The Jersey Benchwarmer's Guide to Sports

Genuinely, you have to feel bad for Rutgers fans.  First and foremost, I am a Seton Hall grad. Every time I think of that school from Middlesex County, my blood boils. However, Thursday was at first hilarious, then depressing. By now, Rutgers losing to UMass has made its rounds nationwide. Everyone from ESPN to Fox News mocked the Scarlet Knights for losing to quite literally, the worst team in the FBS the past decade.  Fans were in disbelief, alumni were outraged, and journalists like Jerry Carino bashed their effort. The only reason the reaction has died down slightly was because Michigan, Oklahoma State and Florida State embarrassed themselves over the holiday weekend.  Still, when you pay a team $1.55 million and lose to them, you are simply going to get mocked for that. From my perspective, seeing Rutgers lose 37-21 to the Minutemen was one of the highlights of my weekend. Remember, UMass had not won a game since 2024 so for them to earn a win against Rutgers made ...

First off, welcome back college football! After seven long and agonizing months away, your buddy’s favorite sport returned to bring peace back into this world. Truly, the shenanigans that just occurred throughout week zero were simply incredible.  From USC’s questionable attendance to Beau Pribula and Virginia beating down NC State, week zero was in a way, hilarious. Yours truly has his thoughts on what may be his only free Saturday this fall. Enjoy! College Football, meet Trent Mosley: Lincoln Riley’s time in the “City of Angels” has been strange. Even with him developing a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback in Caleb Williams a few seasons ago, somehow, Riley has still not brought the Trojans to the College Football Playoff (CFP). As a blue blood in the sport, the fact that they still have not made the playoff since its inception is ridiculous.  For the 2026 season, expectations are high for USC. With another talented QB in Jayden Maiava, this by all means has to be the seaso...

Five years ago, my college journey began earlier than most.  While everyone was at the beach, buying stuff for their dorms or sleeping in until noon, I was heading to training camp for football. This time, I had a different role.  My time in high school football with Seton Hall Prep was… terrible. Putting it lightly, I was awful as a receiver. Seriously, I genuinely might have been one of the worst players in all of New Jersey from 2018 to 2020. During those three years, I dreaded going to training camp and in 2020, I knew my playing days were up. Despite having some aspiration to walk-on at the next level, that is not how it played out.  Instead, I took a unique path that I still look back at to this day. I decided I wanted to work for one of the best Division III football programs on the East Coast in Muhlenberg College. When August 11, 2021 came, I was the happiest I had been in years.  Now, why Muhlenberg? Why some private liberal arts college in Allentown, Penns...

There was a time last summer where I thought I was going to "Big Sky Country." I love the state of Montana a lot. One of my goals in life is to visit that beautiful state and call a game there.   Someway, somehow, I was able to secure two interviews with a Montana television station and I felt like I got the job. So much so that I started to plan out when I would make the move out West and start my role as a reporter.  Unfortunately, life threw me a curveball and I wasn’t offered the position. Not securing that role was one of the more frustrating moments of 2025 and I still wonder what could have been had I earned that position.  Looking back, it was even more frustrating when you take into account the season Montana football had in 2025.  The Grizzlies are by far one of my favorite FCS teams and I wished that they had more nationally televised regular season games so I could watch them more. Historically, they are an incredible program and they are always in c...

For any high school football player looking to play at the next level, why wouldn’t you pick the University of Washington? Furthermore, if you play there, why would you want to leave a storied program like the Huskies? I have a soft spot for Washington. The 2016 Huskies are one of my favorite teams in the history of the sport. The likes of Jake Browning and John Ross III took the former Pac-12 school to the College Football Playoff and I loved it.  When I got a hold of NCAA Football 14, I used Washington in Dynasty mode and I had so much fun with them. I had (and possibly created) a tight end from Alaska who won the Heisman in the mode and he was genuinely a cheat code for me.  As an East Coast guy, I would love to visit Husky Stadium for a game one day. Maybe announce a game there when the time comes too .  But, while I was studying up on this team, I truly could not understand why quarterback Demond Williams Jr. nearly left the Pacific Northwest this offseason.  Lo...

December 30, 2021 was one of the strangest days of my life.  On that particular day, I went on a date with a girl. In retrospect, it was really terrible. Seriously, who brings a girl to watch a movie about… Kurt Warner?  Anyway, I got home from that date and immediately rushed to my TV to put on the Peach Bowl. Pittsburgh and Michigan State were in a tight contest, which eventually saw the Spartans win it, 31-21.  Outside of their incredible 2015 season, this was one of my favorite MSU squads. Headlined by running back Kenneth Walker III, the Spartans finished the season 11-2 (7-2 Big Ten) and great things seemed to be ahead for them at the time. I still fully believe that Walker should have won the Heisman Trophy over Bryce Young. However, since that Peach Bowl win, the Spartans have not been to a bowl game, nor have they had a winning season. 2022 to 2025 were essentially some of the darkest seasons the program has had to endure in awhile.  Within the past few year...

Kevin Callahan is a Monmouth University icon. A legend some might say.  The college football community often praises those who have played an important role in the sport’s history. Whether they created a scheme, invented new ways to develop their players, or were simply just amazing at winning, those who helped the game deserve to be honored. For Callahan, his legacy is one that will forever be cherished at Monmouth.  The Hawks’ first season of college football came in 1993. For the first 33 seasons of the program's history, Callahan was the program’s only head coach.  In the 33 seasons with the program Callahan essentially built, there was so much success to be found. Seven conference titles, multiple Coach of the Year honors, many All-Americans, a few appearances in the FCS Playoffs. All of this came under the leadership of Callahan.  Notably, Callahan coached Pro Bowler Miles Austin, who was a standout during his time in West Long Branch.   Looking back ...

A few weeks back, I made my way down to Trenton to return something and oh my goodness I wanted to leave immediately. Truly, I was shocked with how the city looked and that was probably the last time I will ever go there.  On my way back, I ended up going through a town I have grown very fond of in recent months. For the second time in like two months, I drove through Princeton. Honestly, I was fine with that.  Growing up in Sussex County, whenever my family drove on Route 206 to go to Chester for example, I was always super happy. When my family drove down it to get to the shore in the summer, I was always elated. Now as an adult, I have driven on that road to get to places like Princeton. I don’t necessarily remember when I first went to the home of one of the most prestigious universities in the world, but it was either in fall of 2013 or 2014. I was definitely playing a Pokemon game on the way down I know for a fact.  The first time I visited the town, it was a p...