Hail To The Chief

It seems quite ironic that Barack Obama will be sworn in today for his second term as President of the United States on the same day we honor Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today is a state and federal holiday to celebrate Dr. King’s birthday which was actually January 15th but is commemorated on the third Monday of January. While many might be off from work today most schools in New Jersey will be open as districts look to make up days missed by Superstorm Sandy. Many of those same districts will also be in session next month on Presidents Day.
So how many times do you think we’ll hear the upcoming Super Bowl referred to as the “Harbaugh Bowl” over the next two weeks? Super Bowl 47 will match coaching brothers with John’s Baltimore Ravens going up against younger brother Jim’s San Francisco 49ers.

Vince Casale has stepped down after five seasons as the head football coach at Central Regional but will remain the school’s Athletic Director. Casale, who previously was the head coach at Pinelands, guided the Golden Eagles to their first state playoff appearance in ten years during the 2011 season when Central went 5-5. He will be part of a search committee to seek a replacement and among those who would be considered a likely candidate is defensive coordinator Willie Jacobs, a former Golden Eagles player. There are now five coaching vacancies at the shore with Rumson, Pinelands, Keansburg and Marlboro all looking for head coaches as well.

The Point Pleasant Beach boy’s basketball squad has established themselves as the team to beat in the shore this winter after Saturday’s win over Colts Neck, who had been ranked #1. Nick Catania’s Garnett Gulls are the lone undefeated team in Ocean and Monmouth County with a 12-0 record after Matt Farrell scored 23 points in the victory over the Cougars. The Beach can pretty much clinch the Class B Central title with a win at St. Rose Thursday night. It could be a trio of winter titles for the Garnett Gulls as both their Girls Basketball and Wrestling teams are likely to win B Central crowns.

The U.S. Army All Shore Gridiron Classic is set for Thursday, July 18th at Toms River High School North. Head coaches for the Ocean-Monmouth All Star Football game will be John Wagner of Point Beach and Colts Neck’s Greg LaCava.