Football Tradition Never Dies with HC Hasbrouck Heights Eddie Suri
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Football Tradition Never Dies with HC Hasbrouck Heights Eddie Suri with Coach Schuman and Coach Depascale
All right we're back we're back yes Um great show today we got coach Sirion From Hasbro Heights he was at Westwood Where do he want to see Championship I Think maybe multiple definitely dude They went every year for God's sakes Like they're thep I feel like they're The group they're in a mix there a group Two right yeah like like literally every Single year that Cardinal is always the Finals dud just it's like like 19 like Uh like 1999 they were like the mix all Time we um but we're gonna talk to coach Uh fantastic coach he's the new head Coach at at at Hasbrook Heights uh story Program very uh uh I mean since the like I want to say the 60s uh I'm going Be close man barbier was the head head Coach that built the tradition there and Um and the only reason I know that is Because I'm from Saddlebrook and there's Been a a lot of battles over the years Allowed this to happen yeah and then When I went over to uh Palisades uh Park We were we were at stinker Ville for so For a long time and they used to just Smack us and then and then we got then We got really good we pulled one of the Greatest upsets uh which drew our whole League into a tizzy that was the year we Went to the state finals and then next Year they got revenge in with what was The deao league championship game both
Teams were seven and0 and we had this Like offense that was averaging like 40 Points a game shut well they were Averaging like 40 points a game too so It was I think bar OC and they beat us In like a shootout but let's bring on Coach coach W welcome to the podcast Great to have you on oh thanks for Having me I really appreciate it coach Uh hasb Heights story Pro program uh it One of the best small school Programs in the whole state of New Jersey I mean uh absolutely if you would Go through uh you know Bergen County not Just Bergen County football history but Obviously where Derek went so I got a Butler of course one of the great great Uh uh uh small school programs but there There's a there's a handful right uh Hasbro Heights is is probably the maybe The longest running one Um that's had tremendous success for the Longest period of time um there's a Couple down in South Jersey that have Had some like this huge success like Salem and pens grve and there's a couple Others Paulsboro was good Paulsboro yeah Paulsboro right and Hasbro heits is in The same breath with them what what is It like getting the opportunity to take Over uh the program at Hasbro heits you Know what it it it's been awesome you Know I I still wake up every day and I And I'm a little bit shocked that I'm in
This position right now um you know Hasbro heits is the winningest program In in all levels in all groups in North Jersey you know they started playing Football in 1902 and uh it's funny because uh Rutherford Rutherford right now is is Right behind them at number two I think And they're they're only a handful of Wins away but um you know it this Program dates back to Uh a long time ago 1902 they started Playing n of the lights in like 1946 I Believe it was the first the first uh First first uh field with lights dekin Um they used to play at like 8 o'clock At night in the 40s and uh this place Used to be packed you know I've seen uh I've seen some still shots black and White still shots of this place pack so Cool that's what made Heights famous Yeah was was when they went to the night Games that was the they were the very First program to do that the only it was The only show in town yeah yeah they Used to play at 800 PM how about that The ads today wouldn't be happy about That hell no trainers Either I gotta stage till eight what Wait a minute 11 o'clock I get home at 11 o'clock what is that about you know That place would still be packed still Be bumping it's just a story tradition You're in a great spot you know what I
Mean uh coming from a great spot as well So talk about kind of what went into That decision you know I I I've said This like you know we've been I've been Through this a couple times now and and I say that like Westwood Westwood really Made this this possible for me so I I I Owe them you know a great deal of um you Know admir you know just I'm so blessed To have come from Westwood you know and Before even before Westwood you know I Coached with Coach cuts for a long long Time it's another good one dude like you Know like that's a good like it's not so Were you at be were you at beckon too or I was at be so yeah so I started Coaching in 200 and in 2003 this is my 20th year I have one year off in the Last uh 20 years so um I started Coaching in right out of college uh Coach dama hired me at Rutherford he had Just gotten the Rutherford job and and He was he's he was rebuilding that Program and you know I was blessed that Year my first year Coaching I remember this so vividly him Telling me we're sitting at we're Sitting at beckon we're playing West Essex in a state championship ship we're 11 and0 and he said don't get used to This because this isn't the way it Normally is you know you you haven't Lost the game yet as a head coach or as A as an assistant involved with the
Football program 100% And and we're Sitting there it was it was a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon I remember because We had snow that weekend and they ended Up moving the game from giant Stadium to Beckon had just gotten that beautiful Field Y and and you know unfortunately We ended up losing that game but I Remember he's like him saying you know You're going to be here you're you're Going to have this opportunity many more Times but I just want you to understand How special this this season was you Know it doesn't happen all the time and And you know 20 years later I can that Can absolutely tell you that he was Right you know yeah and I can attest to It because I I played right after your Game and I lost too so God damn here we Go so you know what I mean like it was Just a bad day for both of us buddy but And you had a hell of a team that year Right Ryan was the quarterback right Like that was a good yeah got a good Group of dudes Murphy like that was a Good crew and and I've been fortunate Enough to know coach Tama and he's spot On because you know I've had coaches That have literally said the same thing Like Savor this because this doesn't Happen all the time yeah and uh you know From from there from there I would uh I Went Roger got the beckon job and and I Went over to beckon I was with him there
For three or four years and then you Know things just didn't work out um Teaching wise for him there so he ended Up taking a a a job in Morris County and I was like you know what screw it like Let me I'm just going to go you know I Used to it used to be an hour and a hour Hour plus ride home I remember I I I was Actually working down in Trenton at the Time and I would I would get out of work At two and i' drive up um like one of These uh highways it was either like 21 Or 22 on the west side of of of New Jersey it would shoot me all the way up To Morris County take me like an hour And 20 minutes to get to practice and Then an hour and 20 minutes to get home And uh I stayed there with him for for Two years and and we we brought them to Their first um first playoff appearance In um I I I want to say it was like 14 Or 15 years and then after that season After the second season he got the Wayne Valley job and I and I was there with Him until um I was there with him until The year the year we lost to uh Wayne Hills in the final in that crazy game or Or maybe oh yeah what was that uh that Was 2017 I think yeah I want to say was Six it it was the 16th season it was the 16th season yeah and then my son 17 Graduation yeah my son was born a couple Years later I mean a couple of weeks Later he was actually born on Christmas
Eve and then I took the next year off And uh and then I ended up you know Coaching with my buddies at Westwood you Know those guys were you know under um You know then Coach hard was uh the head Coach there but you know they had Bobby Guy and and um and Amir sah was there Who I coached with before and my wife Was actually working at at Westwood so It was just the right fit you know I'd Bring bring my son I'd bring my son up Right after school and then she'd like Kind of like take him home it was like It was like a really great setup for me And uh you know those guys I he's back In and then you know you know how that Works it's like two week two weeks in Two weeks in and you're back to full go And uh we had a great little run there You know we kind of rebuilt that program Too because you know they they went Through a lot lot of um staff turnover And uh and just the roster you know like They those guys lose a lot of kids to The Catholic schools people don't know It but like Westwood Westwood is a is Like a Haven and it oh God absolutely Those those Catholic schools like you Know if I went down the list you Wouldn't really believe you wouldn't Believe the guys that are on these on These rosters and and they they still That that's why you know that's a Special place they still continue to win
You know they have they have the guys They have the structure in place over There they have you they have a great Athletic director who gives them Everything they need you know they they Don't they're not wanting anything you Know they have everything they need to Be successful and then you know they do A great job you know and and back to What you were saying about those special Days you I remember the last two years When we were on that like crazy run you Know we only lost to calwell the year Before in the in the state semi we had Already won the uh the league the uh the Section we had already uh won the Section the uh the north one now the Whole yeah now it goes another week yeah So you know Robbie's sophomore year we had lost to Um we had we took a really young team up To Caldwell and in the in the state SE In the state sectional semifinal and and They they beat us up pretty good and Then that kind of set those guys up for For you know what was to come but I Remember being in the locker room in Some of those games and and you know You're you know you just get a little Emotional because you don't realize like You know you don't know where you're Coaching where your where your path is Going and you don't know how many more Times you're going to be in those spots
And I remember talking to Coach Guy About it and he'd be like you all right And I'm like yeah I'm just I'm just Trying to um soak it all in right now Because you know like I said like I Don't know I I didn't know how many how Many games I had left you know So no doubt about it it's it's it's a You've been in really some great places I I uh I remember when you guys that Game against Wayne Hills because the the I don't know if it was the night before Or night after we played that's where we Lost to um riverdell in overtime I was Ult Jaan okay and we lost in that game In overtime where that was that was the Night before that was the night before Okay you guys played the next night that Was it was Cra Crazy crazy uh crazy Crazy weekend like overtime games and Stuff it was was unbelievable what what What has been uh some of the um uh Challenges that you faced in just a Short time that you've been uh taking Over things that you're looking to Rework redo re you know um enhance type Of thing you know what it's um it's it's Been it's been it's been awesome here You know like I obviously I have my ways Of doing things and and you know and I I I feel like you know just from an Organizational standpoint that was my Biggest challenge was getting everything Organized and running in in a manner
Which I felt comfortable and and and I Thought we would be you know obviously Heading in the right direction but um Like it's the the the infrastructure was Here you know the the kids worked hard Like I didn't have to I didn't have to Walk into the weight room and get them To show up I didn't have to get them to To work hard you know I just had a I Just had to get the right the the right Program on the board for them to uh to You know to do and and and and they kind Of like ran away with that the Leadership has been great you know we Don't have many seniors this year on the Team I think we have six or seven um and And I want to say four uh three three of Them have Varsity playing experience so We're relatively young you know we're Starting about uh three or four Sophomores on each side of the ball you Know we have a pretty good junior class Um but the like like I said like the Senior class you know they they're They're not they're not that experienced You know obviously we have the the the We have those two the two big guys up Front who um which always helps that's For sure especially group one ball when You can have some big dudes up front Yeah with a little bit of experience That's important yeah our our left Tackle is a dude he's he's uh he's about 63 275 and in this league you know you
Don't really see that that much He's a scholarship player like we just Don't know where he's going to commit Yet to but you know he's got a he's like In that ivy league Patriot League um Conversation right now there's a couple Different offers on the table but he's Uh he's he's as advertised he's he's Probably one of the best lineman I've Ever coached in 20 years um he's Physical he could run um you know we we Do a lot of different things we pull Everybody at some point and and and this Kid can move that's Oscar is that Oscar Or yeah Oscar Oscar soes yeah He's a dude man he's um he's as Advertised too the kid works hard um He's had a tremendous year in the weight Room and and and like I I say to most of These guys like they're just scratching The surface like his best days are you Know when he's 21 years old walking Around on a college campus somewhere He's going to be an absolute animal and Um you have a track star too right have Like a like tremendous 100 meter guy Uh um we have yeah we have a we have a Bunch you know this is another point I'd Like to make at at at every other school I've been to it's all there's always This like back and forth with kids Playing other sports like Hasbro Heights Has a great setup because they have a Great track program right coach Brady
Does coach Brady does an amazing job and If you come down here in the spring they Have a hundred you know they have 80 Kids running around the track and then They have 20 30 kids throwing in the Pits you know it's it's you don't have To do anything and the fact that he's Okay with them guys lift after track Practice it just makes everything it's It's it's you want your guys running Right you got you want your athletes Throwing your big guys throwing and it's Just it was like the perfect matchup Like I didn't have to beg I didn't have To do any begging like listen let me get These guys in the weight room you know a Couple days a week after practice it's Coach whatever you need whatever you Whatever you think is is um is required And and he's been great like it's like That's another thing it's like all those Things were already set up here you know And I think that that was Brady Brady is tremendous Brady's a Tremendous asset I mean he's obviously Has a great track program but he was a Heights guy he he he played for Jeff Crash he was a football player you know So he he gets it you understands Absolutely and I just I pick his head From a head coaching standpoint you know It's like this is my time running an Entire program and this guy's been doing It for for 20 plus years you know so
Just from just from from that standpoint He's been uh been a real big help for me And I I really appreciate him it's a Huge asset yeah that that that is Awesome what what's your schedule like This year our our schedule we we we open Up Friday night versus um versus New Milford you know they got a brand new Coach though hasn't been uh it hasn't Been the perfect setting getting ready For those guys yeah you don't know What's going on you know it's funny it's Funny because you know coach dra won a Um won a State title at Westwood before All you know before we all got there and All that and and then he took the Fort Lee job and now he's you know he's been At Bergen for the last couple years but You know I I I know that he's he he Knows what it's supposed to look like Too so I know that those guys are doing A great job preparing for us but it's Hard because you really don't know like I'm you know we're basing it off a half Of a game scrimmage and then maybe one Other scrimmage that we got right um so It's you know it's a little bit of an Unknown but I think it's going to be a Great football game Friday night I know Those guys are going to be ready and uh And we're just looking forward to Getting on the field it's been a long Three weeks uh of camp camp and kind of Going through the same practice schedule
And and you know the kids are the kids Are ready you know we are we are healthy With that that is the one great thing we We're ready to go um so and then after After after New Milford we have we have Hawthorne at home who hathorne obviously Came came in here last year and and yeah They're big they're good they're good And they the hathorne actually ended Height season last year in the in the Semifinal and then and then from there We go um I think we're playing that next Saturday at at Saddlebrook because their Lights aren't ready they were supposed To play Friday night but um I don't Think that their their new field is Ready yet um part for the course s has Lights now they got lights and or or They're getting lights and turf so oh oh My God look look at look at how far out of The loop you are that's how far you know I'm not really in in I'm not sure Exactly the details but I know that They're they're getting it or the the Field is getting done right now and it Might not be ready I'm not really guy And you in the first game New Milford It's coach stra that uh taken over there There used to be who was at Westwood and He was with um uh Coach G coach uh yeah Um uh he he was with him as an assistant Then he took over for him and he became And he wed yeah yes gamella I think he
Took over after gambella he was with Gamella yep yep he with gam yeah and Then he's been he's been at Bergen with Veto for the last couple years though Right right And then run the Ball's he's gonna run the ball we just Don't know exactly how he's going to try To do it that's right that's right That's right um then um then from sadle Brook we have uh we have Derek's boys Coming to town and and okay I I've uh You know I've seen them a couple times Already I saw their game scrimmage they They are as advertised they are you know Yeah they're pretty good dude they're Pretty good they're they're uh they are The real deal so you know hopefully we Can just you know stay healthy and and You know get get to a point where you Know we can give them a ball game you Know how how's the uh how's the feeder Program still at at uh Hasbro heits it's You know storyed history of having a Tremendous it's thriving you know those Guys have a lot of um continuity you Know that that I'm pretty sure that I Know on the junior I know on the junior Level those guys have been the head the The the same coaches for 25 plus years Right um and then um it's the it's Pretty much the same guys so the guys That coached the eighth grade team and The guys that coached the second or the
Third and fourth grade team at some Point in the last 10 years they switched But it's been the same guys in the Program and that's huge that's huge Especially small school like that's so Big that continuity the same guys with The same type of system coming to you Like having it organized you know Putting those guys in the right place Knowing it's like hey Heights is the Place to be you know you're not worried About this guy going here this guy going There uh you know that's one of the Biggest things that you know we talk About when we talk to new coaches is Like you know hey you got to get down to That feeder program you got to be a part Of that has to be like something that's In the Wheelhouse for you to kind of be Successful and that's really kind of Where it at where it's at yeah my my son Actually plays on the second grade Team the first year in pads and and I Help out a little bit down there but I'm Always down at the field you know how The setup is so my my office is in that Fieldhouse and and all I have to do is Literally walk out you know after Practice and and I have everybody at my Fingertips where you know I don't have To really run around to go anywhere yeah Yeah don't they see me down here I Usually get that text from my wife Around seven o'clock where are
You and are you coming home and uh you Know it's just been it's just been great I live I literally live up the block I Could walk from dekin home in in in About five minutes fantastic that's Great too I'm that fourth grade team you Got two twins uh I play uh uh I don't Know if you know Jamar Wilkins but know I know him well he's he's a close friend Of mine yeah Jamar Wilkins plays are Great the twins the those two are going To be a problem at some point yeah so he Went to he I played at Yukon he he he Was there I was probably in grad school When I think he was a freshman but those Kids are gonna be he's a big dude huge He's huge you know he's a he's a North Bergen guy we have a we have an influx Of North Bergen moving in over over the Last couple years is that is that where You went to school is did you go to North Bergen no I'm from El I gra I I Grew up at Elwood Park okay okay oh That's the connection about uh the guy The guy family right no that's con Fon Or something yeah so so they're from They're all from Fon I grew up Park Which is right next to each other but I Knew those guys growing up and then uh Coach theama coached me at at uh at Elman Park that was his first head Coaching job ah okay that's interesting There's always the link brother it's Always a link that is really really
Interesting um so what what are you so System-wise are you are you running a Lot of what you ran at Westwood what are You more running now or a mix of Everything everybody's got a mix of Everything now but we uh I just told our Offensive staff this week I said now It's like you know it's it's already Wednesday so today we were going to kind Of try to we had to make a couple Decisions as far as listen what are the What what are we doing the best right Now because you know obviously that was The hardest part that you asked before What the hardest part was was installing All these all these different little Nuances like we are we are the uh we Like to pride ourselves on I I say it All the time it's like the same girl Different dress like we don't have that Many Concepts but we dress them up a lot Of different ways and formations and Personnels and stuff like that and for Me it's like what what what three or Four personnels are we going to use this Week you know and moving forward because We I don't have I don't have the luxury Of of the of the longer like you know It's it's it's a lot of different Formations in the same Personnel this Year where as far as as at as at West we Would be able to sub guys in and out Based on a little bit of the different Skill set and and we don't exactly have
That we have the guys we just don't have Of the plethora that we had at at Westwood you know they they probably had Three or four other bodies that be like Oh my God you know all right the you Know they're they're in the big package You got the two tight ends running in The game right now we it is man that's Part of that that's that's that's a Whole and that's that's tough like you Got to figure that out you got to be Able to like you know what I mean like That's hey we got to make the most with What we have and it might not be a Of what it is but we we're going to be Really good at what we do we'll dress it Up certain ways but like it's still Going to be what we're talking about you Know yeah so that's kind of like that That's kind of where our our uh emphasis Has been right now is just trying to Like hone in the uh hone in the game Plan for Friday night and then you know We want to put our guys in position Obviously to to be successful and and I'm not going to ask I'm not going to Ask a 140 pound uh wide receiver to uh Just to line up at tight end and down Block somebody so That that makes sense that makes sense a Lot I think that's a good move um yeah No it's it's interesting the Personnel Thing uh in in small school it's like Hey these are your horses these are the
Guys you gota you you know they've got To be able to work and then these kids Can plug some holes where where you Needed and then uh and then everybody's Got to do their job to the best of the Ability and they're going I'm guessing Most of your guys go both ways or or at Least some some of them go both ways um Because I would think more than less Yeah I I I have a thing I like you know Last uh I think like two weeks ago we Had a meeting and I and I said listen There there there's some guys on the Sideline that have to play one way like So absolutely if if if if it's if it's a Close if you have a two-way player and It's close at one spot like just if if It's even remotely close I don't care if The guy's a little better that's both Ways if the other guy's fresh Like he's gonna I I want him in the game Only because I think in the long in the Long Hall like you know if you're Playing a long game especially in a Tough early early season game you know You might not have the best healthwise Too yeah no absolutely so like we don't We we try not having guys sitting on a Sidelines that can help us like if you Can if you can if you're a young guy and You could play One Way um you know if You're ready and you especially on Defense if you tackle you're going to be Playing somewhere so yeah that's huge
That's huge I mean listen I can remember You know just being at when we were at Like it was just that was part of it Right like some of these guys like it Was rare for for guys to like you know Your top end guys were going to go both Ways that was just kind of how it was But you needed to plug some holes some Way shape or form if you could have a Guy that literally could come off the Bench as like a sopore and run down on Kickoff or or play a special team like Any of that stuff even like if he could Be a package guy like hey he can come in For two three plays get it done like I Mean he doesn't have to make plays he Just has to not not make plays right Like you Know go ahead coach we we have two Freshmen that are actually going to be Playing on all special teams Friday Night and and I I I rewarded those two Kids because I think that they just set The tone like they they came in their Their their backups on on one's a backup On offense one's a backup on defense but They're they're ready like they they They they showed me that they're ready It's no that for for for me to keep Those guys on a freshman team or or a Sub varsity team it's not doing the team Justice because those guys one are are Are tough as heck and and two they Tackle so so they're has so they're
Hasbro kites kids like you know yeah They're just tough they're tough they're They're they're the Hasbro heits when I Think of Hasbro heits those two kids They're exactly what you think of I was Gonna ask you that coach you have a full You have a a freshman unit you have a Freshman team JV team right like you we We have we play three levels so we play Sub Varsity on either Thursday night Tomorrow night we have a game and then Or or Saturday morning right and then we Play JV Monday and and varsity Friday But the thing is that the state changed The rules so like I Dave yeah Dave Listen to this one now you can only play Five quarters in 24 hours right yeah so So like we just set that up so like Those two kids I mentioned right they Will play a quarter in the in that sub Varsity game each and then and then They'll be able to play Friday night you Know they'll be able to go all four yeah So I told I told our our younger guys That that coached that team I'm like you Got to be strategic you get the ball First you might want to put one of these Guys in on the first drive yeah that's That's all you're getting yeah Dave they Changed the rule cuz we were looking at It too like hey maybe we got a freshman Like actually have a freshman kicker Like I have a freshman kicker that's Like the real deal but he's also a skill
Guy right so am I gonna you know how do I balance that because those guys play Thursday we play Friday one quarter like I'm gonna send them freshman to play one Quarter and then he's going to come kick Four for us like I can make do with what We have it's a really hard decision now With that new rule it's really helped It's really helped the small school and I think like from a from a practice Standpoint we practice all together so We practice nine through 12 we're in in All the sessions we break up for a Little bit of Team stuff at the end but Um it gives those guys an incentive too They're on a scout team you know they're They're they're running around getting Beat up all week it's like yeah but They're proba they might be giving you a Better look than some of those older Guys that would just be out there kind Of just doing whatever you know what I Mean like they get out there they get Excited they're all jacked up and we Know a scout team is basically how you Win games right because that look is is Pivotal and especially at a small school That's the thing like you know you're Sometimes you see guys going half line Just to get good on good you know it's Tough so if you can have those young Guys willing to just come up and compete Like that's already a bonus and and and We wanted to send the message too is
Like you know you're competing with all These Catholic schools now and and Heights is a place that hasn't really um Traditionally been been um impacted by The by those schools but there it's Always like one or two you know you Never know like you know this year's Class we lost one we lost the lineman to Uh to PC but you know at the end of the Day is like I want these freshmen to Know if they're good enough to play They're going to play they're gonna play Right now yeah those those days of that Uh those days of like you know hey You're a freshman you're not playing Varsity you're not doing this you're Playing like those days are long gone Dude like if you're the best you got to Play especially now with how many are Like reclassed and all that kind of Stuff so I mean yeah there's a there That keeps your program that's the Incentive yeah ENT of the stay is that You you play yeah and then for Recruiting wise you know for recruiting Right now all that matters is if you get Early film that's matters you know so From a recruiting standpoint what are You gonna do sit I mean you could be a Great player at a parochial school sit Three years you only play your senior Year I have an example right now can we Work with if uh if he had went to a Public school and probably would
Probably have mulp offers would have ran For like thousands thousands of yards Easily if you can help us win right now You're going in the game absolutely yep And that's and it's look and we're look Understand people that are watching or Whatever we're not we're not like Throwing somebody to the Wolves right We're not just throwing a kid out there Because he can run like these kids that We're like they can play man like they They know what's going on and they also They're chomping at the bit right it's Not the dude that you got to pull out From behind somebody to go on Scout team Like these are dudes running into Seniors saying dude I'm like better than You right like they're they're ready to Go and I think like you said that's a And Dave we talk about it all the time Like it's about getting tape and it's Not freshman tape or JV tape like hey Here's some varsity tape as a freshman Like making plays that's a huge Incentive for these guys to stay home I Agree there's no doubt especially group One like if you're a good athlete guys Guys guys like I mean listen when I was In high school I played one JB game in My whole whole career in high school the Very first with you dude I'm with you Playing farsy from the time I was a that Was the one thing that sbook did a good Job with like you I played right away
From time I was fresh I played one JV Game and the coach was like yeah okay Like that's it yep I can remember too at Butler like and that wasn't a thing at Butler like you didn't do that and it Was kind of just like by default like Hey hope you enjoyed that game where you Score like bazillion touchdowns against Kids that areer than you Well listen smaller for you buddy Everybody's Always now but like hell like you know What I'm saying I I would feel bad not Not bringing up his name right now but You know we have a butler Legend on our Staff that we just hired yes you do Buddy yes you do he's a great dude so Who's that who's that so Brian Brian Wsel who yeah oh yeah like you know Professional wrestler at one point I got To give him his props for that he's a Great dude he played o line at Butler Dude he bleeds blue and gold like till This day um phenomenal coach he's kind Of been through it too a little bit Right he's been at a couple different Programs with with some good people just A great o line coach dude attention to Detail all that kind of stuff wants to Get better asks questions all the time About you know hey what do you think Just bounces ideas and like loves the Kids like really when it comes to it That that's what he's all about so he's
He's just an allaround great guy like The kids love being around him you know I I didn't meet him until after I got The heights job and you know It came it Came from a couple of recommendations Like you got to meet this guy at least Sit down with him and I did and and and You know be before before the end of our Conversation you know I offered him a Job and it was just it's just clear as Day like the guy has the like great Intentions I I I think we've done I Think it's been a blessing for for me to Have been able to hire the guys and Bring in the guys that I did on this Staff I think that that's what's Allowing me to feel more comfortable About anything is like I think that the Staff is is is is a home run like a Knockout from top to bottom here you Know I was on top of uh you know I call Him wesy but on top of being able to get Wy we were able to hire um coach aara Who was the head coach at Bon you know He's our he's our all line coach um you Know he's still an admin in in in Bon But you know that's amazing though to Have a guy that that has been the head Coach of a huge program like that like Yeah so and then and then it's just you Know and then he went to he went back to C caucus for a little bit over there and And you know you know i' I've known him For a while now and and you you know our
Visions kind of were on the same Wavelength and and it that was a No-brainer for me and then we got we Were to get back coach Krabby from from Nor who's coaching at Northern Highland And Ridgewood for for a couple years With uh Dave cter and those guys um we Got him back he's he's a he's a Heights Kid um you know we we able we were able To retain uh coach Mansfield and and and Coach Rocky who um you know are just Main Stays here on defense um for for Years you know I think uh Sean Sean's Been here for 10 or 12 he played for Rocky Um and then you know Rocky's been here For about 30 years so I think that's so Important too yeah you know there wasn't Too much transition on defense which Allowed us to be a little bit if if you Can keep that's what I'm and some of Those guys like those kids like they Still now they can see like you know if Those guys sign off on you right it's Like hey he know like we're good to go Right plus you keep that continuity Right like the same pH the same stuff Like and and then just to surround Yourself with good assistance that byy In that's like man that's like the the Recipe to success you know cuz I I was Able to get uh I was able to get coach Uh Deo back too I don't know if you knew About that one so coach Coach Frank
Coach Frank is back on staff coach look At that man he got coach he he's got Them all coach he's got them all these Are names these are names I know is There a lot do you have a lot of alumni Come around anymore like that used to Always be a big thing with Heights like The alumni yeah you know what I I we we Do we do and and I'm the kind of guy Like I don't trust anybody so I I I made It clear to everybody I I just have That's because you're from Ood Park looking over your back for whole Life dude I get increasingly Uncomfortable anytime there's faces Around that I'm not very familiar with Practices at Heights now yeah so uh no But they've been great everybody's been Great in town you know it doesn't matter Where we are like even if we're getting A slice of pizza you know my wife and I And my kids at at a at uh one of the one Of the 15 local pizzerias on the on on The boulevard um what's your favorite One on the boulevard oh don't make him Do that he I gotta make him do that I Got him I got him he can't do that he's Because if he pisses off one it's over You can pick three you can pick three my House is my house is divided a little Bit but we we have we have you better go With what your wife says buddy or you Sleeping in the office no he gave me he Gave me three I gave him three I gave
Him he gave you three he did give you Three we're going we're going Bella and Height Pizza both of those guys are Knockouts you can't go wrong it's just Basically what what side of the town are You on like what side of the boulevard Are you on and uh and then you got Corleon um corleon on on Williams that They they make some good uh sandwiches And pizza too so there you go you can't Go there it is Don it's a div it's a divided staff too Because everybody's got their own Opinions in that and it's funny when We're trying to get some food where Everybody wants to get it from because That's important Of course because there's nothing like North Jersey for pizza so like you could Everybody has a slightly different style That they like and it it's it's it's What your style is that's what makes North Jersey more choice because you can Go to any spot and find what you Like best that's what I missed the most Probably here me too I got like one or Two spots I could go to y That's it it's Just it's slim pickings and is you know But it is what it is you know what I Mean we balance it out with what we do Down here no doubt coach I want to hold You up because it is it's 12 I think 46 I don't want to keep you keep you on too Much longer do I can't thank you enough
For coming on dude it's been great Having you on if you want to come on During the season everything's going Well you want to come on and talk some Football we'd love to have you I Appreciate you guys thank you and go Heights all right have a great day good Luck buddy good luck take Care that was great that was that that Was great a lot of pressure like you Know I think there's kind of a lot of Pressure in there dude So Heights I give him credit like for For for like taking that taking that gig You know what I'm saying Like [ __ ] that's tough man they win Constantly You're expect to Heights is a Uh Uh he said it like I and I'm wrong maybe Not one of the most storied maybe the Most story has to be winningest like That sounds about right I didn't know That they were playing since see there Most most famous coach there original Most original most famous coach because They had La barera they had they also Wasn't the coaches there for like a long Time yeah yeah the two the two guys that They had was labarbiera and then Del Cowo and they were there for basically Like um I don't Know I want to say 50 60 years between The two of them so well no no La Barbiera was famous he he I think he
Actually left pretty early and he was But he was the most famous one I'm Curious about um I gotta go to my my Favorite uh site for this because I'm Curious about the coaching because I Don't think they've had many head Coaches um definitely not Dude I mean the whole history you know What I'm saying he takes over so the guy That was before him who's this Brian oh You're already on it okay well I'm just Kind of looking at Brian ill uh he went 18 and 12 in three Years you gotta go but you what you Gotta really go back to is yeah the head Coach is okay so la barera was like the Most famous like winning percentage Coach he was in the 6781 Um Jeff sheets I don't know who that is He was there for three years then Del Cazo is the guy I was talking about out Who we used to compete against holy [ __ ] Yeah 85 to 2019 what was it yeah 85 to 2019 that's The one that's the one I'm kind of That's the one that's 35 years so Between labarbiera and Del cazo it was 50 years of football they had it one guy In between for three years and then Obviously there was a guy there for a Little bit after uh um but Del cazo is Probably one of the winningest coaches In b County history and La barera I
Think Del cazo played for La barbiera so That was the connection that makes sense It's a it's it's like I mean like we're Talking history when we were created Saddlebrook like that's when they would Have like okay years and then when they Were great we were okay and then they Had a um uh then then they had some they Had a great run towards the end of Lear Uh Uh Del caz's career like his last I Would say his last 10 years he had a Just an amazing run and yeah I'm correct So he was in the playoffs yeah I'm Looking at some of this holy look at he Was in the playoffs from I mean Basically Del Kaza was in the playoffs If you start in with like 2000 no you Started like 97 basically every year Other than couple years he's in the Playoffs and then um well you I'm Looking here and it's a like you know Division championship they won team has Won the North Jersey group W state Champion 7576 9407 16 17 and then won the North two Group Title 18 yeah so they won 16 17 18 Dude yeah so it's they won a total of 18 State sectional Um 18 State sectional titles dude yeah It's unbelievable so like I I'm just Going back to I remember when I was you You ready for this one dude this team
Was awarded the north one group one Sectional title in 1945 46 47 52 54 dude they they owned Like 54 55 62 64 68 69 like they've won In every decade put it that way well Here was Del maybe the 80s was a little Bit of a lull but I mean Castle's last last 10 years last uh I Love it because it's very much like Years right for this 20071 to state Champ 12-0 then 2008 was 10 And1 then 9-2 6 and4 6 and4 8 and3 11-1 6-4 7-3 11-0 10- one 12-0 and his last year as Head coach he was nine and Two that he he must he must have I don't Know how many wins he has it must be Insane how many wins he has well you you Know you know who also uh Legendary Player from Hasbro Heights Correct oh Greg toll big guy so Greg tol Played with Del cazo in high school guy They both played For to who would be named First Team all Bergen County at running back they Posted a 4-32 scor what about that they I love it yeah so Pro I bet you let me See if they have the elite they usually Let's see uh the big guy loved his hasur Heights brother So Frank Deo 9899 it's so he played in 9899 I Remember that name I'll tell you what's Pretty cool too like even though we're Gonna talk about Hasbro he so for Coach
Himself like his first season coaching Was my senior year of high school and I Remember that like that State title game When he had Rutherford he had Shawn Ryan At quarterback he had Brian Murphy at Receiver he had some studs on that team With Coach dama who is a phenomenal Coach absolute pH phal coach his son you Know the Paul kid uh Boston College Right like but he just coached some Teams I was fortunate enough to actually Work for him a little bit when I was Doing my student teaching at um at P County Tech and just a great dude always Down to talk football have conversations And whatnot but I can remember that what He's talking about because we were all Supposed to play our state championship Games on that Weekend oh i l No no you're good like I said it was Like Wednesday morning we played those Games and they were the game before us And had lost and then unfortunately Enough like you know that that might Have made a little bit of a you know put A little bit of a chip on his shoulder In coaching wise that I mean that was Very interesting yeah heur Heights has Had a lot of great these some of these I Remember I worked at Camp there and There was that field was so cool too Right off field right on 17 literally Right off like if I punted one or
Shanked it like we're done Wow it's interesting I'm looking at Their Hall of Famer the guys that are on Them yeah and you're going I ran that Guy Over no though they had they had Scott Slutzker okay when I we didn't play Against them I don't think in high That's a hell of a name well well he was At NFL Hall it was in the NFL and he was Um six foot four tight end or six foot Five and he went to Iowa I'll be curious It'll be interesting to see because I Believe coach Siri is is an offensive Guy so I mean if you're around if you're Around Roger you know for any length of The time you're going to be somewhat of An offensive guy so I I think I've Coached against him because definitely Have yeah there's no doubt yeah yeah There's no doubt I coach against you and And listen that Wayne Hills Wayne Valley Game he's talking about that that was Like that was pure Insanity that game That was the so it's amazing to remember That that our game was the night before I don't even remember that that we Played that game the night I can't Believe I just remember things when People bring them up hits like a bolt Like ding otherwise no Shot that that that was that was two ni That schedule was a little tough though For him like you know like I mean hey
You might want to like I wonder if Saddle Brook's getting Turf dude that Would be like insanity if Saddlebrook I Mean I could look it up I could find it I mean I could text somebody they went Back to school so I would love to hear It that if they got Turf man and Sythetic turf at sat Brook High School Yeah shut up they're go they're getting A sythetic yeah but you know it's Classic Sal Brook it ain't going to be Ready well that's what I guess he was Saying so no offense Saddlebrook sorry Guys but you know certain things just Don't really get done when they need to Get done there I mean if they're getting Lights that's also a miracle yeah Because I can remember like they would Fight for lights forever but the Neighbor the neighborhood right because Like like people are like dude I don't Want these freaking lights on every Night like and I live here so they would F you want to get s i I get it I 100% Get it those lights coming from that Dude so it's S Brook those houses around This by the school those are actually For sad Brook among the really nicer Homes absolutely so like there's two Streets in S Brook that are really like A those houses were I like street that Les swing we should run around where the Lights would literally be like Bing Right in your freaking and that's a
Probably those are probably the probably Among the most expensive homes in sbook And then the other side of town there's One that's you know right before you go To Loi there's like one block that's is Expensive block Loi yeah yeah but with the there's a you It call I'll tell you what he he may be Out of there but you could so tell that He's an OM Wood Park coat like he's Comes from that like I don't trust Anybody like yeah dude you been looking Over your shoulder your whole life dude Oh my God but I love that adds a little Character to like how you coach and do That stuff and and like you said that Probably explain see that explains to You a little bit how how how I am coming From that uh part of peran County how People are grow up but look he said look As a first year head coach right and Obviously he's been coaching for a long Time he said this is his 19th season in 20 years or whatever like he said all The right things did all like you can See he's talks about the youth program Right talks about the history talked About a little bit of the retention of Like staff that he kept like I think it Was probably a smart move to keep the Defensive staff together if he's an Offensive guy you kind of want to do That leave a little familiarity with Guys that can kind of sign off on him to
The alumni and people that have been Around he he surrounded himself like Right he's got a couple uh he's got at Least one head coach former head coach On staff right that he can bounce things Off of like you said he developed a good Rapport with the track coach who's you Said is legendary and like absolutely Phenomenal so if he can get that stuff Going and then look we know group one Football like year to year it it's year To like you said I don't have many Seniors but the ones that I do have like Are pretty whatever he's playing Freshman okay that's that's I'm curious Like the breakdown Varsity sub Varsity JV freshman like four levels I guess Like one level is like frostmore you Know what I mean like freshman Sophomores or sophomores Juniors oh Levels that's what I thought he was Saying unless he is sub Varsity the same As JV No oh oh oh he said sub so they have sub Varsity okay is that like seniors that Are Bad he has varsity and freshman no so so Varsity basically is like JV used to be Like your Juniors and sophomores right Correct yes sub Varsity is I believe Like Freshman sophomores oh so it's like what I call frostmore and you're like crappy Juniors you know what I mean like you
Know crappy but you know what I mean so Uh that's not politically correct Mr Schuman I I don't say anything play I'm I'm on I'm I'm on a political show now Listen what did sisy say I give a [ __ ] Meter I don't I don't have a I don't Give a [ __ ] meter but I do have uh I do Have a yeah dude you're leading one way Now and you're talking about it so here We go Oh yeah before we get before we get out Of here dude I do have to Men like I watched a little bit of it It's the top political show in Worcester Uh Worcester Massachusetts now listen Buddy you're talking about Worcester Mass here so like still hund something Thousand People I know Liam Anderson got picked Hey practice squad again oh that's good For him it's great man I was oh yeah oh Yeah you you listen if you listen to my Poit the political show I'm on with These other guys you might laugh the Whole entire time I'm I'm more concerned With the other show that you're doing And your poor Yukon Huskies dude getting Molly Wops dude what the hell Dude I guess that new defense ain't Really working well we well we do have That's all right somebody could kill me For my freaking take on West Virginia I'm blaming it on the
Weather I I was right on that one Unfortunately [ __ ] [ __ ] I told you That's right baby Miami might be back Miami football is better when Miami is Back dude Flor and Florida State and Florida might be dude I mean first Off the uh he couldn't even get the top Off the water bottle it's just a bad day For that dude like all the Miami guys Are walking out and the Florida recruits Are right there they're talking [ __ ] Like where are you going to Miami you Got the little uh recruiting assistant Like get out of here keep going what are You doing like mean while these dudes Are like bro we run Florida what are you Doing like damn and then Boston College Beating up on Florida State Florida State that was amazing Bill Billy B baby Billy o me I think Florida State's in Big trouble dude They're in big trouble big how long Before who else is a big trouble Clemson Horrific dude did you hear Rody white The old receiver for Atlanta you know he this he tweeted this Right so he goes fir now or is he yeah Yeah yeah he's been out a long time he Uh so he tweeted he goes Clemson ain't Gonna win any games too many white guys On offense he goes when I look out there And I see all white guys and one black Dude on offense He goes you ain't win
[ __ ] like and then yeah I'm like well What about North Dakota State um oh yeah Well how about Dion showing clips of Them to his team saying we need to do Like they do oh really hang on if Florida state stays here's my question If Florida State or whatever his name is If if that guy gets fired if norval gets Fired and Dion wins another four games How long before that starts happening Yep I just said that on on Um that moneyline show that is 100% my Take that that would that that people Will be all over him especially with Shador leing and stuff like that like I Think Dion season this year will dictate That he does really well and and Florida State struggles I think he's gonna be in Florida State struggles and he struggles How about the ACC just being [ __ ] Virginia Tech dude oh who who Crushed them I was shocked by that dude Vanderbilt one yes Vanderbilt I was like Virginia Tech must be horrible Vander Bill Fe so bad man they must be horrible That's So Bad than Florida yeah Maybe list and listen Florida has the Hardest schedule in the country Did does Vandy get the play florid is The question uh because of schedules but They said the swamp like people are
Going crazy about the swamp not even Being loud dude there were Miami fans Like riding the gator outside the Stadium like there's like these people Are full-blown just straight Disrespected it I it is what it is it's Crazy but Vanderbilt could actually be Three and 0 going into Missouri who Could Ville they play Alor right now if They did it by the whatever right now um Uh Missouri's in the Playoff how about how about how about Brian Kelly losing his [ __ ] oh oh what he I love when he gets Mad I'm not doing a good enough job and D da da it's like dude you're LSU you Should be able to play some defense but I get it like how Lincoln Riley went out And said look we sucked on defense last Year we need to do something soers I Think I think that I think Texas smokes Michigan this week I don't even think It's a game I think Texas is winning yes Dude like I I think it's and it's no Fault to Michigan you lose that many Guys to the draft dude like you're gonna Take a l no offense and you don't have Conor stall did you watch the um the the Show on Conor stallions I loved it I Loved every second of it did you watch It it was great and now he's coaching High School football he lost 47 to seven This Week that's Tor that's got to be torture
Sorry dude I love dude they had freaking What's his name from Bar Stool on it They had freaking his mom on it like Damn dude you know you know what it show It shows you like um everything shows You for the most part that you've got to Have the best players it don't it really Comes down to that dude like it and how Many did you get to watch any live games Weekend did I what what did you watch Any like live college football games This weekend dude like I was and like I Watched some with my old man my old man He's like Derek every kid they talk About has come from like a different School like every guy that was talking Oh this guy transferred from here how About the dude from Miami that's on year Nine year what nine the tight end that Caught the first touchdown for Miami He's in his ninth year of Eligibility he Got he was at or for Seven Seasons he Kept getting hurt hurt hurt so he's Getting medical medical medical Co throw Co in there and now he's done two Seasons at Miami ninth year in college Does he have a swear to God Dave I'm Telling you they did a whole thing on It nine years so wait a minute so he's 28 years old who knows how what yeah how Old he went in there well who knows how He how old he it was when he went in Right right yep cam McCormick oh my God
Ninth year of Eligibility Dude and he scored the first touchdown Against Florida he was born in 98 so He's 26 actually he's not that old he's 26 he probably went in at normal age or Whatever he he well listen here's the Tie right he went to Oregon when Crystal Was there right so obviously he Initially committed to Oregon back in 2016 um actually when when hellick was The head coach he spent seven years There but injur injur injuries Continuously slowed his progress Injuries ended his seasons in 18 19 20 21 that's crazy so he had four years Worth of Injuries that's he red shirt uh McCormack red shirts 2016 he red shirted So 2017 he was a freshman 18 he got Injured 19 injured 2020 gave him an Extra year because of covid 2021 he Missed with an injury 22 he played seven Games at Oregon and then last year he Played five games at Miami in retrospect I could have got I Could have got a six year I could have Got another one I had an injury year I Did too I had a no play year because When I transferred too I got in a couple Games but it wasn't enough to have Anything but dude like I was good bro Like I'm good enough D3 ball I'm good Dude retirement here I come be like dude Like I'm going in the senior like there
Are guys that have like senior class Pictures like three ties I'm like like You actually have to graduate fellas Like what are we doing like it's D3 dude Like get your [ __ ] Together yeah I wish I knew for sure I Could have did I probably would have did A six yeah you could have that would Have been smart for you I was just Really getting good at linebacker the Last few games I would have used it to Uh I would have used it to been like all Right look I won't come back but you're Put me on staff as a ga and I would have Been a ga at Sacred Heart and I would Have dude I would be on my way I'd be Freaking coaching with Neil Brown Probably Getting fired but at least I'll be with Neil Brown well at least I ended my last game Wi with uh even though we lost Ridiculously lost by the way but we were Up 35 to like I don't know what it was But I had 11 tackles in the game nice I Think my last game I had three tackles And I blew like seven coverages because We just started blitzing secondary and [ __ ] listen it was like like there was So many seniors on that team and we were Winning the game by a lot that like we Just started doing [ __ ] like we're just Doing [ __ ] like I'm pretty sure I Blitz The a gap from safety one point and my
Coach is like what are you doing I'm Like I don't know it's my last game like I'm just doing dumb [ __ ] well you know It's funny you said that because my last Game I you know they taught you all These things and I was I just felt like I played looser dude like I was like I Just said you know what my last game I'm I I'm I'm beating guys in front of me However I can I'm not like I'm not I'm Not getting held to like I gotta do this I gotta do that I'm just this is my last Time wearing a helmet like it was the Most fun I had because I was just Playing man I was making tackles all Over the field because I didn't care I Didn't have to worry about someone Telling me on Monday that like uh oh you You you you avoided that guy I just Tried to be an athlete which I really Was there was like right which is what You were anyway so make sure you wrong Arm this guy make sure you because you Know in the old days you you and Probably even when you played too a lot Of linebackers d l you you did like a One for one a lot of times like you gave Yeah that sucked I hated that that last Game I didn't give myself up for nothing I was just making plays and it was it Was a lot more fun I tell you this and I Thought I was a better player to be Honest I I was like I'm sometimes that's How it works when you play luer you know
So yeah you know sometimes coaching can Almost like you over Coach 100% Sometimes you just gotta let dudes do What they do I I told I told uh um well That's because coaches have that whole You know territorial mentality of this Is mine do it my way all that kind of Stuff like I just feel like d like when You have a player that's playing Comfortable like you're good to go you Know I tell Troy and I tell the other Quarterbacks this now because they they All try to Troy doesn't do it because I've been throwing him so many times I Tell them please just throw the ball Don't baby the ball just throw it like Yeah sometimes you you'll get no because You'll get control of your pace as you Start throw if you try to Pace your Throw first you don't know hard you can Throw right so had other kids that like I tell them if you throw it over to the Head of the receiver you throw it too Far okay because you just Chuck it and You throw it too far what's the result Of the play and they go uh I don't know I said incompletion as a result it's not An interception it's not a turnover and The other team now has to and now the Other team says oh this kid can throw Deep like we better play off correct so I said if you throw it short what is the Result of the play yeah somebody gets Molly wipped in interception
Inter if you throw the ball short it's Gonna be intercepted because and your Guy's gonna get hit like hit well if he Somehow catches it right if you got it To but I'm saying if you throw it if You're trying to guide the ball more Than likely you're GNA get an intercept Right to me it's always I always think You should just let that thing fly That's always been my philosophy it's Always been like a like that's going to Work for you no matter what you know What I'm saying like you're just better Off doing that than anything else man Like and like you just get more positive From it but that's me no I I agree with You let it fly and then you can a coach Can always tell you okay you know what You let it fly right now you know um uh When you let it fly in instead of Throwing it a 100 miles an hour you want To put it to the receiver's head aiming Point okay you want you want to you know Like I like I said oh it's literally What I'm teaching like like our JV Quarterback like dude like this is his Literally like like he's only been this Is his second year in pads right but he Knows how to like so now like you're Trying to teach him to read things and Throw
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