Fairleigh Dickinson *
at Teaneck, N.J.
7 p.m.
Sat, Dec 08
University of Pennsylvania
West Long Branch, N.J.
7 p.m.
Tue, Dec 11
University of Hartford
at West Hartford, Conn.
7 p.m.
Sat, Dec 15
Rider
West Long Branch, N.J.
7 p.m.
Sun, Dec 23
Florida Atlantic University
West Long Branch, N.J.
2 p.m.
Fri, Dec 28
Lehigh
at Bethlehem, Pa.
7 p.m.
Sun, Dec 30
Princeton
West Long Branch, N.J.
4 p.m.
Thu, Jan 03
Robert Morris *
at Moon Township, Pa.
7:30 p.m.
Sat, Jan 05
St. Francis (PA) *
at Loretto, Pa.
7 p.m.
Thu, Jan 10
Wagner *
West Long Branch, N.J.
7 p.m.
Sat, Jan 12
Quinnipiac *
West Long Branch, N.J.
7 p.m.
Thu, Jan 17
Central Connecticut State *
West Long Branch, N.J.
7 p.m.
Sat, Jan 19
St. Francis (N.Y.) *
at Brooklyn Heights, N.Y.
7 p.m.
Thu, Jan 24
Fairleigh Dickinson *
West Long Branch, N.J.
7 p.m.
Thu, Jan 31
Robert Morris *
West Long Branch, N.J.
7 p.m.
Sat, Feb 02
Long Island *
at Brooklyn, N.Y.
7 p.m.
Thu, Feb 07
Sacred Heart *
at Fairfield, Conn.
7 p.m.
Sat, Feb 09
Mount St. Mary's *
West Long Branch, N.J.
7 p.m.
Sat, Feb 16
Wagner *
at Staten Island, N.Y.
7 p.m.
Thu, Feb 21
Quinnipiac *
at Hamden, Conn.
7 p.m.
Sat, Feb 23
Long Island *
West Long Branch, N.J.
7 p.m.
Thu, Feb 28
St. Francis (Pa.) *
West Long Branch, N.J.
7 p.m.
Sat, Mar 01
Mount St. Mary's *
at Emmitsburg, Md.
7 p.m.

MU's indirect (very indirect) football connection with Appalachian State

Saturday MU played Maine. The last team to defeat ASU at home? Maine, in the 2002 1-AA playoffs.

Hey..I said it was very indirect...

MU football team notes

These are all from MU football SID Greg (Kevin Kolb) Viscomi and are available also at the NEC web site. But there's so much good info I felt it was worth while to run it on our blog as well for comments, etc.

MAC ground breaking Saturday will be at noon, not halftime.....

Monmouth falls to 0-1 on the season after dropping its season opener against the University of Maine… Monmouth is now 4-11 in season openers… Senior Brett Burke had 173 yards of passing on a 14-fo-25 day in his first start under center for the Hawks… Burke hooked up with Adam San Miguel for his first touchdown, a game tying 58 yard touchdown pass… San Miguel needs just three receptions to tie Monmouth great Miles Austin for the school record in catches… Running back Dave Sinisi kept his consecutive games with a touchdown streak going at 13 when he scampered in for a 28 yard score against Maine… Tight end John Nalbone had four receptions for a career-high 49 yards against Maine… Junior Chris Kiley had a career-high five receptions that went for 55 yards… Monmouth defense allowed just 64 yards passing against Maine, the least amount since Oct. 8, 2005 when they held Sacred Heart to just 54 yards through the air… Monmouth’s defense featured nine new starters from last season, including three players who had never appeared in a collegiate game… The Hawks gave up 278 yards on the ground, including allowing two different 100 yard rushers… In the last five years only Albany has had anyone close to two 100 yard rushers, with Dustin Wilson earning 149 yards and qb Nicholas Brazen rushing for 91 on Oct. 16, 2004… Monmouth captain Ayo Falae recorded the game’s only turnover when he grabbed a tipped pass for his first interception of the season… When Black Bear Mark Masterson returned a 50 yard punt for a touchdown in the first quarter it marked the first time in 36 games in which an opponent returned a punt for a touchdown… Central Connecticut’s Donnie Rose returned a 90 yard punt on Nov. 1, 2003, a game which CCSU won 14-10… Junior Matt Sterner led all defensive players with 14 total tackles on Saturday… Jon Stolarz, Kevin Walsh, Joe Cella, and T.J. Cerezo all had 10 tackles against the Black Bears… Redshirt freshman punter Jack Daniels averaged 32 yards per punt in his first collegiate game, pinning the Black Bears inside their 20 twice… True freshman Matt Miller averaged 63.3 yards per kickoff in his first game… MU will host Robert Morris on Sept. 8, where a ground breaking ceremony will be held for the brand new Multipurpose Athletic Center at noon.

MU Men's Soccer - Hawks hang with Wake Forest but fall, 2-0

By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER


Two goals in less than two minutes late in the first half by Wake Forest Sunday foiled a bid
by the Monmouth University men's soccer team to post a second consecutive upset in the Nike
Carolina Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C.

""I would say 90 percent of the teams in the country would be happy with a one and one
record coming down to this tournament ,'' said Robert McCourt, coach of Monmouth, after it
bowed 2-0 to the No. 3 Deamon Deacons.

Wake Forest (2-0) is coming off a 2006 season in which it fell in the College Cup
semifinals on penalty kicks to eventual champion UC Santa Barbara after winning the Atlantic
Coast Conference regular season championship.

Friday night Monmouth shocked No. 16 North Carolina, 1-0, on a second half goal by senior Damon Wilson and seven saves by senior keeper Daniel Schenkel.

Sunday Cody Arnoux, a sophomore forward from Wilmington, N.C., broke a scoreless tie on a
strike at 40:20 and 1:47 later headed in a corner kick from Sam Cronin.

""We had two mental let downs just before the half and they punished us for it,'' said
McCourt.

Senior Tom Gray (Middletown South) had three shots for Monmouth which was outshot 11-4 as
Schenkel made four saves.

""I felt like we battled pretty hard in the early stages of the first half and we
certainly battled very hard in the second,'' said McCourt. ""In the end we just didn't have
enough to keep up with them.

""I'm extremely proud of our effort in this tournament and it was a tremendous student
athlete experience for the kids.''

Wake Forest senior goalie Brian Edwards, who set a school record with 13 shutouts in 2006,
also made four saves Sunday.

Schenkel, Wilson, and and senior Michael Millar were named to the All Tournament Team.

Monmouth Friday opens a stretch where it plays a stretch of nine of 10 games at home when
it hosts Manhattan (0-1) 4 p.m. in a non-conference game.

MU football - Hawks battle back but fall short at Maine - full Press story with KC quotes/There is also a game wrap with KC quotes on the MU web site

By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER

Twice Saturday evening the Monmouth University football team fell behind by a touchdown to
the University of Maine.

Twice Monmouth rallied to tie the score.

The third time, however, was not a charm.

The Black Bears of the Colonial Athletic Conference (formerly the Atlantic-10) took the lead
for good on a third quarter touchdown run by junior tailback Jhamal Fluellen and downed the
Hawks, 21-14, in a non-conference season-opening game front of 7,200 in Alfond Stadium, Orono,
Maine.

Momouth redshirt junior hquarterback Brett Burke, a Wall High School graduate in his first
collegiate start, was 14-for-25 for 173 yards and a TD for the Hawks.

Senior wide out Adam San Miguel of Monmouth caught two passes including a 58-yard
touchdown pass with 13:37 left in the third quarter that tied the score, 14-14.

San Miguel, with two receptions in the game, finished with the night with 147 career
catches leaving him three shy of the school record of 150 set by Dallas Cowboy wide out Miles
Austin.

""We were absolutely in the game,'' said Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan who rued two
first-half special teams breakdowns.

One led to a score and the other was a punt return for a TD helping Maine take a 14-7 lead
at the half.

""This (special teams) was an area where we knew we had to perform perfectly in,'' said
Callahan. "'Any time you're in a game like this, playing against an outstanding defensive
team, and if you're inexperienced on defense yourself, you have to make sure you really win
the kicking game.''

After tieing the score, 14-14, Monmouth faced a fourth and two on its next possession at the
Maine 39 and Callahan elected to punt.

""I wanted to pin them deep in their own territory and create a short field for
ourselves,'' said Callahan. ""I felt if we got the ball back the game and the field position
would swing in our favor.''

Instean Maine answered with a 95-yard drive in 10 plays capped by Fluellen racing in from
the 12 with 2:35 left in the third quarter.

Monmouth was unable to threaten after that. Facing a defense with seven players returning
from a 2006 nationally ranked defense, Monmouth failed to advance past the Maine 46.

It never saw the ball again after punting on fourth and 14 from its own 17 with 2:29
remaining in the game.

Maine, with Fluellen rushing for 125 yards and Brusko for 109, controlled the clock much of
the contest enjoying a more than 13 minute advantage in time of possession.

The contest began in inauspicious fashion for the Hawks who started nine new defensive
starters and a virtual rookie at quarterback in Burke.

Lamir Whetstone, a graduate of Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, returned the
opening kick off 69 yards to the Monmouth 22.

Four plays later Maine sophomore quarterback Michael Brusko, also in his first collegiate
start, ran eight yards for a 7-0 Maine lead.

Burke quickly brought the Hawks back. A four play drive, including an 18-yard completion
to wide out Chris Kiley (Point Pleasant Boro), set up a 28-yard TD dash by David Sinisi just
four minutes in to the game.

The score marked the 13th consecutive game with a touchdown for the redshirt sophomore
from Cedar Grove.

Maine reclaimed the lead, 14-7, when sophomore Mark Masterson returned a line drive punt for a 50-yard score with 3:25 left in the first quarter.

""We had two big mistakes,'' said Callahan. "" If you take those two plays away and some
of our mistakes I think we would have been in position to win the game.''

NOTES...Kiley had five catches for 55 yards and tight end John Nalbone four for
49..Monmouth will host Maine in its 2008 season opener...While Monmouth played its first
football game in 1993 and is now 4-11 on opening day, Maine opened its 116th season of college
football and is 62-49-5 in season openers...It won its opening game for the first time
since 2002 when it defeated Monmouth Northeast Conference rival Central Connecticut State,
52-3...Monmouth was looking to earn back-to-back wins to start two consecutive seasons for the
first time after topping Fordham last year...Prior to Saturday the Hawks had played met one
current CAA team, Towson University, at the time a member of the Patriot League, which owns a
7-1 record against Monmouth. That number will change Sept. 29 when Monmouth visits CAA member
and perennial powerhouse Delaware....Monmouth has two sets of brothers on the team in the
Bischoffs and the Fullams. Bryan and Derek Bischoff,
twin defensive backs, are fifth year seniors. Matt Fullam is a junior transfer quarterback from Fordham who sat out last year due to NCAA regulations. His
brother Mike is a freshman linebacker from Wayne Hills High
school in Wayne, N.J...Two former Maine players are on the Monmouth roster in wide receiver
Roney Salomon and defensive back Marcus Shell. Salomon, a Marlboro High School graduate, will
not be able to play this season due to NCAA transfer regulations and will have junior
eligibility for the Hawks in 2008. Shell, the team's nickel back last season
will miss the opening part of 2007 with an injury...Robert Morris, which visits Monmouth 1 p.m. Saturday in the Northeast Conference opener for both teams, dropped its season opener to
Dayton of the Pioneer League, 23-12. The day will also mark the official ground breaking for
Monmouth's Multi Purpose Athletic Center (MAC) in ceremonies prior to the contest according to
school officials.



The Monmouth and Maine University web sites contributed to this report.

Which victory was bigger???

As I was gobbling down some pancakes this morning..this question ran through my mind..

Which win was the bigger in Monmouth U. school annals? The football win last year over Colgate or the men's soccer win Friday night over No. 16 North Carolina??????.