Consistency – There’s no shock that Middle Township is in contention again. Year after year they’ve been as consistent a program as there is in South Jersey. Tom Feraco is and has been a great coach for many years and this one is no different. He has an undersized team that plays hard and wins. Victories over St. Augustine and Holy Spirit, who were both undefeated at the time, have proven that. He has been able to adjust to whatever talent he has and has his program in the thick of things again.

Congrats – National Signing Day is close and there are a lot of local players heading to college on scholarships. Darryle Smith, Max Valles and Kiwan Lewis of St. Joseph’s. Dan Mastramateo, Matt Rubino, Nigel Jones, Zack Fable and Ethan Gambale of Holy Spirit.  Zack Storr of Mainland, Bobby Deluce and Ryan Murphy of Ocean City will all be attending a school for football. People always wonder where all the talent is and all you have to do is look right here in our own back yard. Congratulations to all of these Student/Athletes!

JoePa – We were all saddened by the passing of Joe Paterno on Sunday. His legacy will remain as a standard for coaches, schools and humanitarians everywhere, scandal notwithstanding. He did things the right way, helped numerous players and students along the way, donated millions of dollars to make the library at Penn State one of the best anywhere and even taught classes on occasion. How many other coaches can say that? Name one other coach that has a LIBRARY named after him?

The Board of Trustees wanted Joe to step down in 2004 after a 4-7 season and he refused, alienating himself with the hypocrites on the Board. All he did was go 58-19 with four Bowl wins over the next 6 seasons. After the Sandusky debacle hit, they saw their opening and pounced, firing the venerable leader.

Paterno gave his heart and soul to Penn State and in the end, officially, complications from treatments for lung cancer caused his passing.

Or was it a broken heart?

Upcoming Schedule on 97.3 ESPN and 1450 ESPN - Some big games coming up, you can hear Holy Spirit at Atlantic City on Tuesday at 7pm on 97.3 ESPN and at 5:30 you can hear Ocean City at Mainland on 1450 ESPN AM.  Then on Friday February 3rd, its Middle Twp at St. Augustine  at 7pm on 1450 ESPN, then on Super Sunday its the Battle by the Bay featuring Pleastville at Atlantic City at 2pm.

 

(John Leon is the host of the South Jersey Sports Report heard Saturday’s from 9-11am on 97.3 ESPN and 1450 ESPN AM.  His CAL Report runs here on 973espn.com.  You can e-mail John at johnraiders25@aol.com)

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