Archive for April, 2009
28
Apr
09
REPLAY #1: Thank you Gatorade
Dear Gatorade,
This game and the entire REPLAY experience was awesome … truly a community building event and something my wife and I will fondly remember as we attended the pep rally, bonfire, block party and epic re-match … talk about a fun-packed weekend!
We didn’t graduate from either high school or even go to school in NJ or PA. The entire event was extremely well orchestrated and kudos to the Gatorade staff and its agency partners!
The trailer and episodes your team has developed is very compelling and inspiring, and everyone I’ve shared the links with has a similar response … “WOW — this is AWESOME!!!” The videos succinctly and effectively communicate everything that involves sports: family, friendship, camaraderie; school spirit; competition and mental/physical drive.
Easton and P’burg truly embraced this program and the game lived up to the hype … and everyone won in the end because the REPLAY brought so much joy to not only these two towns but “average joe” sports fans (like myself) from all across the country.
Thank you, and keep up the stellar work!
Sincerely,
Brian Wendel
Brophy ’92
It was a team effort for the Phillipsburg Stateliners. One that involved several months of preparation and came more than 15 years after a 1993 game ended in a 7-7 tie. P’burg posted a 27-12 victory over Easton in a game played in 90-degree temperatures at Fisher Stadium on the campus of Lafayette College.
“I think they had a couple more weapons than we did,” said Easton defensive tackle Chris Shannon. “Speed kills and they were faster than us.”
Joe Luke (P’burg) was named the game MVP and teammate Robert Wargo was named the game’s outstanding defensive player. Easton center Eric Detweiler earned lineman of the game honors.
“I know this whole experience means a lot to every single one of us,” said Keith Kullman on the P’burg squad.
Dear Kevin,
It was such a blast being on the KDUS “The Fan” morning show with you on Weds, 4/22!
The opportunity to share our “Co-Champions” story with your listeners means the world to us because the Valley has been so supportive of our REPLAY campaign thus far.
While the Brophy and Marcos guys were growing up we watched you on Phoenix TV as “our” local sportscaster; and today we still consider you “our guy.” The fact you attended and covered the ’90 State Final puts you in a very unique position if / when this REPLAY occurs.
On behalf of Brophy and Marcos, thank you so very much for your enthusiasm and interest in our REPLAY campaign.
We’ll certainly keep you apprised of any developments as we continue to build more momentum and march forward.
Sincerely,
Brian Wendel
Brophy ’92
22
Apr
09
Q & A With # 19 Brian Wendel
- School: Brophy
- Position: Defender
- Year: Sophomore
- Place of Birth: Perth Amboy, NJ
- Current Hometown: New York
- College: Seton Hall University; Syracuse University (MS)
- Occupation: Digital Marketing
- Favorite Opponent to Play Against: Marcos … because we were the best teams in our era and as an athlete you always want to go up against your toughest rival
- Favorite Opponent to Play on the Road: Apollo … I knew most of the guys on their squad from club soccer, and our battles with the Hawks were always intense and physical … and beating Apollo when it counted most in the ’90 conference playoffs was a great way to begin our run to the state final (see Shawn Callahan’s reply too)
- Favorite BCP Soccer Moment: When the starting line ups were announced at the State Final I was the last person introduced … players were announced in numeric order … hearing my name announced over the intercom; running out to midfield; and being greeted by my teammates was a special moment
- Favorite Gatorade Flavor: G2 Fruit Punch
- If / When the REPLAY Occurs What Will it Mean to You: A sense of achievement that we actually pulled this off … and then the REAL work/training begins … the opportunity to rekindle this energy, enthusiasm and comaraderie has been amazing … and the idea of putting on a Brophy jersey and playing alongside my teamamtes one more time — and to face Marcos — is a dream come true … and this will be the ultimate tribute to Coach Paul Micheletti
- Favorite Quote: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.” – Mark Twain
- NOTE: upon hearing about the Gatorade REPLAY program, I knew in my gut it was the right thing to do and for us to share our story for consideration; I would have deeply regretted us not making an attempt to pull this off because our story is inspirational and authentic with many human-interest story angles; and this “little” campaign that started out as an idea has spread like wildfire over the past 6 months
- Year: Brophy ’81
- Position: Brophy Coach ’87 – ’91
- Place of Birth: Los Angeles, CA
- Current Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
- College: Stanford University
- Occupation: General Counsel, Diocese of Phoenix
- Favorite Opponent to Coach Against: Moon Valley and Apollo … They always had solid teams, and I had a nice rivalry going with their coaches Don Hillegas (Moon Valley) and Peter Draskin (Apollo)
- Favorite Opponent to Play on the Road: Has to be the Kofa Kings, from Yuma … Whether we made the trip there, or whether they came to Phoenix, it was always a great game with a great atmosphere … Winning at Kofa was like going on a commando mission behind enemy lines … We’d sneak in, eliminate the target, and then flee with all of the humanity nipping at our heels behind us
- Favorite BCP Soccer Moment: Running onto the field to celebrate the state quarterfinal win over Kofa, in Yuma … and getting hit on the head by a pair of soccer cleats that were returning to Earth after one of our players threw them in the air in jubilation
- Favorite Gatorade Flavor: Orange
- If / When the REPLAY Occurs What Will it Mean to You: Great opportunity to see a lot of old friends (from both teams) and to celebrate the memory of Paul Micheletti
- Favorite Quote: “When you buy a hat like that, do you get a free bowl of soup? … Looks good on you though.” – Al Czervik from Caddyshack
If / when the 1990 REPLAY occurs, there will be no ties and watching this shootout will surely get the Brophy and Marcos squads pumped up they’ll want to play the match today and “settle the score!”
20
Apr
09
Q & A With # 11 Chris McCabe
- School: Brophy
- Position: Midfielder
- Year: Junior
- Place of Birth: Phoenix, AZ
- Current Hometown: Chandler, AZ
- College: Too many to list
- Occupation: Director of Facilities – Desert Botanical Garden
- Favorite Opponent to Play Against: Let’s play all of them — can’t get enough of the game
- Favorite Opponent to Play on the Road: Kofa — where else can you burn everything in site after the bus breaks down (’91 season)
- Favorite BCP Soccer Moment: Making varsity sophomore year
- Favorite Gatorade Flavor: Orange
- If / When the REPLAY Occurs What Will it Mean to You: FUN!
- Favorite Quote: “You’ll miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” -Wayne Gretzky
(Source: Allentown Morning Call “The Press Box” – April 16, 2009)
By: Andre Williams
Gatorade has just what it had to hope for when it established a Replay game between Easton and Phillipsburg to settle a 7-7 score from their 1993 Thanksgiving Day bash at Lafayette College’s Fisher Field.
The replay game is scheduled for 3 p.m. on April 26.
Easton does not lack any confidence as evident by Red Rover Chris Shannon’s take on the matchup.
Here’s Shannon’s profile:
Age: 31.
Positon: Offensive guard, defensive line.
Why you did not win in 1993? We did come ready to play that day and Phillipsburg did, too.
Why you will win on April 26? Hard work, dedication, focus, determination, not to mention we are better looking.
Got a score? Easton 26-6 “And a physical beatdown of the ‘Liners on the national stage,” Shannon said.
My take: Now that’s a bulletinboard quote. Gotta love it.
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