Shore Sports Network

Keep it Rolling

2011-09-27T08:12:00.000-07:00

Two weeks and two major hurdles have been cleared .. Wins against Villanova and CCSU have the Hawks primed for a run to an NEC title .. Some things to consider in why MU has won two games that most would have likely put as losses before the season started ..

The Defense is playing great as evidenced by back to back weeks in which a Monmouth Linebacker has been named as the NEC defensive player of the week .. Dan Sullivan against Villanova and Steve Barroso this past week against the Blue Devils .. With improved front seven play, it has allowed the secondary to be a compliment to the defense and not the main factor in stopping the run as it has been the last two years .. The whole unit is playing with an extreme amount of confidence and it shows on the field right now as each week they get better and each week more and more players get involved ..

One of the spots that was in question during the preseason was the offensive line as three of the five spots were going to be new starters and after a rough game against Lehigh in week one .. This unit has really come together, opening up running lanes and allowing Kyle Frazier to do what he does best which is to be patient and let his receivers run their routes and make good decisions with the ball ..

Another big test looms this week as MU returns against league champ Robert Morris who is certainly for a win after starting the year 0-3 and having two weeks to prepare for the Hawks .. Wins on the road are big but a win at home this week after the way the season would really have people getting excited .. One step at a time ..

Programming reminder .. The Kevin Callahan Monmouth Football Show returns tonight at 7pm from Buffalo Wild Wings @ Monmouth Mall .. 1160/1310 WOBM AM .. Saturday's game is home against Robert Morris .. Kickoff is @ 12 noon on 1160/1310 WOBM AM & shoresportsnetwork.com or gomuhawks.com

A Monumental Win

2011-09-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

Have to be honest I am still smiling after calling Saturday's 20-9 win over Villanova for so many reasons, so please allow me to break it down some more.

1 - Confidence -- This is a key component to any team over the course of the season and in looking at the MU schedule this wasn't one that many would have picked as a win in a brutal five game stretch to open the 2011 season. Now with the win, the Hawks have seen how well they can play and the intensity it takes to win these big games. That will only help this young moving into NEC play.

2 - Play-makers -- There has been talk about the difference in talent and depth between this year's team and maybe the last few year teams and it showed up on Saturday vs. the Wildcats. We have seen the emergence of Neil Sterling and Dan Sullivan both of whom were rewarded with player of the week awards from the NEC. Sterling made one incredible catch and finished up combining with Soph. Mitchell Pollard to provide a 1-2 receiving threat that MU hasn't had since Austin and San Miguel were playing together. Jose Gumbs had the play of the game with a forced fumble and showed why he is the leader of this team with a never give up attitude that seems to be contagious.

3 - Improvement -- MU showed great strides between the loss to Lehigh and the win with Villanova which is what you would expect with a bye week and a veteran coaching staff. BUT (there's always a but) there is still things to work on as Central Conn State is a very good tea, and I think the one thing that coaches look for is players not to be too high after ONE very good performance. The offense needs to cash in with touchdowns when it gets in the red zone. Defensively, third down defense and giving up the big play still could be an issue and on the special teams .. you can't give long returns after you score points.

All in all however, it was maybe the best regular season win that MU has ever had in the non conference portion of a schedule -- no matter what Villanova does the rest of the year.

Big test this weekend as MU travels to Central Conn State for a match-up with the Blue Devils .. Payback should be on the minds of the Hawks after dropping back to back heart-breakers against CCSU .. Kickoff is @ 12 noon on 1160/1310 WOBM AM & shoresportsnetwork.com or gomuhawks.com

Getting ready to head to Nova

2011-09-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

The Hawks get ready for the second game of the season and a continued theme of tough non-conference opponents. This week it is Villanova, who has won a National Championship in FCS as recently as 2009 and is a perennial playoff team. Here are some the basics going into the game; Monmouth is 0-1 after a week one loss to Lehigh while Villanova is a surprising 0-2 after losses to Temple and Towson. The good thing is that maybe this Wildcats team is not as good as years past but any underestimation would be a severe mistake. Many teams start slow and get better as the year goes on and this Villanova team may be one of those teams.

Monmouth comes into this game after doing some good things in the loss to Lehigh but just not enough of or with enough consistency. The opening drive of the game was a high point as MU marched right down the field and scored to go up 7-0. I think in that drive you saw the balance and mixing around of the football that could lead to great success this season. Kyle Frazier has control of the offense and with more weapons this year than the last two years it could be a year to open things up even more. One game does not a season make but there is some reason to be concerned about the lack of a full time number one running back. I think it is great the Hawks have options at the RB position but at some point you want to know who the best back is and who can carry the ball 15-18 times per game. It was good to see three different backs get in the end zone and be able to finish off scoring drives with 6 points and not try for 3.

The Hawks are a young team, especially on the defensive side of the ball and that showed in the first game and may pop up during the course of the season but this a talented group with impact players. The idea of course is to get those players to make more impact than mistakes. Jose Gumbs is obviously the one player that all MU fans expect to make the big hit, key interception, or game changing play but he can't do it alone so names like Lawson and Sullivan (among others) will have balance out this defense.

This is a set up in competition for Monmouth for football as up until this week, Villanova was again a top 20 team and remember the Big East has shown interest in the Wildcats moving to the FBS side of college football. The Wildcats have hurt themselves in the first two week with multiple turnovers in both losses and I couldn't imagine they want to open up the year at 0-3. This is a talented team with a long time head coach in Andy Talley and a program not used to losing.

MU has had two weeks to prepare for this and maybe the week 2 bye helped as it gave the coaches almost another week of preseason and an opportunity to work on fundamentals for a week and not a game plan.

Reminder .. The Kevin Callahan Monmouth Football Show returns tonight at 7pm from Buffalo Wild Wings @ Monmouth Mall .. 1160/1310 WOBM AM

How Much is Left in the Tank?

2010-11-04T16:31:00.000-07:00

There are tough losses and there are tough losses. This season is a great indication on that cliche as Monmouth has lost down to the wire games against Colgate, Robert Morris, & Sacred Heart. The difference between the first two and the loss that happened last week at home versus Sacred Heart was at least on paper the Hawks were a decided favorite. It was homecoming with a big crowd and with a win MU would have kept alive chances for a NEC title and gotten back to .500 overall after starting the year 0-3. Throw in that the Pioneers hadn't won a conference game all season and this one really hurts. It was a game that walking the field I am sure coaches, players, fans, and even radio announcers said, "How did we lose that game?"

Now the challenge lies in that Monmouth has an extremely difficult November schedule with games at Wagner & Albany sandwiching a home game with Central Connecticut State. The Seahawks are up first as MU heads to Staten Island and will try and bounce back with a win over a team that has always been a rival for the Hawks. Wagner has a solid defense that is stat wise among the best in the NEC and a QB in Nick Doscher that is run/pass option that most teams in the NEC if not all of college football would love to have.

I think this week is so much more about Monmouth than anything else because with a veteran coach in Kevin Callahan you would expect that the players will respond back and rise to the challenge of the next three weeks. But there are always questions how much of a hangover effect there will be with everything that you have worked for up to a certain point dashed in one game (NEC Title, games with real meaning in November). Anyone who follows Monmouth football and the NEC will be curious how the Hawks react to the next three weeks.

This a team that has a lot older players (lot of fifth year seniors) and good leadership thru the ranks and at this point of the year most of those players have limited chances to strap on the helmet so a sense of urgency has to be at the top of the list. Look for MU to try and do something early on to get excited about on the sideline; a long pass or a trick play. Or get lucky enough to create a turnover, a big hit or a special teams big play.

Broadcast info- 1160AM/1310AM .. Pregame show 12:45pm .. Kickoff 1pm

Bring on the Flash

2010-10-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

The season for MU so far has been a little up and down but with the second of three games at home, this is the time for the Hawks to continue that upswing. Monmouth grabbed a somewhat ugly but much needed win last week over Bryant 21-12 and with St. Francis this week and Sacred Heart next week, one would have to think getting back .500 is well within reach. Couple of things from the Bryant game last week that are still lingering for me.

Monmouth had several chance to put this game away and missed chances in the first half after getting off to a 12-0 start. I was concerned about the way they would start the first quarter after the heartbreaker to Robert Morris from the previous week but after starting so fast, I had the sense this game might be a blow out. It never got that far and that was a disappoinment because at this point of the season, a team like MU that isn't very deep could have used an easy game to get some guys some rest.

Battered and bruised all season long, the defense has put up three straight pretty good & getting better games against conference opponents. The idea this week is to do the same against a Red Flash team that doesn't have the stats or the playmakers to cause MU problems unless at some point the injuries catch up. On the plus side, with Jose Gumbs and Kendall Haley patrolling the back at the safety spots, mistakes usually get covered up. The pass rush has been better, the run defense has been solid and these are both trends that need to continue so Monmouth feels good about themselves when they start a brutal November schedule with games against Wagner, CCSU, & Albany.

Monmouth needs to know how important these games are the next two weeks as they can ill afford a slip up if they have any chance of claiming an NEC championship. Robert Morris is clearly the favorite but still has to play CCSU on November 6th. Best case scernario as I see it would be a Robert Morris loss to CCSU, a Monmouth win over CCSU and force a three way tie for the NEC crown and take your chances with a tie breaker.

Back to Pittsburgh

2010-10-07T13:02:00.000-07:00

Well I guess Moon Township to be more exact but in the area of Pittsburgh which was the site of last week's 44-17 win for Monmouth over Duquesne. It was the first win of the season for the Hawks and maybe just maybe got their season turned around. No one wants to start 0-3 but in the grand scheme of things it won't mean a whole lot if MU can get on a roll in the conference. To say it was a big win would be a large understatement as Monmouth is now just one of three teams with no losses in the NEC.

The matchup this weekend gets even bigger as one of those other two teams is the opposition for the Hawks, the Colonials of Robert Morris. RMU comes in at 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference. It is strange in the ways that both of these schools have mirrored each other the years. Take for example the overall matchup (16th time the schools have met) in which Robert Morris leads 8-7. RMU is in their 17th year as a football school and like Monmouth last year got the 100th win in program history. MU is one year ahead in its 18th year playing. Each school has five NEC titles and both schools have at least one Mid Major National Championship (MU 1, RMU 2). Both school have extremely classy men running their programs and each one is the only head coach that the school has ever had, Kevin Callahan and Joe Walton.

The defense for MU stepped up big time last week with a team record 6 INTs against the Dukes and because the offense got off to such a good start, it really took DU out of their game plan. I would say the same holds true for this week, if the offense can manage the game and ask the defense to do too much then the Hawks might have another good bus ride home. The confidence level which had to have been down after dropping three straight this season should be sky high going into this one. The winner of this game really puts themselves as an early season favorite for that coveted automatic big into the FCS playoffs.

Kyle Frazier seems to have found his rythmn and is becoming a more complete player with each start. The QB matchup is always big but in this case where both teams like to throw the ball it gets even bigger. Sophomore Jeff Sinclair is second in the NEC averaging 214 per game throwing and has tossed 13 TDs on the season. RMU also a dynamic tailback in Senior Myles Russ who averages 115 per game thru the first four weeks. The MU defense played its best game of the season last week and for a win this week might have to top that.

So much of the season is still left but this one looms large for both squads. Should be fun and you can join us on 1160/1310 AM Saturday afternoon at 12:45 for the pregame show/1pm for the kickoff.

Moral Victories Don't Count

2010-09-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

Week three of the college season for the Blue and White offers up a unique challenge in the form of the Monarchs of ODU. This was perhaps the best game of the season a year ago and certainly the best win in a great atmosphere. I can still remember the 31-28 victory for MU behind a monster performance out of RB David Sinisi and the coming out party for QB Kyle Frazier.

The first two weeks of the season have been a challenge for Monmouth with close losses to Colgate and Maine. Both games have been competitive and with three or four plays in each game going the Hawks way rather than the opposition, they could easily be 2-0 rather than 0-2. The only problem with that logic, is so far none of those plays have gone Monmouth's way and at some point a team has to make its own luck.

Two positives thru 2 games:

In both games, there were points that the team could have folded and let the game get out of control but in neither case did that happen so the team has some resiliency even though it has not transferred into wins. Playing teams that have more scholarships in your non-conference schedule might not always result in wins but it should get you ready for the NEC.

Might seem like a stretch to make this a positive but the punting of Jack Daniels has been tremendous. He leads the nation (FCS) in punting heading into the weekend and though it is a part of the game that might get lost to the casual fan, a good punter is a weapon that teams can use to their advantage. Field position is such a big part of the game and punting plays a huge role in that.

Two negatives thru 2 games:

The conversions on third down have been dreadful (2/23) combined for weeks 1 & 2 and if Monmouth has any chance of getting back in the win column this has to get better. The responsibility for this falls on the offense and I am quite sure it has been the focus of meetings and practice for the last two weeks.

Injuries continue be a problem on the defensive side of the ball and with some players that won't be back at all this season, this could be an issue all season long. That being said the players that are on the field have to step up a little more and make plays when called on. It is easy for me to write that but when the team is missing up to 5 players that may have been starters on defense going into the season there are going to be some bumps and bruises along the way.

This games looms large for MU against ODU and it is believe or not a revenge game for the Monarchs. There is talent on both sides of the ball for ODU with speed and good returning QB in Tom DeMarco while the defense will show Monmouth a lot of different looks. A win will do wonders for the Hawks after bye week and before the conference opener. Any team that is 0-2 when it could be 2-0 there might be some confidence problems. There has to be a sense of urgency for MU this week as 0-3 is tough to bounce back from for any team.

Looking to Bounce Back

2010-09-09T17:12:00.000-07:00

Week two of the season for the Hawks presents a tough challenge in the form of the Black Bears of Maine. Going into the fall, I would have put this game as maybe the most difficult of the three non-conference games that MU has on the schedule. That doesn't change after what happened in week one with a comeback that fell six inches short against Colgate has left Monmouth in that position of avoiding an 0-2 start.

There are certainly positives that the coaches and players can take out of the loss to Raiders which most importantly includes battling back from a 30-13 deficit and have an opportunity to win in the last two minutes when it could've gotten a whole lot worse. The downside for Monmouth is that there are no moral victories in sports and 0-2 can be tough to bounce back from for any team so the pressure is on for this batch of Hawks.

Maine is in a similiar situation as the Black Bears got blanked on the scoreboard by Albany in a 3-0 loss last Thursday. UM plays in arguably the best FCS conference in the country in the Colonial Athletic Association and a look at their schedule would tell you that this game is equally as important to Maine as it is to Monmouth to get an early win. Next up after Monmouth for Maine in order; Syracuse, William and Mary, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Villanova. YIKES.

Keys to this one for the Hawks ..

Get off to a good start on both sides of the ball .. The defense, which has been hampered by injuries, needs to make some first half stops and help get the offense the ball more then four times in the first 30 minutes. Some fault falls to the offense who had three seperate 3 and outs in the first half. It has to be more balanced with both sides of the ball are helping out each other.

Open the field up & get it deep .. There was a lot of talk in the preseason about the receiving core for this team and the great mix of speed and possession that the wideouts had. Several of them got a touch or two against Colgate but missing was freshman Mitchell Pollard who is the speed guy for this offense. An early touch for #88 would only open things up for names like Romeo, George, and Folsom.

Keep kicking game rolling .. Jack Daniels looks like a different punter than the past couple years and is crushing the ball right now. Eric Spillane performed very well in his first collegiate game. Coverage units need some work but Bobby Giles took one back 90 yards for a score.

Kickoff is at 1pm in the home opener at Kessler Field .. Pregame at 12:45pm .. 1160/1310 AM

Let the Games Begin

2010-09-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

One of the hottest weeks of the summer wouldn't make you think about the football season getting started but there a lot of teams hitting the gridiron this weekend to start off the 2010 season. Among those teams are the Monmouth University Hawks under the direction of the only head coach the school has ever known, Kevin Callahan. MU has a repeat season opener as they head back up to Colgate for a 6pm kickoff on Saturday night.

There are many questions that surround this year's edition of the Blue and White. Here are some the big ones that I see;

>>>How does MU survive the first three non-conferernce games?

Colgate, Maine, and Old Dominion .. That is a tough way to start the season as the Raiders are picked to win the Patriot League and start the year in the top 25 while Maine is a usually a very solid playoff type team and one would think ODU is seeking revenge after Monmouth took a 31-28 decision in 2009.

The positives in the schedule for this stretch would be two of these games are at home with a bye week sandwiched in between weeks two and three. So what is an acceptable start to the season? 2-1 would be great I think and part of that is to try to grab the first one against Colgate. 1-2 would be OK as long as the team plays well and stays healthy because it really boils down to the conference slate in the big picture and trying to grab the first ever automatic bid into the FCS playoffs for the Northeast Conference.

>>>Can the defense be better than it was a year ago?

The easiest answer is, let's hope so. At times last year the defense won a game or two for the Hawks but more often than not on that side of the ball gave up too many big plays at bad times. The concern is the front seven with only Dave Ogden back in the front four and the linebacking corps battling thru some injuries. Monmouth will need to mix and match a little bit until everyone is healthy or some other players emerge from a talented group of underclassmen.

The good news is the secondary could be loaded with Jose Gumbs and Kendall Haley both all conference type players and the corners should be solid as well with names like Bynum, Phillips, Amsel, and Avent. This could be the deepest group that MU has had in the back four in a long time.

>>>What does Monmouth do to replace Dave Sinisi?

This is a tough one because he was everything for this team week in and week out. I think gone are the days where anyone carries the ball more then 20 times a game and the passing game is crucial to the Hawks success this year. Replacing Sinisi can't be done but spreading the ball around can be done and you might be surprised by the balance of this unit this season and how it helps out.

Kyle Frazier being back at QB helps a ton and names like Giles & Sloan El will have to carry the workload in backfield because no team can win without at least a presence of a running game. The receiving unit is as loaded as it has been in years with a potential of 7 receivers really making an impact and that doesn't even include TE Tyler George who is a favorite target of Frazier.

>>>How much has Kyle Frazier improved in the offseason?

He has looked pretty good in the two scrimmages I saw and you would have to think that with a whole year under his belt that things will be much smoother for Frazier. He has an excellent arm and with the offense having some new weapons for him to throw to, it might make the transition away from Sinisi much easier.

He has the tools and showed flashes of brillance last season and now this is his team for sure. There will be a lot expected from him this season and he really does hold the key for the Hawks to have a successful season. With a very good offensive line in front of him, it should make life better for #10.

>>>Can the special teams be an asset this year?

With Jack Daniels booming kicks in preseason it looks like the punting game is in good shape and the kicking game should be better and more consistent with Eric Spillane and Jared Goodarz sharing the load for now. MU has some explosive guys returning kicks as well with names like Romeo, Pollard, & Giles all having the ability to take one back to the house.

Round 2 plus more

2009-11-18T21:13:00.000-08:00

Pretty solid weekend for the Shore Conference in last week's opening round of the state playoffs here in NJ. I would have to say no big surprises, even Brick Memorial winning as a road underdog is not a major shock. I have always thought the second round, or section semifinals, is the best round of the tournament. Teams are fighting for a birth in the finals and really the teams we weren't sure about have been eliminated.

Really looking forward to working the RFH-Manasquan game on Friday night. Can't think of too many times that the Warriors have had to travel this early in the tournament in the past and one has to wonder if the 9-0 record that Bulldogs have posted so far this season will stand up. This is one of those statement games for RFH; playing at home with an undefeated record against a team with so much tradition it could compare to a Big Ten school. A win for the Dawgs shows how far Head Coach Shane Fallon has taken this program as RFH has gotten more attention the past few years but for so long they were the team that missed the playoffs because of a heavy Group 1 schedule.

I am not sure who has more pressure on them to win this game but I could bet that both Fallon and Manasquan Head Coach Pete Cahill are trying to play the underdog role. Tough for the Big Blue to ever consider themselves a true dog with all that they have accomplished since 1990. Being a Shore Conference fan, this is a special group with Matawan & Raritan playing a rematch game on the other side of the bracket. Four very good teams should make for a great weekend of football.

The Hawks of Monmouth wrap things up this weekend at home against Robert Morris on Saturday at 12 noon. My broadcast partner, Eddy Occ, during this past MU season will take over the play by play reins for this game and work with Ed Sarluca. I am off to Staten Island to cover Wagner and Albany as the NEC TV game of the week. Gonna miss my Hawks this weekend as it has been nothing short of a pleasure to cover them this season. Good Luck MU!!!

Let the playoffs begin

2009-11-11T21:38:00.000-08:00

Gotta love when the postseason starts here in NJ for high school football. With a new and revamped playoff system, all the teams that qualified are ready to roll this weekend. Looking forward to getting back behind the microphone with Kevin & Ed on Friday night, down at the home of Raiders (seems like it has been forever but only two weeks).

I don't think there is a team around the Shore Conference with more to prove than Toms River East. The Raiders bring an undefeated record, 8-0, and a high powered offense into their first round matchup with Washington Township. Why all the added pressure on Charlie Diskin's bunch, because all the talent that TRE has had over the years they have not one state title to show for it. Now, let's be fair, state titles are not easy to come by so I think in a way it is a little over the to brand the Raiders a bust in the states. They play in a very tough group, South Jersey IV, and do not get the benefit of a very difficult regular season schedule.

This year is a good case in point as they breezed thru the Constiution division, blowing out most by sizable margins, and not able to play the toughest team (TRN) on their schedule until Thanksgiving week. It is not easy to win games in the postseason let alone state titles BUT I think it is fair to expect the Raiders are not one and done this year as they have been in the past.

This is a year that all the Central Jersey brackets have a good shot to have a Shore team win the section. Asbury is a clear favorite in Group 1, seems like every team in CJ II is a Shore Conference team, Middletown South is the top seed in CJ III and would love a return to the top, and Howell will look to avenge its only loss of the season as one of the top dogs in CJ IV. I don't see any state champs coming from South Jersey this season and of course RBC has a crazy draw.

GOOD LUCK ALL SHORE TEAMS!!!

Well deserved for Coach Cal

2009-10-31T20:35:00.000-07:00

Normally I wait until the middle of the week to post my thoughts but sitting here now late on a Saturday night or early on a Sunday morning I couldn't hold those thoughts any longer. After broadcasting the Monmouth-Bryant football game this afternoon I reflected back on the school's football history. Today was an incredible milestone both for MU and Coach Callahan as win #100 didn't easy with a 10-6 victory over the Bulldogs. It seems like just yesterday the announcement was made that Monmouth College was starting a football program and Kevin Callahan was going to take over the Hawks in his first ever college head coaching position. Now in his 17th year, Coach Cal has been the foundation for a school that really needed this experiment to work.

I have often wondered why Coach Callahan has never left Monmouth for greener pastures; a bigger school, more money, more scholarships, and a better atmosphere would all seem to make sense. His credentials would certainly indicate he could have left many times over with five conference championships, a mid-major national championship, and a recipient of the NEC Coach of the Year award three times. He has turned out dozens all-conference players but even more important he has shown every player who paid attention the right way to act toward others and there are things more important than football. I'm not even sure I have ever asked Coach the question about leaving MU because in a way I along with many others wouldn't even want to think about him not being on the sidelines for the blue and white.

Being part of the first ever team in 1993, I remember a lot about that first season. The wintertime workouts before the incoming freshman had ever stepped foot on campus, the first summer, the first game (Stonehill College), the first win (St. Peters), and for me the disappointment of being hurt most of the year. My football career stopped before the 1994 season as a variety of injuries had made my body breakdown and I still remember going into Coach Callahan's office right before camp started in August and telling him I was unable to keep playing.

Classy as ever, he told me to take care of myself, thanked me for my time and effort in the program, and let me know the door was always open to come back. I never was able to return to the playing field but I have entered the side door to get back in the program on three different occasions; once as a student broadcaster on WMCX and twice as a professional. The constant has always been the way I have been treated by Coach, the way he runs the football program, and the care he shows for other people.

I was reminded of this caring over the last two weeks as I dealt and continue to deal with the sudden passing of my own father. Our regular weekly meeting turned into a counseling session where Coach Cal knew just when to talk and just when to listen. He didn't pull any punches or say everything was going to be alright because he knew it wasn't going to be having lost his own father at a young age as well. He promised tough days ahead, more tears, and a grieving process that never really ends. So far, he has been right on the money. The hour I spent in his office was an hour that I needed to cry, be angry, and express my disbelief that this had all happened. He didn't hesitate to push the pause button on his busy day, close the door and give me all the time I needed. It was an hour I can never repay him for but one I will never forget anytime I do anything Monmouth football related.

In typical fashion, when asked about the game against Bryant and his 100th win, Coach Callahan said this win was about the program and its players. I wouldn't expect anything less because in a way it is a tribute to anyone who has donned a Monmouth helmet but from someone who has been a MU supporter since we started in 1993 I am here to say this milestone has more to do with Coach Cal than anyone else associated with MU football. If you ask me, back in 1992, Monmouth found the perfect balance of a coach who can win but who also knows the importance of life off the field.

That coach and man is Kevin Callahan. Congratulations Coach Cal on win #100.

Midpoint swing games ..

2009-10-14T19:53:00.000-07:00

We are at the midpoint of the regular season for both high school football and the Monmouth University season and each of our games this week have striking similiarties. They are what we would call a swing game as a win and your season either takes a major upturn or at the very least you keep alive chances for something positive to happen later on during the fall. A loss can be dooming on so many levels for any of these three teams which we will see this weekend.

Let's start first with our Friday night game between Toms River North and Southern Regional. This has developed into a pretty solid rivalry over the last few years and was very one sided until the state playoffs last season when the Rams finally won a game. The 2009 game features several sidebars that will dictate how far either of these teams can go.

A win for TRN and the Mariners keep alive their chances for a share of an American division championship and bolster their state playoff chances with a win over a fellow group 4 school. A loss and it will be anchors away at the division title and a second loss will mean no more slip-ups before the state playoff cutoff or it will be very tough to qualify. On the flip side, the Rams already have two losses, only one of which is the division, and still have to play the #1 team in the Shore (Howell). The way things shake out right now for both Southern & TRN is that they each need to keep winning and the Rebels to lose at some point in the division to have a shot at a co/tri championship. So this becomes a divisional elimination game coupled with the fact that a third loss for Southern will likely doom their chances of getting back into the state playoffs.

For Monmouth, there are some of the same aspects that follow the Hawks into their game with Sacred Heart this Saturday. A disappointing effort last weekend against Wagner has MU with their backs against wall in what now is a must win game before Albany comes to West Long Branch on October 24th. Monmouth can ill afford a second conference loss if they have any chance of a NEC title or a postseason birth. With a win, there will be a lot of juice for the Albany game as going into the season most would have figured that the Hawks were one of the only teams that could challenge the Great Danes. A win also gets MU back to .500 at 3-3 overall. A loss this weekend against Sacred Heart and the season could take a downward swing that would tough to change.

Broadcast Information ..

THURSDAY: The High School Football Show 6PM - 8PM .. Live from Boston's (Toms River)
FRIDAY Game Of The WeekSouthern @ Toms River North6:45PM pre-game on 1160 WOBM AM, FoxSports1310 & 105.7 The Hawk
SATURDAY Monmouth University FootballMonmouth @ Sacred Heart12:50PM pre-game on 1160 WOBM AM and FoxSports1310

Not sold on it yet ..

2009-10-08T05:42:00.000-07:00

There has been a good deal of attention placed on the games this high school football season that involve teams from the Shore Conference and teams from Middlesex county. I am well aware that there are both positives and negatives to be taken from this arrangement but one of the things I am not sure the powers that be really took into account was the impact on the fans.

First, there is increased travel in a lot of cases and that goes for both teams. A bus ride down to Monmouth or Ocean county wouldn't be anything as a fan or parent I would be looking forward to coming from Middlesex Cuonty and vice versa. I realize making a trip to Pinelands or Matawan wouldn't be a whole lot of fun either depending on where you are coming from but at least those are still Shore Conference teams so it has some logic to it.

Second, it does not do a whole lot to booster fan support. Take this weekend as an example, how much interest could there possibly be in the school or community for these games; Freehold Township at Sayreville, Carteret at Red Bank Catholic, Long Branch at South Plainfield, Colonia at Ocean, Monmouth at Highland Park, or Holmdel at JFK-Iselin. I would be shocked if anyone outside of the coaches and maybe a few players knew the nicknames of any of the teams they were playing this week. Is that a big deal? Probably not in the grand scheme of things but wouldn't be nice when talking about game with a fellow fan to say, "Those (fill in the blank with a team name) have a great defense and tough running game." Let's be honest, most schools have a hard time getting big crowds out to watch games anyway and to me these games do not help at all.

Third and finally, I am not sure how to make the system better and the people that in charge of the process will never make everyone happy and certainly know more about it than I do. That being said, I would much rather go back to the days when teams scheduled who they wanted as non-conference games as you are talking about three games anyway and they usually work as a home and home series. So at worst you stuck playing a team twice before you can find another matchup that might work better. It really didn't work when the computer did it for the past several years as we got major mismatches each and every year but at least they were Shore Conference mismatches and not teams with no connection at all.

Not sure how many of you heard the discussion we have been having on the Thursday night show about the new football divisions for next year and while I think this a step in the right direction, I see some big flaws in this plan too. Why was there 7th division created with the same number of teams playing football (43)? I like the idea of going back to a more local division schedule but why label one division a "C" division when there are three "A" and three "B" divisions? It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me especially when you look at the teams in it. I like the divisions having the names that they do now and finally when everyone has gotten used to them it goes back the other way. I am sure in two more years there will be another plan but I would love coming up with something that could stick around for awhile.

Have a great football weekend!!!

Broadcast info this week/weekend .. 10/8 .. High School Football Show .. Live @ Boston's in Toms River .. 6pm to 8pm .. 1160 WOBM AM & FOX Sports 1310 .. 10/9 .. TRN @ Brick Memorial .. 7pm kickoff .. 1160 WOBM AM & FOX Sports 1310 & 105.7 FM The Hawk .. 10/10 .. Monmouth vs Wagner .. 1pm kickoff .. 1160 WOBM AM & FOX Sports 1310 .. listen to all three broadcasts on the web at shoresportsnetwork.com

Nothing wrong with dreaming ...

2009-09-29T21:11:00.000-07:00

So after four weeks of the 2009 season, the Hawks are 2-2 which considering the fact they lost their first two games of the year is pretty good. One could easily make the case, that if a few plays go MU's way against Colgate and/or Coastal Carolina, the Hawks could be 3-1 and maybe even 4-0. Of course they didn't, so Monmouth has to focus on the fact they are riding a two-game winning streak going into the bye before things resume on October 10th against Wagner at home.

Three of the first four games have been on the road which to me is always fun, especially the non-conference games. It really provides an interesting take on how other schools do it around the country. All three games that have been played away from West Long Branch have been these non-conference games. I have Monmouth blue in my blood as a former player for the team, a former student broadcaster, two-time professional broadcaster for the team, graduate of the university two times over ('96 & '04), and current faculty member in the communication department. With that all out of the way, I am probably gonna write something now that most of you know if you have ever been to a game at Kessler Field, we (and I say we with a great deal of pride) need to update our football facility.

Each of the three places the team has played at this season have provided a little bit of insight into what Monmouth could be and I hope at some point will be. I thought Colgate was nice. It had a decent size stadium, nice scoreboard, and a smaller but tight-knit college atmosphere. Coastal Carolina was even better with a larger stadium, a press box to die for (loved the pulled pork before the game), pretty decent fan support, and an attitude of looking to the future.

Coach Callahan saved the best game for last this season in terms of the non-conference schedule playing at ODU. A brand new program with a 20 thousand person stadium that was a perfect blend of concrete from the 1930's and a suite section that would rival anything any other FCS and a lot of FBS schools would have. I was so impressed with the way the school and the surrounding community have embraced having college football in the Tidewater area. The university has made it very fan friendly with tailgating areas in every parking area, inside concessions that had anything you could want, and did I mention the suite level?

The key question of course for Hawk fans is what can be done to make Kessler a better place to watch a football game and Monmouth more of a draw for alums and surrounding area football fans. So I went ahead and complied a little list;

1 - Reconfigure the stands .. At this point of the program's history (17 years), there has to be stands on more than only one side of the field. I don't think either end zone needs to have stands but there has to stands on the other sideline. If this got done, it would make sense to move the home sideline to where the new stands are and you can leave the old bleachers for the visitors/students. Coastal Carolina had their student section right behind the Hawks bench and I can't imagine that would be a whole lot of fun.

2 - Add some suites .. This one might be tough and it doesn't have to anything crazy but even a few boxes to watch the game in would add so much atmosphere. I loved how ODU had theirs set-up in the end zone area and I think there would be enough room to build something in front where the MAC is and it would also create a tunnel effect for MU players to run out from if their locker room stayed where it us currently set. If that plan wouldn't work maybe put some in the new stands.

3 - New scoreboard .. Doesn't have to be anything overbearing or gaudy but something with a video board for replays/advertisements/etc would be great. Easy to read numbers that stand out a little more than what is there now.

4 - New press box .. Sorry but I couldn't help putting something in there for members of the media that would look nice in the new stands and give everyone a little more room and privacy up there.

5 - More student involvement .. This has been a problem for MU in all sports but it shouldn't be with the enrollment as big as it is and a large enough alumni base. Not sure exactly how it would work but reward students somehow for attending athletic events on the campus (not just for football but all sports).

6 - Lights for Saturday night football .. This one is easy to jazz up excitement at MU for both the school and the football program. The Shore Conference plays great football in Monmouth & Ocean counties and you would have to think that if given an option to watch football at a higher level both players and football fans would jump at the chance. Saturday nights would be great at 6pm as there are very few high school games that take place at this time. West Long Branch might cause some problems here but it would be worth a shot.

This is certainly no knock on anything or anyone involved with the school and the athletic department as I think our facilities are very good and athletes are taken good care of on campus but I think most, if not all, of these things are very doable and important for the continued growth of the program. None of it will be cheap to build (nothing is in today's world) but can you picture this state of the art football stadium to match the MAC. It would be some sight and something you would think student-athletes would jump at the chance to play in West Long Branch.

Makes me think of Field of Dreams; if you build it, they will come.

From Toms River to Norfolk ...

2009-09-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

It has been a little different for me this season as the play by play voice for the Shore Sports Network adding Monmouth University football into the mix along with our award winning high school broadcasts. This weekend is a perfect example as we broadcast the Toms River South vs. Toms River East game on Friday. The biggest change is rather than the normal Saturday afternoon game somewhere around the Shore Conference I will jumping a plane in the morning and flying down to Virginia where the Hawks will try and even their record at 2-2.

The way I see it right now is I have the best of both worlds, doing the high school games on Friday and keep up with the area teams and the spot I have occupied now for over ten years and Monmouth on Saturdays where everything moves a little faster on the field. That being said, I can't wait for both matchups this weekend.

First up, the all Toms River matchup that features the Indians and the Raiders. I have always loved these games that involve real rivals and if you toss in Toms River North you have a great and natural trio. TRE is off to a great start with one of the shore's best in Nico Sterti running the ball and always a hard hitting defense. TRS has one thing going for it heading into this game, the hope of a let down by TRE. The Raiders have started off with two wins including a tough 14-7 conquest of Lacey last week while the Indians got beat up by TRN in week one and blew a big lead against the Midd North last weekend. The status of Robert Whitfield (TRS RB) is still up in the air with a shoulder injury but it sounds he will give it a shot. That is good news for South as he is the one big time player the team has.

Saturday night, the Hawks wrap up their non-conference schedule playing at Old Dominion. The Monarchs have gotten off to a great start winning their first three, not bad when you consider this the first time that ODU has had football since 1940. I would guess this is a similiar situation to when Monmouth traveled down to Coastal Carolina two weeks ago. CCU is a fairly new program with a great staduim, tons of support, and aspirations of becoming a big-time football program either that the FCS or eventually the FBS level. ODU looks to have much of the same with a stadium that seats almost 20 thousand fans and an area of Virginia that was really missing a college football program (a rarity in the South).

Good things for Monmouth going into this one, a week three victory over Duquesne for a Hawk team that had battled hard in losses to Colgate & Coastal. Nothing cures a team's ills more than winning, at home and in the conference no less. The defense is still giving up too many yards and needs some more consistent play but made huge plays when they needed to last week against the Dukes. Offensively, MU still needs to find some balance between David Sinisi carrying too much of the load and having each of their QB's look for some more down the field throws that will open up the ground game.

Broadcast Information .. Friday Night .. TRS @ TRE .. 6:50 pregame on 1160 WOBM & Fox Sports 1310 .. Kick off is at 7pm and 105.7 the Hawk will join the broadcast .. Saturday night .. MU @ ODU .. 5:45 pregame .. 6pm kickoff .. 1160 WOBM & Fox Sports 1310 .. Both broadcasts are streamed on the web at shoresportsnetwork.com ..

Home Sweet Home

2009-09-15T22:38:00.000-07:00

The Hawks return home this weekend for an early 12 noon kickoff against Duquesne. I am not a big fan of cliches especially with this only being week 3 of the football season but this is a must win game for MU for many reasons. First, being that between the first two weeks, a valid argument could be made the Hawks could be 1-1 if not an outside shot of being 2-0. Second, it is the home opener & the conference opener in the NEC so a win knocks out two big areas with one shot.

I liked what I saw out of Monmouth this past Saturday down at Coastal Carolina. The intensity was much higher than at Colgate as was the level of play. I don't think it is wrong to say, but if MU plays the way they did against Coastal when playing Colgate the second half becomes a Hawk rout and a win. The trick for this week against the Dukes is do it again, get better than you were a week ago (with a better result) and start the conference schedule off with a win. Winning does wonders, especially when you are a good football team, and a win for MU this Saturday sets them up very well going into their last non-conference game on September 26th down at ODU.

Penalities and just bad mistakes at the wrong time have plaqued MU in the first two weeks but one would have to think going into the conference opener this Saturday that the Hawks will come out flying. I am not much for preditions but I do see a Monmouth win with the offense starting to find its rhytmn a little more than in weeks one and two.

Broadcast info .. Fox Sports 1310 AM & 1160 WOBM AM .. shoresportsnetwork.com .. 11:45 am pre game show .. 12 noon kickoff

Quite a busy weekend coming up ...

2009-09-09T20:44:00.000-07:00

So one week in the books for Monmouth University Football after a disappointing loss to the Raiders of Colgate last Saturday night in a game that featured a little bit of everything both on the field and in the broadcast booth. Some early technical issues led to some old-time broadcasting over a handheld phone (who know they even existed anymore) for the first half. Everything was resolved by halftime except the power went out everywhere but in the press box. This was one story I am already looking forward to telling my sports broadcasting class.

In terms of the game, in case you haven't read or heard enough, Monmouth was 4 plays away from winning their season opener. Every game has those swing play in which every evenly played game has but the problem for the Hawks on this night was they didn't come out on the winning end of any of those plays. Still though, there were enough positives to come out of the game for the coaches and players to feel like this could be a very good season.

Tough assignment in week #2 as MU travels down to the Myrtle Beach area to take on Coastal Carolina. This is a rematch of a game that last season Monmouth had some problems matching up with Chanticleers. In my eyes, this will be the most talented team that the Hawks see all season long.

Broadcast time is 6:45pm for the pre-game show & 7pm for the kickoff ..

Changing gears a little bit, I am looking forward to be on the air tomorrow with Kevin Williams & Ed Sarluca for the edition of our weekly high school football show on the Shore Sports Network. We start at 6pm down at Boston's in Toms River which should be a lot of fun all season long.

Brick and Colts Neck is our game on Friday night and will be broadcast on 105.7 The Hawk .. 7pm kickoff ..

Let's get it started ...

2009-09-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

Most of us here in the Jersey Shore area are disappointed when summer comes to an end. Kids back at school, no more vacations for a while, work becomes more of a focus, and there is just a different feeling after Labor Day. There is one bonus of course and that is the start of the football season, be it high school, college, or the NFL. College moves to the forefront first with games starting tonight and rolling all through the weekend including the season opener for Monmouth who takes on Colgate up at Andy Kerr stadium starting at 6pm.

Normally I would be paying attention to this game anyway as a former Monmouth player (1993), two time graduate of the University, and current faculty member but I have to say I have not been so excited for the Hawks to hit field in a long, long time. As some of you may know, the Shore Sports Network will be broadcasting all MU football games this year and as the play by play announcer I have to say I think it will be a great season for the blue and white.

Not getting to overblown with details and stats, this season opener will be big challenge for Monmouth. Colgate will be playing their first ever night game at home and you have to think the excitement and intensity will be sky high. Couple that with the fact that Kevin Callahan's team beat the Raiders back in 2006 which at the time came as a big surprise. Monmouth went on to a NEC Championship that same season. Colgate comes in off a great year in 2008 winning the Patriot League and making FCS (division 1-AA) playoffs. Colgate did lose a decent amount to graduation and even though there are not too many players on either roster that were even around back in the '06 season, one would have to think this one is a game the Raiders really want.

Some of the big questions for the Hawks coming into this season have to revolve around the QB spot. Andrew Mandeville will get the start on Saturday and looked to be the more consistent player during the preseason but redshirt freshman Kyle Frazier should see some snaps and certainly looks to have great potential for the future. With a strong offensive line and dangerous running game led by David Sinisi, Monmouth may look to the ground more than in years past.

Watching the scrimmages and practice time during the preseason, I loved the big play capability of Rodney Salomon. Salomon, who is a 5th year senior, has the opportunity to break off some serious long gains and at 6'4/235 he is a tough matchup for any cornerback.

On the other side of the ball, the Hawks go back to their more traditional and familiar 4-3 alignment after being a 3-4 team the last three seasons. Good depth up front on the defensive line and a solid group of LB's (once everyone is healthy) will serve MU well.

Broacast Information .. Season opener at Colgate .. Saturday September 5th .. Kickoff at 6pm .. Pregame at 5:45pm .. 1160 WOBM-AM, Fox Sports 1310 AM, shoresportsnetwork.com, & gomuhawks.com .. Matt Harmon (play by play) & Eddy Occhipinti (Color) ..