Grifin hopes to build on foundation Theodosatos built
By: Ken Weingartner
Milt Theodosatos is gone, but there’s still plenty of "Coach T" left with the Monroe High School football team.
And it’s all about attitude.
"The problems in the past with Monroe football have been in the mirror," said Jim Griffin, the Falcons’ new coach and a longtime friend of Theodosatos. "And the answer to the problems is in the mirror. There’s nothing we can’t fix ourselves. There’s a better attitude, more confident attitude.
"Milt laid the foundation, I’m just going to continue to climb that mountain and reap the benefits."
Monroe opens its season at 1 p.m. Saturday by hosting Northern Burlington.
Theodosatos, who was 2-8 in each of his two seasons with Monroe, did not have his contract renewed by the Board of Education in June. Officials declined to comment on the reason, but Theodosatos said it was the result of a slapping incident that was part of a "trust drill."
Griffin, who was an assistant with the Falcons last year after spending nine campaigns in charge of the program at Hightstown High, was hired as Monroe’s head coach at that time.
The coach, who revitalized a dormant Hightstown program, inherits an experienced squad. He also gets one of the best weapons in the Greater Middlesex Conference, place-kicker Sczcepan Kowalewski. Last year, the senior booted a school-record seven field goals, including game-winners against New Brunswick and Spotswood. He had three kicks of 42 yards or more.
"I don’t like to call anybody the best, but there’s nobody better than Sczcepan that I’m aware of," Griffin said. "It changes the whole way you approach things. Once you cross midfield, you know one more first down and you’re in range for him."
Jared Axelrod and Eric Gaston, both juniors, will share the duties at quarterback. Axelrod saw action at the position last season.
Seniors Brian Ruane and Mario Zygadlo, juniors Matt Fromhold and Nick Asta, and sophomore James Boyd will work at the running back positions in the Falcons’ option-oriented attack. Mike Spiga, the Falcons’ best ground-gainer last year, moved to Carteret.
Dennis Chieffo, Keith Hackett and Brian Swenson, all seniors, are the receivers. Jim Gaston and Sczcepan Kowalewski, both seniors, and juniors Joe Palach and Chris Kovach will be the tight ends.
Mike Tanzi, a junior, will center the offensive line. Seniors Steve Bordonaro and Brian Staffa are the guards while senior Rich Narvaez and junior Chris Romano will be the tackles.
"We’ve placed a great deal of emphasis on being able to run the football," Griffin said. "Those five backs all run hard. The better we run the ball, the more time we take off the clock and the less time our defense has to be on the field. Our goal is to shorten every game we play.
"The passing attack is better. I’m not completely happy, but it’s better than last year."
On defense, sophomore Anthony Arcaro is the nose guard. Jim Gaston, Bordonaro, Staffa, Tanzi and Narvaez are the tackles while Palach and Asta are the ends.
Kovach and Zygadlo will play at linebacker. Axelrod, Eric Gaston, Ruane, Chieffo, Hackett, Swenson and junior Rudy James will rotate in the secondary. Kovach also is the punter.
Zygadlo and Staffa are the co-captains.
"Defensively, we’ve set a goal to improve our run defense," Griffin said. "We’ve done well against the run in our scrimmages. Our secondary is better, but we still need to improve there."
Cutting down mistakes will be the key to the Falcons’ season. Griffin said the team averaged nine penalties and four to five turnovers per game last year.
"If we’re going to get better, everything’s got to get better," he said. "We don’t have to ever fumble the ball. The mental mistakes are unacceptable, and we coach that way in practice."
Theodosatos constantly preached "more games are lost than won." Griffin agrees, and will carry on many of the teachings of the Falcons’ former coach.
"The kids have adjusted to whatever changes there have been," Griffin said. "But I sent a letter out to the parents before the season that before they’d ever heard of Milt, I was one of T’s kids. I miss him a lot. I miss having him around.
"He ain’t here, but he’s here," he added with a smile. "He’d be proud of his kids now."

