A longtime friend once told me when he stopped coaching “if you can stay out of coaching for 3 years, you can probably get on with your life”. Writing these blogs has, a way, allowed me able to wade in the shallow end without totally having to dive in deep. The goal 3 years ago was to go see programs, venues, and explore stories I was never able to while coaching one program. I am in contact weekly with several coaches talking strategy, coaching techniques, the state of football etc. Driving down the Garden State Parkway on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, I have wondered if I am “over it” or am I just biding my time until an interesting opportunity comes along.
Navigating through the New Jersey roads isn’t always easy. Between the stop and go traffic and the jug handle turns, I empty out my curse word arsenal. I arrived in Oradell, New Jersey about an hour before game time. Parking was not easy and I ended up parking on the rode about a half mile away. It was a beautiful day and I didn’t mind walking and soaking in some of the neighborhood. Bergen Catholic High School and Jack McGovern Field are nestled right in the center of the suburban community. As I walked up to the stadium you could see there was already a set up for some sort of ceremony. It was senior day for the Crusaders. The first thing I felt upon arriving was a family feel amongst the crowd of people. There are stands on one side of the field and a separate detached section for a very lively student section. Fathers and sons play catch on the side field, alumni gathered together in the corner of the end zone, and parents conversing in the stands. The PA announcer even welcomed home Dom Gaston, a Bergen Catholic alumni and now the Head Football Coach for the Pope John Lions. It had a small school feel to it but Bergen Catholic is anything but small.
Bergen Catholic was 4-0 going into this Saturday afternoon showdown against Pope John High School (1-4). The Crusaders have a rich history of dominance in New Jersey High School Football. They always continue to roll out college football players as well some professional players. After a disappointing 2019 season and an abbreviated 2020 season, it has been clear early on Bergen is on a mission to get back to the top in New Jersey. The heavy senior laden group is led by QB Steve Angeli and DB Jayden Bellamy both who have committed to Notre Dame. In 2019, when I attended the Bergen Catholic/Don Bosco game running back Ryan Butler was a sophomore. That day Butler had a dominating performance with 131 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns. Ryan is now a senior, the team’s leading rusher, and has committed to play at Princeton next season. Each senior walked out with their parents through a canopy of balloons as the PA announcer read off their names and the impressive list of colleges they will be attending in 2022. Colleges like Notre Dame, Princeton, USC, Navy, Delaware, and many more. It wasn’t all perfect as the balloons that spelt out SENIORS blew over in the middle of the festivities.
The national anthem was played and a tradition between New Jersey Catholic schools I always find refreshing is an opening prayer was said. When the prayer comes to a close the Pa announcer says, “Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice” and with load roar the entire student section responds, “Pray for us”. The roar is a signal to let the games began. Bergen took the opening kickoff and 7 plays later where in the end zone. Head Coach Vito Campanile had the Crusader offense running at a tremendously fast tempo. I had trouble keeping up with my notes during the course of the game. Quarterback Steve Angeli was clearly in command delivering touchdown passes to Santino Correa and Christian Carti in the first quarter. Before you could blink it was 21-0 Crusaders. Pope John had issues keeping up all game defensively and was absolutely stymied offensively. Bergen Catholics defense had only given up 32 points on the season and in this game only gave up 32 yards of total offense. The Crusader defense consistently swarmed the football led by junior linebacker Malachi Mercer and a dominating defensive line. Two of the first half touchdowns were set up by interceptions from linebacker Gerald Crum and a spectacular catch by defensive back Jayden Bellamy.
Pope John played hard defensively, didn’t give up, but just didn’t have enough horses. Players like senior linebacker Jack Stoll put forth a great effort and defensive back Joey Walton, who picked off Steve Angeli for the first time this season. It was 35-0 at halftime so I decide to call it a day and head to the sports bar for some wings.
Millers Ale House name is deceiving. It’s really just a sports bar without the cool sports themed name like offsides or illegal procedure, wait those might be gentlemens club names but I digress. I walked in and there was a large seating area indoors and outdoors, a ton of TV’s playing college football, and a large rectangular bar right in the middle. The wait staff sat me right away, got me a menu, and a drink. I open the menu and in big bold letters read “Home of the original Zingers”, so naturally I ordered those with the traditional mild sauce. Since I am not a seven year old and zingers are boneless I decided to order an additional bone in wings with a spiced honey sauce. I waited for my food watching the Yankees get throttled by the Rays 12-2. The wait wasn’t long and my food arrived. Well I was disappointed to say the least. The zingers were essentially chicken fingers and they weren’t very crispy. I had figured maybe the sauce would save them but I was wrong. The mild sauce fell flat of any tang to it and just missed on all counts. The bone in wings with spiced honey sauce was up next. The wings were cooked perfectly and were a good size. The sauce was more honey than spiced and they didn’t have enough of it on the wing. It felt like I was eating plain chicken wings.
Zingers essentially chicken fingers, mild sauce was accurate but could have used a little more tang. They looked good on the surface but fell short of substance. Like a linebacker who has the neck roll, half Jersey, arm bands, and spatted cleats but can’t tackle, cover, or find his playbook. I rated them a 2.5 out of 5.
The game was not as competitive as I would have liked and the sports bar was average at best. With that being said every experience you have is just that an experience, some good, some bad, and some so-so. The week prior I traveled to Springfield, sat in traffic only to be shut out from the game with no tickets available. However in those 4 hours I got to have some much needed father son time. I did realize something while walking down that sidewalk in Oradell, now being out of coaching for 3 years, I do miss coaching. I miss being in the mix, I miss game planning and preparations, I miss relationships with players and coaches. Like this weekend’s game, it was an experience coaching, sometimes good, sometimes bad, and sometimes so-so but always an experience. The difference today is I am at peace with where I am at. If down the road it makes sense for me and my family I could definitely see myself getting back on the sidelines. Time will tell.
