Getting Ready For The Gridiron Classic

The weight rooms around the shore are filled with tanned bodies and sweat. That means one thing; Football season is just around the corner. While most high school teams are putting in some sort of practice time, coaches around the shore are planning that first day of practice. 7 on 7 games, speed camps, college camps around the country, offensive and defensive skill work are just a few of the many facets of what high school football is in the 2000's.

Back in the days of when I was coaching, Sept 1st was the magic date when practice began. State rules forbid any kind of structured practice from the coaches. Well those rules changed drastically 20 or so years ago and now you may practice anytime after the first class graduates in the spring of the preceding year.

So while the many players prepare for 2009 with their coaches, a group of approximately 100 former senior players are working hard on the practice field in Toms River and Matawan in preparation of the 32nd annual all-shore football classic. The game will be played 7 PM Friday night, July 17th at Brick High School. It matches up the best of the best in 2008 in a Monmouth vs Ocean contest. This year the US Army has become a major sponsor, along with All-Shore Media and Millennium Radio. The Shore Sports Network will broadcast he game live on Fox Sports 1310 AM and 105.7 FM, the Hawk. You can also follow the game on your computer streamed at either one of the station websites.

The game is being run by the Shore Football Coaches Foundation led by game director Lou Vircillo, Lacey Townships legendary head coach. Handling the job on the Army end is US Army Capt. Robert Hanratty, who played in this game in 2000, after his senior year at Manalapan HS. This years head coaches are Mark Ciccotelli of Freehold Boro and Chuck Donahue Sr of Southern Reg. While the players prepare themselves under the watchful eyes of a full coaching staff, Vircillo and his staff of coaches work diligently to make this game work. Barnegat's Rob. Davis, the GM of the Ocean squad, and Howell's Cory Davies, Monmouth's GM have worked very hard on the rosters of the two squads. It's not an easy job trying to round up 100+ players in the summer, as most prepare for their up coming college careers.

Games like this, usually always come down to the skill players. Lets start on the Monmouth side and mention a few of the major threats that you will see Friday night. Monmouth is led by Freehold's QB Nick Tyson. Tyson's deep threat and all around great player in Brandon Brown. These two can create headaches to the Ocean defense and must be contained in order for Ocean to win. Mike LaSalla(Manasquan) will back up Tyson. Neptune's RB Michael Peavy is a game breaker any time he touches the football. Looking real good at the running back position in practice this week, has been James Gilburn(Manalapan). On the defensive side two great LB will try to contain the Ocean option attack; Nolan Vill from RBC and Matt Martino from Mid South are good ones and by the way, they are also great running backs. Ocean will counter with a 4 headed QB rotation that could very well be the best combination of talent at the QB spot that any Ocean team has ever had. Brian Staub(Brick Memorial), Shane O'Conner(Point Boro), Jon Curtin(Mon Don) and Kevin Gilmore(TR South) give the Ocean squad versitility on the ground and in the air. Having 4 QBs can also possibly work against them, as Coach Donahue tries to get them playing time. Running out of the Gun, this option attack will make for some interesting play calling from OC Calvin Thompson, out of Point Boro. Up front, the Ocean squad is big, with Andrew Leusteck(Brick) at 6'4" 270lbs, Anthony Delia(Brick Mem.) at 6'3" 280lbs, Aaron Davis(Jackson) at 6'5" 305lbs and Frank Backle(TR East) at 6'3" 290lbs. Zone blocking techniques have been picked up by this crew, and occupying space, to allow QBs and RBs to do what they do has worked in practice. The Monmouth squad will counter with speed and aggressiveness on defense. All in all it figures to be a good one, as most of these games are.

At halftime 4 more inductees into the Shore Football Coaches Foundation Hall of Fame will be honored. I know the recipients, but I'll keep it a secret until Friday night. All I'll say is these great coaches and their families are excited about the honor and are truly deserving. Last year Warren Wolf was the first inductee into the Hall.

I guess we can't really talk about shore high school football without a quick mention of some of the big stories over the winter. There are 3 that I'll mention in this blog. The biggest story, by far, was the retirement of Brick's legend Warren Wolf. After 51 years, the only coach Brick has ever had, decided it was time to leave. I had the honor of personally being invited to his press conference announcing that retirement. There were many well wishers from past teams who came to honor Coach Wolf and his many accomplishments. But unfortunately, the story didn't end that afternoon in Brick's cafeteria. After a long search, Patrick Dowling from Allentown HS, was hired and the fireworks began. Coach Wolf wanted a Brick assistant coach to take over for him, and he did not take the news of Dowling's hire too well. Meeting after meeting was held by the Board of Education to justify the move. Former players and backers of Wolf attended and voiced their opinion. The Board stood firm and upheld Dowling as the head coach. He now begins his term as Brick's head coach with much pressure on his shoulders. The former Brick staff of assistants has moved on, with only 1 former Wolf assistant still on staff. It should make for an interesting season for the Dragon's!

Another move that caught everybody by surprise was the John Amabile to Allentown High School hire. After resigning from St John Vianny after the 2008 season, everyone thought John's Hall of Fame football coaching career was over. Not so fast! If John can turn that program around in the next few years, as some think he may, get the Hall of Fame plaque ready.

Lastly, but certainly not least, was the resigning of RBC's Frank Edgerly for a move to the pros. Frank took a job as the New England Patriots Pro Personnel Scout. Most followers remember just a year ago, at about the same time, Frank resigned to take a job with Rutgers University, only to leave that and come back to coach RBC in 2008. I think this job will last a little longer than the Rutgers job. Good luck coach, you will be missed at RBC and in the shore.