Guest Opinion
Return to Home Page

    This Guest Opinion is by Lance Shaw, a former star running back for St. Joseph's Prep (Class of '94) and Fordham and the brother of Drew Shaw, currently a star linebacker for Carroll. He sent these thoughts in two different e-mails. So if this is a little disjointed, blame me, not him. He's pretty excited about seeing a Prep/Carroll game. I share that desire. I'm just a little calmer.
    If you care to comment on this Guest Opinion or offer a Random Thought, send it to silaryt@phillynews.com. If you don't say anything too over-the-top, you may remain anonymous. Thanks!
    The responses are POURING in. I might have them all posted by the first snowfall. Write coherently. Use capitals where they belong. Pay attention to possessives. Do I sound like an English teacher? I'm not. I'm just using too much time fixing errors. Thanks, troops. 

*******SCROLL DOWN TO SEE RESPONSES, (brace yourself)*******)
                BELOW THAT ARE OTHER RANDOM THOUGHTS

    Finally, do a big breakdown of the game and key matchups etc. with a big spread yada, yada, yada. This would be the most insane thing, in a good way, you ever did.

RESPONSES...........

    Prep should play Carroll to shut up that dude Lance Shaw. The Prep will absolutely dominate Carroll.  I want them to play.
            -- anonymous

    I have been to five Carroll games and most of Prep's games, and I can easily say that The Prep would handle Carroll. Carrol's defense is good, but against teams that look like they are made up of sixth graders. Prep has played North Penn, Holy Cross, O'Hara and La Salle. Who has Carroll  played? WOOD? Give me a break! Their corners couldn't keep up with Mike McGann, and their defense as a whole wouldn't know how to handle Kyle Ambrogi. As for their offense, the only real threat they have is Maurice Stovall, and he would only be able to catch 3-yard out patterns. Derek Zambino is a smart quarterback, but he doesn't have the arm strenghth to throw the deep pass, which Stovall would be most effective on. So I say, Let them play. Prep would win, and by a couple touchdowns.
            -- anonymous

    I remember rumors spreading around last year that that Carroll team was the best in school history and I personally believe this team is even better. I completely agree that there should be a Prep-Carroll  game. When Lance Shaw says Prep is ahead of Carroll in the rankings, I think we should be. My final remark is: Sure, Carroll is a good team and has good players, and I think that we should have a game between Prep and Carroll, but some of Lance's remarks are crazy. Finally, I would like to see Carroll play North Penn and Holy Cross and O'Hara and see how they fare.
            -- Prep student

     I have seen all of the St. Joe's Prep games, except Judge game, and two of Archbishop Carroll's games. Not that it means anything, but I have coached several players from both teams in grade school basketball when they were in 7th and 8th grades. It is a pity these teams do not play, but there is no doubt in my mind who would win the game barring a bunch of stupid mistakes -- and it would be Prep. Carroll has simply not seen an offensive force like the Prep line and Kyle Ambrogi, as well as a passing force like Mike McGann, and they have not been exposed to the level of competition the Prep has seen. I also believe the North Penn win was more significant than Mr. Shaw believes, and the Holy Cross game was most significant. Holy Cross is a great team, and Prep did not know what they were encountering when they faced off against Wali Lundy. Having said that, Holy Cross gave the game away, and I believe they (Holy Cross) would win six out of ten games against the Prep. It is a shame what has happened to the Catholic League. Carroll has lost natural rivalries with Prep, O'Hara and Bonner. The ultimate answer to this debate would be to play, and I believe a game could be arranged during the bye week leading into the playoffs. I doubt it would ever happen, but it would be neat.
            -- Bob Hamburger

     Personally I would love to see a game between The Prep and Carroll. I think a game such as this would create a tremendous amount of excitement for local high school football fans.They could even play it at Franklin Field like so many other classics that occurred in the 50's, 60's, & 70's. Unfortunately, I think it's a real long shot that a game could be thrown together this late in the season. With this being said, all we can do is speculate on an outcome. I feel Carroll's lack of a passing game would hurt in the long run. I think Prep's defense would crowd the line scrimmage and limit Carroll's unique running game. On the other side of the ball I think Mike McGann, Kyle Ambrogi, and Co. would score just enough points to pull it out 17-7. The irony of this debate is that both teams have one common opponent, Bonner. With both teams winning by identical scores, 45-0.
        -- Ed "Huck" Palmer, Daily News statman

    I can't believe this topic is really a debate. The Prep is the far superior team in a better division. The competition Prep has faced is better than Carroll. North Penn, Holy Cross, La Salle, and O'Hara just to mention a few. I don't think Mr. Shaw really understands football too well. I believe Carroll has a good team, but look at the level of teams they play. How can there be a comparison drawn between the two? Lance brings up defense. Yes, Carroll has a very good defense, and has shut out almost all of its opponents. The Prep has played against some really good players, let alone teams. Carroll has never faced a back as good as Lundy/Jones from HC or Kevin Jones from O'Hara or an O-Line with the size and strength of a North Penn. The Prep defense has given up 12 points a game on average with three  shutouts. That is not too shabby considering who they have played. How many teams with winning records has Carroll played? Answer, 0!!!! Reality needs to set in here at some point. The Prep is the best team in the area. They don't walk away from anybody, and will put any team on the schedule. I can't say the same for Carroll. They had a chance to play good teams in the preseason, but decided it would be better to pad stats. That's OK because Carroll is not nationally ranked and the Prep stands at 10 in the NE region. Please, everyone needs to get a grip and face the facts. Carroll's ranking in the area is a joke and until they beat someone with a winning record their 7-0 mark is tarnished in my book. After the Red and Blue champs are named, the following week there should be a championship game to see who is the best!!! Carroll, bring it on. I don't think you'll be shutting down the Prep's offense any time soon.
            --- Prep grad

    I just want to say that Prep has no business thinking it can defeat Carroll.  Carroll's "D," in my opinion, is the best defense around. I think the two teams should duke it out on the field. Carroll needs to beat the stuffing out of Prep, like it's capable of, and kill the Prep's little rich boy egos. I would like to see Drew Shaw (the best line backer in the area) bang heads with (Prep RB Kyle)
Ambrogi, and send a message to the whole Catholic League that Carroll is not to be messed with.
            --- Michael John Eagle, former Radnor football player

    I'd love to see The Prep roll over Carroll.   Lance Shaw's statements are ridiculous.  Has Carroll played anybody decent?   Can Carroll's great defense hold Kevin Jones to 120 yards? Nope, I don't think so. Can Carroll's great defense stop Kyle Ambrogi, Mike McGann and Co.? Nope, I don't think so.  I may be a little biased, but Carroll has no chance.  Can Carroll produce as many rowdy fans as Prep on any occasion? Nope, I don't think so.  Let them play, and do it soon. And La Salle, we have Thanksgiving on our calendars, too.
            --- Prep student

    With all due respect to a cute little Carroll football team this year, the game will not be played and does not need to be played. To compare the two teams is ridiculous. The Prep is moving towards dominating the Catholic League for the next few years and making a name for the program across the entire East Coast. Lance Shaw claims that Drew Shaw, Brian Mattaway and Jeff Vanak are all Division I-AA players. So..........what? The Prep has legitimate Division I talent. Mike McGann, Kyle Ambrogi, John Connors, Pat Spadaro, Pete Chromiak, Jim Lachman, Mike Mailey, Brian Tucci, Sean Heenan, Steve Wagner, David O'Beirne, F.J. Wesner and Vince Gallagher are ALL big-time football players. Carroll has a nice team, but anyone who argues they would not be totally outclassed by a bigger, faster, stronger Prep team is going on pure emotion. When Carroll begins to beat the likes of North Penn and Holy Cross, then it can ask for a game. Until then the Patriots should be happy with the fact they do not play the Prep. They may still hold onto their illusions, however ridiculous and misguided they may be.
        ---  Chris Short, Prep football '99

    I would just like to say that Carroll is the best team in the Catholic League. The Prep claims that the Red Division is some great league. But the truth is, it is a very weak league this year. No teams are good except for the Prep, and La Salle is decent. if you look at the matchups, Carroll is bigger, faster and  stronger man for man. It would be an injustice if the teams did not play at the end of the season. Prep is a great team but Carroll would beat them up physically and win the game, and get the respect they deserve. My prediction: Carroll 24, Prep 10.
        ---- Ward Williams, Carroll '01, football player

    Mike John Eagle has no clue what he is talking about.  Probably 'cause he went to Radnor.  Prep would dominate.
        ---- anonymous

    I really don't know who would win that game, but from what i hear it probably would be Prep. I would like to bring up a point. When the league decided to create this format, I believe only one or two schools voted against it. I believe that if you voted for this format, you shouldn't now be complaining about having two champions. I personally believe that it would be unfair for them to play because of strength of schedule. And if Carroll voted against it, I feel bad for them. I understand the point that they are only kids and it would decide a question, but I think it would be better to go back to the old divisional split and then have one champion. Let's go back to the old system.
        --- anonymous

    Make it an unofficial game and let the kids play for bragging rights. There would be no better game this year than Prep vs. Carroll and Carroll would come out the victors.
        ---- Andrew Fabry '01, Carroll football

    Personally, I don't care, but if I were to pick a winner in the game it would be The Prep. For a few reasons -- one being Kyle Ambrogi, he's a player. Another reason is that Carroll plays in a weak division. The Blue Division is a joke. You could throw St. Hubert in that league, and they would put up a winning record. Every game in the Red Division is a tough game. For example, the Judge-Prep game this year. It was 6-0 going into the third quarter. But what I really believe is that the Catholic League in whole, both Red and Blue, is weak. I would like to see the top teams now go up against the top teams when I played, and those top teams were JUDGE, Prep, La Salle, and McDevitt. It would be no contest.
        ---- Mikey B., Judge player, '98

   In my opinion, Prep would smoke Carroll. I played against both teams. Carroll is a good team and everything, but Prep is better. That's the bottom line. The Blue Divison is the biggest joke. All they did was put all the scrubs in their own league. The Red Divison is where all the action is. Maybe Carroll should be in the Red and North in the Blue, but they're not.
        ---- Joe Brzycki, Father Judge '01, No. 40, fullback

    The high school game of the year -- Carroll and SJP -- would be an absolute blockbuster, in all respects. It would certainly satisfy the "Old School" fan who relished one champion, it would soothe the frustration that both teams' players are facing, it would settle all the street talk about who is better and it would be a great culmination to a pretty good high school season -- there are some significant happenings each week. For those who watch the dollar signs, the financial picture paints huge. Now
for the game -- Carroll would win. We have more weapons, more versatility, and significantly more SPEED. If this is not the best team in the past 25 years, then they certainly are in the upper elite of the entire Catholic League history. The offensive backfield is first team All-Catholic. Do not get all bent out of shape! With our games usually over at the half; they only get this amount of action and their stats would be ridiculous. The Delaware Wing-T is a fascinating, versatile yet complicated system that becomes monstrous with the addition of fast athletes. Our backfield has combined discipline, athleticism, dedication,and an unbelievable drive to become what we are. Our QB is the fulcrum. He, Derek Zambino, is the most polished, poised and dangerous QB in the entire Catholic League. Numbers do not tell the whole story (look at Cardinal Dougherty). The next few games will show that
this Wing-T offense is not just handing off and watching the play. You  just may get a different appreciation for this approach. We have the ability to throw as well as anyone. Take that, "Huck," whoever you are. Lastly, and pointedly, about all the "pub" about our defense and particularly the shutouts that we incurred: They were exciting and rewarding but our offense runs the SHOW.
        ---- A Patriot loyalist

    Let's be realistic here for a minute. Carroll has the luxury of playing in the Blue Division. They are not getting physically beaten and hit every week in that league. The Prep plays in the Red (real) division, where you potentially can lose a starting player every week to injury. Carroll could never play as many players both ways for an entire year in the Real division. If you stop and think back to the main reason why the Catholic league realigned in the first place, the main excuse was that some of the "smaller" schools had concerns about their kids' health because of injuries. Regardless of who is
better, (which I believe the Prep is), Carroll has in no way earned the right to play the Prep at the end of the year. Why should a Red division team, who gets physically hit week in and week out, have to play a Blue team whose schedules consist of seven other teams that would lose to every team in the
Red division? If Carroll wanted to play with the big dogs, their AD should have voted against realignment and (Carroll) should have taken Gil Brooks' offer to play the third game of the year instead of declining it, which is true.
        ---- anonymous

    I think there should be a Prep-Carroll game after they both win their respective championships. But afterwards, the winner should play the Public League champ. Winner will get best team in city rights.
    ---- "Pub" football player

    OK, Michael John Eagle -- watch it. If you are under the assumption that us Prep boys have "little rich boy egos," then why don't you call our admissions office and find out how many of our students are attending The Prep on a need-based, work-grant program? Just because you have an overwhelming pile of salt situated on your shoulder because you hate Prep, don't whine about us being better than everyone. Our egos don't come from the amount of money our families make, they come from the amount of pride we have in our school and in our Prep brothers (although I question if Lance Shaw shares that pride). So why don't you do a little research before you complain like a little girl? Your comments were uncalled for and misinformed. So keep your opinions in Radnor, cause no one else wants to hear them.
        ---Will Dennis, Prep senior

    I like the fact that Ward Williams thinks he can talk trash about SJP. Ward Williams? Who is that? Just stay on the bench and keep your mouth shut.
        ---- anonymous

    I agree. I would love to see Carroll and Prep play for the PCL title. However, I have seen both teams a few times and here is how it matches up .... No. 1, Carroll's offense is better than their defense although they don't get the hype. Look at the facts: They average 50 ppg. and have (few) turnovers. I don't care who you are playing, that's impressive. They wouldn't have a problem scoring against the Prep. No. 2, and this is a negative for Carroll, in order to stuff the run, they play man-to-man defense
on almost every play ... McGann and the Prep's wideouts would have a field day against man-to-man coverage every down. The Prep line protects the passer without much difficulty. Prep won't even have to run the ball to score. No. 3, the deciding factor... Carroll's special teams would be the difference.
Marty Higgins is the top kicker in the area and Maurice Stovall and Charlie Hurley are dangerous return men. My honest opinion is that it would be a high scoring game...maybe even in the 40s, but it would come down to a Special teams play and that is were Carroll has a significant edge. Let's petition the athletic directors and set up this showdown!
        ---- a loyal PCL football fan/alumnus

    All Lance Shaw is doing is trying to give his bro some hype. But, Lancey boy, this ain't smart. We
would romp your Carroll boys and your little bro, too. Don't mess with the Hawks. Bring it!
        ---- a Prep football player

    I recently attended the Prep vs. O'Hara game.  To be perfectly honest I was neither impressed by the vaunted Prep offense or the legendary Kevin Jones.  The Carroll linebacking crew has the speed, size and strength to silence either backfield. Yet, I don't think the Prep defense could continually stop the Carroll backfield of Charlie Hurley, Brian Mattaway, and Mike Larkin.  And no one in the league can match up with 6'5" Maurice Stovall.  I must admit it would be a good game, but Archbishop Carroll wins by two touchdowns.
        ---- anonymous

  Carroll is a pretty good team but that's about it. In no way does it compare to the sheer force and talent of Prep. Carroll has yet to play a team of any talent. Carroll knows they will not play us. Those people just like to make a stir because they know they will not play us and they could always say, "Well, we were better than The Prep, but we never played them." Hopefully, Malvern will give the Patriots the big, fat "L" they deserve.
        ---- anonymous

    Don't know who would win, but I do know from first-hand experience that the Prep fans (not the players or the coaches) would win the most obnoxious award! No contest!
        ---- anonymous

    A Prep-Carroll game would be the highlight of this season. The Prep people have an idea in their heads that we are a team that they could beat. Well, SJP, bring it on! If you boys play us, we will be the victors. Our offense would roll your "D" and shut all of you rich boys up. Our defense . . . well, we will see how great Kyle Ambrogi runs with Shaw, Reed, and Mattaway banging heads with him. Prep, you are a good team, but we are great, and I can't wait till we get a chance to prove it.
        ---- Joe Cocco, Carroll '02, Carroll football

    I am a student at Carroll and I almost always attend every football game. I've seen Prep play in past years and I know how good they usually are, but this year I do believe that if Carroll played Prep, Carroll would win. They have so much pride for each other and so much faith in the team, they would dominate. I think it would be a really good game and Prep would be the hardest team they would face this year and I don't doubt the abilities of Prep's players, but I have talked to players from Carroll and they know they
would beat Prep. There should be a game. Let them fight it out. I predict the score to be 21-10, with Carroll winning!
---- female Carroll student

    I am aware that Carroll has a very solid football team. It has a good backfield and good strong line.  I mean look at the division they are playing in... it has some of the best teams like Dougherty, McDevitt, Conwell-Egan and Kennedy-Kenrick. If they are handling those teams by so much, The Prep better watch out!   ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  There is no way that you can ever compare these teams.   Carroll keeps saying how they would love to play our team. Well, the game was offered and they did not want to play.  The Prep, as a whole, is a much better team.   Kyle Ambrogi, Mike McGann, Pete Chromiak and Jim Lachman on offense are unstoppable.  Our defense which is held up by Sean Heenan, David O'Beirne, Mike Mailey, Brian Tucci, Adam Hepp, and Steve Wagner can not and will not be beaten.  You don't hear us going around and bragging about how we want to play other teams to prove that we are the best. WE ARE THE BEST.  We do not need to brag.  I feel that shows weakness in Carroll that they are talking about us.  Being a Prep student one of the things that I have learned is a thing called PRIDE!  Lance, where is your Prep Pride?  I don't know why you're so bitter or why you're trying to give your brother a pularity boost but it shows that you have no class.  I end this paragraph in saying that I have been hearing all this hub bub and the only thing that I can say is.  PREP RULES!!!!!
        ---- Joe Paull, Prep class of '02

    The Prep linebackers would absolutely CRUSH Carroll's whole front seven.  I'm not even a Prep fan and I could tell you that. Wake up!
        ---- anonymous

    What it comes down to on this subject between Prep vs. Carroll is the Prep's offense against the Patriots defense.  Prep's defense and Carroll's offense cancel each other out. The true test is can McGann and Ambrogi lead their offense against the hardnosed Carroll defense, which to this point has seen no offense of that caliber.  I personally think that Lance is now a sellout to the Prep and should not be associated with Prep football no matter how good, how fast, and how big he was when he played there. As for his little brother -- good for him that he and about 15 other people in the area think he's the best linebacker around.  Hey, we all know the game's not going to happen this year, so let the talk subside and focus on the task at hand, "A CATHOLIC RED CHAMPIONSHIP RING!"
        ---- anonymous

    I think the real game should be between the JV teams 'cause everyone knows that's where the action is!
---- anonymous JV stud

    Joe Cocco -- I have been to almost every Carroll game. I have read the papers, and heard all the hype about how "great" Carroll is.  But not once have I heard the name "Joe Cocco."  Please zip it. Do the world a favor.  Nobody wants to hear the comments of the great Joe Cocco. Enjoy how the other players on your team do.
---- anonymous

    How can the head coach of Carroll keep disrespecting teams by running up the score each and every game? This man should show some class and sportsmanship towards the teams that he plays. Oh, yeah, Prep would dominate Carroll, end of story. Blame the Carroll coach for this controversy. If it was not for him, we would have already played the game.
        ---- Prep fan

    Enough with the "rich kid" references regarding The Prep.  Granted, half of the student body comes from middle- to upper-middle class suburbs and neighborhoods, but there are just as many sons of working class parents who have to scrape by to send their child to the Prep.  For a private school, the Prep has an extremely economically diverse student body.  And for Carroll people to be throwing out "rich kid" quips is just a little bit ironic -- if I'm not mistaken, the school is located in one of the wealthiest stretches of suburbs in the nation. If you want to take pot shots at rich kids, take a look down the road at the Inter-Ac schools before you take aim at the Prep.  Or, better yet, don't even attempt to throw that stone from your glass house.
    ---- Kevin Keeley, Prep, class of '93

    First of all, as a Prep grad I'm horrified by Lance's writing ability. I don't care if that was five different e-mails, it was just bad grammar and poorly written. That commentary reads like a first grader's book report. Lance, get your thoughts together, arrange those thoughts in some type of order so that you can eventually get to a point. I believe your point is that the Prep and Carroll are fielding two teams equal in ability so therefore they should play each other to ultimately decide who the best team in the CL is. So just say that. Avoid the shameless plugs of your younger brother's abilities. At least let people outside of the family circle sing his praises. As for credit , you don't get credit unless you deserve it. That is why Tulane will never win a national championship, even if they go 13-0. You have to play the big guys, beat the big guys and go undefeated in a big time conference. Bottom Line, Carroll had an opportunity to play the Prep and passed. They missed the boat so stop crying about it. I haven't seen one Carroll supporter respond to the lack of schedule strength. If Delaware goes undefeated this year will they scream and yell that they deserve to be #1 in the nation and should play Nebraska or VTech for the championship? No they won't because that would be silly. Delaware,
like Carroll, is in a second tier division so they don't get to play with the big boys. Carroll, good luck winning the Blue.
    --- Concerned Prep Grad

Lance Shaw is the man. I am on his brother's team at Carroll and Drew is the best linebacker I have ever seen. I have also felt his hits.
        -- anonymous

    Why is everyone making a big deal out of ths?   The game will never happen because a certain team from Radnor Township,   Delaware County, did not have the intestinal fortitude to play The Prep over Labor Day weekend. With that in mind everyone should drop the topic,  especially those jockamoos from Carroll who are in no position to be challenging Prep to a game they declined.
        ---- anonymous

    Will Lance Shaw's opinion mean anything after Carroll loses to McDevitt on Saturday afternoon?!?!
        ---- McDevitt parent

    A Prep vs. Carroll matchup is all both schools talk about every day. If Carroll wanted to play The Prep, then why would they turn down an oppertunity to play earlier this year? If Carroll really thinks that they could stop The Prep, let them think that because any day, anytime those crybabies want to strap it on let us know. We are ready and everyone in the city knows who will win -- Prep.
---- anonymous Prep grad

    If Carroll's famous defense is so great, why couldn't they hold Abdul Sesay of West Catholic under 100 yards rushing? If they can't stop Abdul, they certainly can't stop the No. 1 rusher in the league from Prep. Carroll and Prep are doing the same thing in different divisions and Prep's divisions is much better. To make a long story short, Carroll will get beat and they will feel how every other team felt when they ran the score up against them. Sorry, Carroll, you have no reason for running the score up.
        ---- West Catholic football player

    OK, Mr. Anonymous. If  you know so much about Carroll . . . Who is Joe Cocco?? Well, Joe Cocco is a two-year starting offensive lineman. Next time you're at a game, come on down and say hello.
        ---Joe Cocco #68, starting offensive tackle, Carroll

    This is to the "Prep Fan" who finds the need to bash my head coach. You can say we ran up the score but guess what...you were not on the field, you don't know how things went, you don't know ANYTHING! Zip it until you have a first-hand point of view on
how things happen.
        --- Joe Cocco (again)

    In my opinion, Prep would probably have a little trouble with Carroll at first, but by the second half they would pull away and win by about two touchdowns. I haven't played Carroll, but we just got finished playing Prep. They wear you down. They have so many options to go to (Ambrogi, McGann, and their whole corps of receivers). Teams like ours, and others, have many two-way players and don't have the luxury of even thinking of rest. It eventually takes its toll. Personally, why should North be in the Blue and not
Judge? I'm just responding to what the Judge RB said. Well I guess he forgot last year, and that we still haven't played each other yet.
        ---- Mike Gallagher, North Catholic '01,WR-DB

    Let's call a spade a spade here, fellas. Carroll is jealous of the Prep -- they always have been. Why? Never mind that SJP consistently sends its diverse student body to the best colleges in the country. Or that they are located at 17th & Girard in North Philadelphia, which allows the impressionable high schooler to experience two educations -- the one in the classroom and the one they receive traveling back and forth to school everyday. Or that the Prep student body, teachers, alumni and their families are extremely supportive, proud and loyal to their school year in and year out. As if all of these factors weren't enough to clearly separate SJP from Carroll, now under the tutelage of Gil Brooks we are dominating on the gridiron as well. Brooks has completely resurrected a program and brought the football team to an elite level. Today the program meets the same standards of excellence that the school promotes in academics. So we may not see the "Showdown" this year and we can sit in corner bars and talk about who would have won until we are blue in the face. But at some point, Patriots fans, the last whistle blows and you have to move on and face new challenges in life. I know for sure which school is winning at preparing their students for that game. SJP and Carroll are in different leagues -- football is just the beginning. Go, Prep, Go!
        --- SJP Class of '93

   First off I think the winner of each division should face each other, whoever it may be.  I also have a few things to say about Carroll.  They are a very good team with a great D and solid O.  However, I am very disappointed with their actions against West Catholic. Carroll, with 30 seconds left in the first half, up by 46-7, throwing?? (The pass was intercepted.)  Also, late in the fourth 
with West subs in, Carroll still had the first team D on the field.  No class for the Carroll coach, who happens to be a West grad.  All of this bashing the Blue Division is uncalled for.  I agree the the Red has a stronger division, but the Blue has many quality players on most  of the teams.  Lance Shaw said how Maurice Stovall will be playing on Sat. afternoons in the future on TV. A Patriot Loyalist stated how Derek Zambino is the most polished and poised QB in the entire CL.  I was at the West-Carroll game and every time he
dropped back to pass Zambino looked to Stovall, who was blanketed by Mike D'Elia (plug).  Three passes were thrown his way and the result was two passes defended and a pick all by D'Elia, who has five this year and had seven last year.  Mike D'Elia was a second team All-Catholic receiver as a SOPH. in the Southern Division two years ago.  West has a Big Ten player in Bazemore and two I-AA players in Sesay and D'Elia.  You never know, they might be able to pull it off against St. Hubert.
        ---- high school sports fan
                                                     
Dear West Catholic Player -- I'm not sure you will agree with me, but it is your players' and coaches' job to stop Carroll from scoring. That is not Carroll's responsibility.  By the way, I was at the game. Carroll could have scored over 100 points but they chose to wait until the playoffs . . . Hope to see you there!
---- anonymous

    I, too, would like to see a Hawk/Patriot showdown. But on one condition -- that they provide adequate valet parking. I can't be getting a ding in my Saab from all the poor rabble banging around the parking lot in their Elantras and Geos. The proletariat are such lousy drivers after all. Thank you for your time.
        --- Andrew P. Lyons, Prep class of '89 (another one of dem rich Prep boys)

    It really does not matter -- Blue/Red Division. Remember the Blue/Red only came about due to the size of the schools. McDevitt played some of the schools in the Red Division for years and did extremely well throughout. McDevitt is an excellent team. It's "confident" and "never underestimates" other teams. McDevitt works as a TEAM. Carroll is a decent football team, but is "overconfident" and "underestimates" other teams. Remember never underestimate McDevitt, the 1999 Blue Division champions.
        ---- anonymous

    Why not?  This is the question that avid high school football fans should consider when pondering about a possible match between two powerhouses; Archbishop Carroll and St. Joseph's Prep.   Both of these two schools have proven that they are top contenders who have dominated their respective divisions while wondering if they are the top team in the Catholic League, whether they play in the Blue or Red Division. I, for one, would love to see the Catholic League title match restored. I admire and respect the admiration Lance Shaw has for his brother, Drew. I find no fault with Lance’s accolades for the entire Carroll offense and defense.  In addition, it should be noted that Carroll's defense has only allowed 19 total points in eight games while its explosive offense has rolled up an impressive 401 total points.  In summary, Carroll's defense has only allowed an average of 2.375 points per game over a period of 32 quarters or 384 minutes.  In contrast, the well-balanced Carroll offense has scored an average of 50.125 ppg or 15.65 points per quarter over the 32 quarters it has played thus far. Names like Hurley, Mattaway, Shaw, Vanek, Zambino, Higgins, Larkin, Reed, Conway and Stovall are well respected by opponents in the so-called  SMALL Blue Division.  Believe it or not, the Blue Division is full of its fair share of outstanding athletes. Take West Catholic's Abdul Sesay or Michael Bazemore, as well as Matt Lafferty and Matt Leahy of Archbishop Wood, and Sean McGovern of Cardinal Dougherty.  All of these fine young men are talented athletes who if asked, would not say that Carroll was an easy team to compete against. The Red Division is also well represented by talented athletes.  Joe McCourt and Scott Paxson of Roman Catholic,  Kevin Jones of Cardinal O'Hara, Ryan Parfitt and Gabe Marabella of La Salle, and of course Kyle Ambrogi and Mike McGann of St. Joseph's. Statistically and athletically, the Prep is an outstanding team.  The Prep has also handled its opponents with ease.  Rolling up an impressive offensive total of 303 points over eight games for an average of 37.87 ppg or 9.4 points per quarter over 32 quarters.  Defensively, although shutting out three opponents compared to Carroll's six shut-outs, the Prep has allowed 90 points over 8 games or 9.46 points per game compared to Carroll's 2.375.  This equates to one more touchdown per game allowed by the Prep's defense. Could Carroll’s defense be stronger? I believe it is. It would be a disgrace to not allow these two outstanding teams to compete against one another to determine who has the more gifted program.  Never has there been assembled so many fine athletes on two separate gridirons. Seems like a reenactment of the Civil War, the North vs. the South.  At the end of this year, the graduating seniors at both Carroll and the Prep will move on to new frontiers, wondering if their team was the best.  Let's not take this treasured moment away from these fine young warriors.   Allow them to play and compete for the City Catholic League Title.  Allow the coaching staffs at both schools to develop a game plan that displays two finely tuned athletic programs.  A game, which would draw a gate similar to, the largest crowd ever assembled for a city title game, the 1945 West Catholic vs Southern city championship.  In closing, I urge the Catholic League administrators to let the athletes decide who is number one.  If not, we will all go on wondering who was the better of the two competitors during the 2000 season.  Only on the field can this be decided.  As noted above, statistically both teams are outstanding. So, why not let the athletes, who have compiled the stats, prove to all of us once and for all who is the better of the two teams?
        ---- Mitch Yanak, West Catholic, class of '70

    Lance Shaw doesn't have his facts squared away.   Though Carroll has a good defense this year, they haven't had a offensive competition.  NO team in their league has the offensive power we have. NO team!   Plus our defense is good. We have shut more competitive teams like La Salle, and if you want to call them competive, Bonner as well.  That reporter guy had a good point when he said that both teams beat Bonner 45-0. Frankly, I don't see where our defense could be lacking in any area.  Prep would win the game if it ever occurs.  There is one thing that The Prep has over any opponent and that is our pride.
        ---- Pat Fay, Prep senior

McGann, Ambrogi, Ambrogi, McGann . . . There is your answer, folks, and no one sees it yet. No depth  -- that's the reason Prep would lose to Carroll.   Carroll's strength is in the team, not in a few individuals.  That's what makes this team great.  If they don't get you on the ground, they will get you in the air. If not in the air, then on the special teams. If the offense doesn't score, the defense will, and then there is Mr. Higgins, (Golden Foot), he is always good for a few points in every game.  Sounds like depth to me and something I don't hear about the Prep.  Come on folks, get the air out of your heads. Now, for Mr. Concerned Prep Grad who likes to point to Lance Shaw with the following:  "First of all, as a Prep grad I'm horrified by Lance's writing ability. Well Mr. Concerned Prep Grad, as is pointed out, Lance graduated from "THE PREP".  I guess you should be a Concerned Prep Grad.  But, this is
nothing more then that holier-than-thou attitude from the Prep again, and that's why only Prep folks like Prep folks.  Come on Prep,
grow up, and some day you will be able to play with the big boys from Carroll. And thank you, Mr. Mitch Yanak, for making so
much sense.
      ----Anonymous and Loyal Carroll Fan

    Just like Lance Shaw,  I have a brother who is a pretty good football player.  But unlike the Shaw family,  my family was taught the lesson of humility,  and i would not want to embarrass my brother (or the pathetic team he plays for) by shamelessly plugging him in this letter.  I am writing because I, like many other people,  have  a genuine interest in football in this area. I believe a Prep/Carroll matchup would be great not only for those respective programs,  but for area football in general.  It is my strong belief that the Prep would win the game,  possibly by the score of 24-7.
        -- avid fan of Philly HS football

    All right, let's get real now. No one in either division can stop a backfield with Brain Mattaway, Charlie Hurley and Mike Larkin and with the great O-line -- Joe Cocco #68 , Joe Hallinan #79, Dom D'Alicandro #60, Joe Daly #56 and Jon Vanak #53. It makes stopping the Carroll offense impossible and a nightmare for coaches. Oh, yeah, the defense is all right, too. They have only let up 19 points in eight games and posted six traight shutouts.No disrespect to the other teams in Blue and Red Division, but Carroll is one level above everyone else.
---- Carroll FB player '02

   I'm sick of hearing that the only reason Carroll is good is because they are in the Blue Division, and then when we pound on a team 77-0, we get ragged on for running up the score. The Prep fans have got to get off of Ambrogi and McGann.  They are the only two players ever mentioned. Oh, yeah, and those Prep grads writing in have got to stop.  What does a bus ride home from school, and bad grammar have anything to do with how good two football teams are? We would destroy the Prep, we have way too many weapons. Our d-backs are way too good to let McGann throw one past them. That is he can get the ball off without Troia, Lynam, Stroup or Vanak sacking him first.
        ---- anonymous

    Another one of dem rich Prep boys here. First of all, Eagle, you shouldn't talk about something that doesn't concern you.  And Lance, what happened to Prep Pride? I guess you forgot that we all support each other around here. Look at a yearbook, you might remember a thing or two.  As for the game itself, it better be the last game of the year. After the beating the Prep would give Carroll, Carroll wouldn't want to play another game because they would be too demoralized.   Individually, Larkin and Stovall can play, but are no match for the Prep's "Gang-green" style defense.  Carroll's one bright spot is long-snapper Charlie Conwell, but  last time I checked he can't win the game for them. Sorry Patriots, but the Hawk never dies! Go Prep!
        ----- Chris Kunda, Prep '01

    Carroll would take the Prep with ease. Just like Roman is going to beat up on the Prep Saturday night at PW. Roman got the ROXBOROUGH, MANAYUNK and EAST FALLS boyzz to tear up Prep on the field, just like Carroll got their ROXBOROUGH, MANAYUNK,and EAST FALLS boyzz to beat the PREP if they ever play. But I'll tell you this: Carroll ain't no joke. They've got the skill and talent to take the Prep with ease.
---- anonymous

    A game between Carroll and Prep would be the best thing to happen to this league. Carroll has nothin' to lose by playing Prep. If Carroll lost, we wouldn't be upset because Prep has twice as many boys as Carroll. But if they won, it would mean everything to that little school. It will probably never happen this year, but there is always next year.
        --- C-Note and his 1st period friends

    Lance Shaw has no Prep Pride, and his little brother obviously owns him.  Just being at Prep for two years, I feel like I'll never lose the spirit and love of the school. Lance you've graduated form the Prep and are an alumnus and yet you have lost all pride and all love of the Prep.  You obviously wasted your four years here. There is no need for the Prep to play Carroll. We are better, we know it and so does everyone else.  Carroll, why don't you work on beating us in something simple like a SPELLING BEE or a MATHLETE COMPETITION? As of now, you have no shot at our football team.
      ----- "Deuce" Mullen, Prep ' 03

    Carroll's a good team. Why would you guys want to ruin your flawless season with a big fat loss to The Prep?
        ---- anonymous

    Let's look at what DID actually happen. No more speculation. Carroll's cute team REFUSED to get it on with The Prep this preseason. HMMM . . . Hey, Carroll, if this isn't just some FLUKE SENIOR CLASS, if you really are a good progam, we'll be here next year. Bring it. We'll get it on. You'll leave crying.
       ---- John Hurley, Prep '02

    The Prep would break Carroll like a granola bar!
        ---- anonymous

    Carroll --your team is the most overrated in the area. You would get blown out of the water by Prep's speed and power. I would love to see a game between us and Carroll. Not to shut you guys up and to prove that we are a better football team, but just so we will all know who truly is best team in the area!
      ---- Prep senior

    The one thing that is never brought up here is the true X factor of any big Prep game -- the 700 rowdy students that would pack in to P-W, Franklin Field, Radnor or wherever this game would be played. From what I hear from a Carroll player, the students don't give a crap about their football team, despite how good they are. The Prep embodies everything that is great about high school football: rowdy fans, good games, and good results. Carroll represents a lot of the bad things: running up scores, no student support. I know Carroll is a great team, but in a league known as the "Catholic" League, 77-0 is just ridiculous. Blue, Red, who cares? I really do think The Prep would win this one. though. It would be close. These teams both have to much pride to get blown out. Prep wins, 24-20.
---- Brendan Quinn, Prep senior

    I'm not sure about Prep-Carroll, but I do know what happened in the Carroll-West game. I saw the tape. West quit in the second quarter. They didn't tackle a soul. If you're not going to tackle somebody, the score's gonna get to 74 points. Carroll couldn't help it.
---- Tom "Hockey Puck" McKenna, Daily News statman (as told to Ted Silary)

    I was having a hard time figuring out whether Carroll's football team was "that good" or the competition was not up to par. When  you actually see what happens on the field, you truly become aware of how great this team really is. Carroll has outscored its opponents, 401-19, through the first eight games. I hold myself back from laughing when I see this. "Dominant" is the only word that comes to mind while trying to explain this team's stature. The Prep thinks that they can hang with Carroll? I got news for Prep: This is the most explosive team I have ever watched play H.S. football. I feel that a game should be played between both schools regardless of the final outcomes. I also would like to warn the Prep that if a game is played, don't blink because once you do the score is already 56-0 and it's still the first half. Oh, the answer to my dilemma -- Yes, Carroll is "That good."
        -----anonymous

    The great debate. This certainly would be a great game with a lot of talent. I think you could make a case for this type of game almost every year. What I think we need to do is focus on a field/stadium for the Catholic league. It would be great to see this game at The Vet or Villanova, but we would be at their mercy with regard to when and how much. If the league could get together and find a location suitable we could have games like Prep vs. Carroll every week at our own field instead of having to use the public school fields. While most public fields are excellent, we are still using someone else's field when they say it is OK and paying for the privilege. If we had our own field we could play games that would be well attended with the proceeds going to maintain the facility. This facility could host doubleheaders that I believe would draw well, especially for the playoffs. I also believe that it could be used for track and would be a great place for athletes to play in front of their families, friends and the entire PCL community. I think that the fields at St. Charles Seminary would be the perfect spot for this facility with ample room to build a track and field with seating as well as parking. It would be within 30 to 40 minutes for most high schools in the catholic league and if something could be worked out I think everyone would benefit. Probably a long shot, but maybe someday we can see the likes of Brian Mattaway and Kyle Ambrogi banging heads at our own place.
        ---- anonymous

    Carroll and Prep used to play each other in something called the Southern Division. Remember that thing, boys and girls? When teams with neighborhood connections and long-traditional rivalries would play in front of big crowds instead of playing teams from the other side of the city in front of nobody. The realignment was supposed to make everything better for every school. I can just imagine that Conwell-Egan loves having to play Carroll and West Catholic instead of playing Judge, North, and Ryan, which are bad this year. Yeah, right. That's why the enrollment-based system has been a total disaster. I would love to see a Prep-Carroll game
because they are the two best teams in the CL. It's a crime that they won't meet. Who would win? Ambrogi scores a touchdown with five minutes to play to give Prep a 7-0 victory.
---- Kevin "Sparky" Cooney, Daily News statman

    I would like to suggest the Prep-Carroll game. Although I'm not sure it could be this year because every Saturday and Sunday my butlers are working hard at cleaning my Lexus. Maybe next year I will open up one weekend so they too could watch Prep mop up
Carroll.
    ---- Prep student

    Just a word to the McDevitt parent who wrote ----- "Will Lance Shaw's opinion mean anything after Carroll loses to McDevitt on Saturday afternoon?!?!" To the McDevitt parent: The score of Saturday's game was 27-0, CARROLL. Good team those McDevitt players have, but not quite good enough. Folks keep talking, Carroll keeps winning. Remember, depth wins games. not talk.
    ---- anonymous

    Prep's football team couldn't beat Carroll's field hockey team, let alone the football team. So, keep dreaming Prep.
        ---- Carroll fan

    OK, this goes out to all the Prep grads and current Prep students. Do you guys ever shut up about "Prep Pride?" Give it a break! You are pathetic. And for the Carroll/Prep matchup, Carroll would be victorious! OBVIOUSLY! Our offense cannot be stopped, end of story. And as for our defense, what else can you say besides complete DOMINATION!?
        ---- Zach Torres, Carroll football '02

    John Hurley -- Hey, why don't you say something when and if you ever stop riding the bench. This is a debate amongst "true" football players....not Prep scrubs.
        ---- anonymous

    Hey, John Hurley (Prep '02) -- I'd like to see you go through a practice with Maurice Stovall outrunning you to catch every ball thrown his way, or Brian Mattaway plowing you over because you were in HIS hole, or try running the ball through a gap and see how fast you stop because you see Drew Shaw at the end of it. Or try dropping back in the pocket and seeing Jeff Vanak coming in for yes, yet another, sack. Try tackling Charlie Hurley on a kickoff or punt and get your ankles broken because his stop and go running is amazing. After you have been through and seen what I have seen as a player on Archbishop Carroll's best football team ever, you will then give us the respect we deserve. But we Carroll players don't want your respect John Hurley, we would like to show you the way that Carroll football goes down in 2000. Not in 1999 or 2001 because this isn't about the past or future, this page has to do with Prep's 2000 team and Carroll's 2000 team, both great in many ways and almost equal on all sides of the ball. My personal opinion from watching Prep and being in Carroll games is that Carroll would win, but no one will know until, if ever, this showdown occurs. So, John Hurley why don't you be "A man for others" like you Prep boys say you are and give your dad's old high school some respect, because you'd get about as much playing time on my team as you do on yours. This is for bragging rights and no one owns them . . . yet.
        ---- Carroll football player 2000

    Upon reading all these responses, I am hearing a lot about my brother, Mike McGann and Kyle Ambrogi. They are both good players, but they wouldn't be where they are without the Prep's great offensive line. They give Mike time   to pass, and Kyle holes to run through. They are a huge reason that Prep is so good and would roll over Carroll. So add some more names to your lists -- Pat Spadaro, John Connors, Matt Battipaglia, Mike Minetti, and Steve Mair. Carroll, I think these guys could really help their "pancake block" numbers by playing you and the rest of your division. The Prep's defense would dominate Carroll. I'd like to see, Drew "The Best Linebacker in the CL" Shaw, chase down and tackle Kyle Ambrogi every play. I find Lance's humility rather humorous. No one really pays attention to what you say about your brother. And no one really cares what I think about my brother, so I'm not gonna brag about how good he is. Finally, I'd love to see the Prep roll over Carroll.
        ---- Sean McGann, Prep '03

    Is the Catholic League afraid there could actually be an interesting game for once? The fact that Carroll cannot play The Prep is a travesty. The league administrators are obviously afraid of what might happen . . . uh,oh, a good game? The kids CAN handle it, the Catholic League CANT! Sorry, Prep, you wouldn't stand a chance, but it would be nice to see somewhat of an effort. Even if it would be worthless. But it would be a nice try. Carroll might have a small team physically but mentally it has the ability to pounce on any team. It would be an interesting, fun game. What would it hurt? Let them play!
        ---- Carroll grad '97

    Carroll would have Prep for breakfast and then move on to a real team for the main course. Get off
your computers and out of your parents' Lexuses and attempt to play a real team. Good luck, Patriots. Kick butt!!
        ---- anonymous

    Hey, Carroll, you guys need to know your role and keep your mouths shut or The Prep will check all of you into the Smackdown Hotel.
       ---- anonymous

    To Zach Torres and the remaining neophytes whom have not had the opportunity to experience life at The Prep: Learn a little of life's lessons now. Do not comment on that which you have no knowledge. Prep Pride is a very real feeling. It's OK to be proud of something. We were, are and always will be PROUD to be a part of The Prep. My prediction: Prep 21, Carroll 7.
        ---- Chad Cheleden, Prep '86

    Look, I am not going to lie. Carroll is good, but Prep is better. The Blue Division stinks. That's the bottom line. Anyway, Judge will be the team to beat in the years to come.
        --- Justin O'Brien, Judge player

    Zach Torres? Who is Zach Torres? Oh, are you the one playing RB -- Right Bench? Do the world a favor. No one wants to hear from you.
        ---- anonymous

    Being a Carroll football player can't be fun. Why would you want to play for a team that doesn't have the heart to play the good teams? Carroll's opponents are terrible and Carroll is terrible for not wanting to play a team that will beat, humiliate and destroy them. Tell me something, Carroll guys. If your team is as good as your talk, why don't you do something about it? Oh, yeah. You guys wimped out to play us. I forgot. Carroll I have four words for you: WE CAN'T BE STOPPED.
        ---- Prep guy

    Uninformed Carroll fans -- John Hurley would start for Carroll as a wide reciever. Ask anyone that knows him, Carroll or Prep, because Carroll's depth at WR goes about as deep as Maurice Stovall. So, Carroll, until you know what you're talking about, try to enjoy playing in the highly competitive Blue Division, where fans get to bite their nails to exciting 77-0 games. Carroll, don't talk till you play us. We offered, you declined, end of story.
        ---- anonymous Prep scrub

    Well, I've never seen Carroll play. But I know that they're good!! As for Prep, I played against them this weekend. Prep 29, Roman 13. It should have been a Roman 13-9 win. But as a starter for Roman, I can tell you this. McGann has the best arm Red or Blue Division, hands down!! Carroll has one good receiver. Prep has two good, and another one that is average. Prep has a good DB, who could stick Carroll's WR. Like I said, I've never seen Carroll play, but Prep is probably bigger, stronger, faster. Carroll has really good senior class. But not good enough for Prep . . . Prep 34 Carroll 13!!
        ---- Roman starter

    First of all the Judge RB should look at his team because they are no prize, either.  Second, what are these teams supposed to do when the Prep can go out and get any player it wants from any area it wants. The Prep and La Salle should not even be in the Catholic League.  If everyone was able to recruit like those two teams, I think the league would be a little more even.
        --- anonymous

    OK, anonymous...about The Prep and recruiting. The Prep doesn't recruit at all. Everyone comes to Prep because EVERYONE knows how good it is. Over 700 people apply each year, and we take about 250 of the best students. It doesn't matter if you're an athlete or mathlete, we just take the best, then send the rest to carroll. If you look at guys like Ambrogi he has a 4.0 and has never taken an exam in his life. But I bet you Carroll guys knew that because you are soooo smart.
        ---- Prep '03

   Prep's scout team could beat Carroll! If we ever play you Carroll guys, we will crush you like a soda can!
---- anonymous

    Carroll, you have a good team, but not the greatest.   Last time you wanted to play against The Prep in a hyped game (1997), in which you brought lights for a night game, Victor Hobson and Co. ran all over you, just like this year's team would do to you with Ambrogi, McGann, O'Beirne, Heenan and Co. For every good player you have, Carroll, we have two great players.  Your defensive
line consists of ONE good player in Vanak.  Our offensive line consists of FIVE great players.  Go run with the Blue Division, Carroll, because you can't run with the Red.  We offered a preseason game, but you backed down.   Oh, Carroll, we'll see you on Friday when we beat you AGAIN in soccer.  And get it through your heads, you will never be able to compare to us in any sport. So, go play Conwell-Egan or Neumann.
        ---- "PREP PRIDE FOREVER."

    No question, Carroll wins.  True, Prep has a strong offense, but we have the best defense ever.  And our offense is too good for Prep's defense.  And as far as our schedule goes, there is nothing we can do about who we play, and who we play has nothing to do with how good we are.  We would rip up the other division too. Maybe not with 77-0 games, but we'd still win.
        ---- Mike Holt, Carroll '03 (scout team "D" All-American)

    I am a Prep grad and I think Carroll vs. Prep would be a great game! I have seen many Prep football games and almost the same amount of Carroll games. I think Carroll would beat Prep by at least one or two TDs.
        ---- anonymous

   I think the Prep-Carroll game would be a joke.  Prep would definitely destroy them.  I played against Prep a few weeks ago and they are a talented team.  We played Carroll when I was a sophomore and we destroyed them on their homecoming.  Carroll would not even be able to stand up against us. The game of the year to watch will be Prep-O'Hara in the Red championship game.
        ---- John Kok, O'Hara lineman, '01

    CARROLL would win. End of story. So, Prep, go and try to be good, but you will never be great like CARROLL's team is this year. My prediction: CARROLL 28, Prep 7.
        ---- CARROLL student

    Yo, John Kok. After we beat Prep, we would beat O'Hara.  A lot has changed since you were a sophmore, pal.
        ---- Mike Holt, Carroll football '03

    OK, look. St. Joseph's Preparatory School is second to none. Carroll, you can't hang with us. I know life sucks, but ... so do you guys at the game of football. We offered you a game, you declined. The reasoning behind this is simple: Defeat was inevitable. You knew you were no match. So what's happening now? You won some weak little games against weak little teams, and now you think you're a force to be reckoned with. Umm.... false. You guys are running around like 6-year-olds with plastic, glow-in-the-dark light-sabers imagining that you can take on Darth Vader because you think you're Luke Skywalker and have seen "Return of the Jedi" far too many times. Sure you beat Bonner 45-0, just like we did. But you ran up the score, we didn't. Bottom line: this isn't the movie "Unnecessary Roughness." The bad team doesn't win in the end. Frankly, you guys don't have the heart to handle us. So unless you can find a 35 year-old QB that you red-shirted as a frosh, you're out of luck. We're going to run the score up on you, and you can't stop it. Prep 59, Carroll 0.
        ---- Matt Posivak, SJP '01

    To all the Carroll punks who keep complaining that we bring up Prep Pride constantly: The Prep is the best high school in the area for so many reasons. If any of you could have gotten in, you would realize this. You are just a bunch of salty, jealous punks, who wish you understood Prep Pride. Why do you think we keep bringing it up? Because it is so strong and we will never forget it. You are right -- we can't compare to you. We have fans, we have pride, and most of all...WE HAVE THE BEST
FOOTBALL TEAM IN THE AREA. If you guys were so tough, we would have settled this already. Unfortunately, your school saved you the embarrassment and declined the offer to play. We wanted it, you backed down. Carroll always backs down from a challenge.
        ---- Prep '99

    OK, there have been a lot of shots taken by both sides on this issue. First off I think all the Prep students and graduates need to appologize and give credit where credit is due. Carroll does a hell of a job beating up on no-name, grade school-calibre pantywaists who have no right to stand on the same field as the Prep. And Lance Shaw, you are a dolt (for you Carroll kids who don't know what that word means, it's called a dictionary. Look it up if you can find one.) Do you know anything about football, sir? How can you say it is unfair to rank the Prep ahead of Carroll because they haven't played each other? Are you saying it isn't fair to say the Eagles are better than the Prep cause they haven't played? The Prep is in a different league. They play better teams, that is why we are ranked ahead of Carroll. Furthermore, North Penn was on ESPN this year, so until you play a team that was on ESPN, you can't talk. Of course by the end of the year the Prep will probably be on it, so if you want a piece you can have it. Carroll's program will be humiliated for years to come and will never recover from the good old-fashioned shellacking Prep will give them. Plain and simple, Prep has more weapons than Carroll could ever dream of playing against. They are in for a rude awakening if this game goes down. Just a final thought....No one questions that The Lil Giants were a hell of a Pop Warner team, maybe the best ever. But simply stated, they can't hang with the big boys. If you want to try, Carroll, you are more than welcome. Just bring bandages, 'cause we are gonna put a world of hurt on you!!! GO PREP.
        ---- Brian Gilbert, Prep '99

    OK, first of all I'd like to say that I am a student at Carroll and I think this whole argument is silly.  Each team is very talented this year and if the two teams played it would be very interesting.  Yet, I must say that one team would eventually emerge as the dominate team in the area.  As much as it pains me to say it, I know deep down The Prep would emerge victorious.  Sure, we have guys that could play 1-AA, but our talent surely could not compare to that of Prep's.   I mean let's face it, everyone: They have legitimate D-1 talent on that team.   If you guys wanna play the Prep, as a loyal Patriot I wish you the best of luck. But I think it would be a waste of
your time.
        ---- Bob Wynn

    All right, let's face it. Prep has a good team this year, but they are not great. Now Carroll has a great team. Carroll with people like Shaw, Mattaway, Vanak, Reed, Troia, Lynam and all of the others would just shut Prep down especially Ambrogi and McGann. Then Hurley, Mattaway and Larkin would just wear down the Prep D. Then, Carroll's Zambino would connect with Stovall, Conwell, Larkin and Hurley and all the other weapons to just dominate the Prep. I predict that Carroll would win by 35- 7. And if it came down to a close game, Carroll would still come out on top. I believe this because they have more Pride then the Prep. Carroll also has very talented special team players. Marty Higgins is probably the best kicker in the state.
        ---- Carroll football player

    To Bob Wynn: You better not show your face in school on Monday. Carroll would come out victors. Bob, get out of my school 'cause we don't like traitors. Also, I think Prep recruits. It may not be evident, but that is my opinion.
        ---- Andrew Fabry, Carroll football

    Carroll, please stop talking. You're making me stupid. I can't hear Carroll kids talk about Prep Pride. None of you Carroll kids know about Prep Pride. None of you ever will. I do know about Prep Pride. I can compare it to something would like. It's like when you go hunting for the first time and catch the best darn possum you could find. It is like when you guys win the 12th grade spelling bee on the word CAR. It is a feeling like that. Now that you guys know how it feels, I'm sure you won't say anything about it. Have a nice day.
---- Prep student

    To whomever wrote for the Prep kids to get out of their parents' Lexus. It is not my parents' Lexus;  it is mine. My mommy bought it for me when I was 12 and I have washed it every day since then. So why don't you big Carroll brutes shut up?
        ---- Prep Student

    Almost everything that could be said about this issue has already been said. I still think it is funny, though, because will never know the outcome. Unless there is a miracle, Prep will not play Carroll. But if they do, Carroll is going to need one to win because the Prep will beat the (deleted) off of them.
        ---- Ted Franks, Prep '01

    Just wanted to know if Lance is going to the Homecoming dance? He said himself that he loves The Prep. So why wouldn't he? He won't, though. He doesn't have the (guts). If you do decide to come, join the student dance for a little bit. Hope to see you there.
        ---- Prep student and football player

    It frankly does not matter who is better than who. Prep and Carroll are two good teams.  There is only one great team -- ST. DOROTHY (DOTS!!!)  My prediction: DOTS beats CARROLL, 99-0.
        --- Mike Holt

    Hey, Carroll . . . What's all this junk about "Oh, I wish we could play the Prep." We gave you the chance and you backed down like little pansies. Stop your crying. You did yourself a favor because  Prep would have rolled all over you. It's not hard to beat teams who have losing records. Why don't you play some real competition before you come chasing after us? Prep Pride is real and only a lucky few in this world get to experience it. The Prep takes the elite students and sends the rest to Carroll. GO PREP!
---- Prep student '02

    I hear all about how Carroll is the real deal. But if they are, how come their administration voted to be in the lower division. Prep will completely dominate Carroll in every part of the game. Carroll must be trying to prove a point by running up the score in two games. If you want to play some REAL football, come watch the RED Division play. SOMEONE ASKED ME HOW YOU GUYS WOULD DO IN OUR DIVISION, AND I LAUGHED!! I answered them, "You guys would do average, but every week we know we're in for a battle." IF YOU WERE IN OUR DIVISION, YOU WOULD HAVE FOUR DEFINITE LOSSES -- PREP, LA SALLE, O'HARA AND ROMAN. COME PLAY SOME REAL FOOTBALL!
---- RED DIVISION FOOTBALL PLAYER, FROM O'HARA

    You guys are talkin' like they already won the championships. Hey, there are still playoffs so don't bring this up till either one wins the championship! Anything can happen in the playoffs!
---- Tom Sugden, Roman player '03

TED SILARY RULES!!!! (Ted's note: Why, thank you.)
    Brian Gilbert, or whoever the heck: The North Penn team on ESPN was last year's. This year they have no talent!!! And for you balloon-headed Prep boys, you have really got to get over your self-inflated egotistical attitudes. I'm not saying that you're not a good team. I think you're one of the best.... next to us. It would be a fight, but Carroll as always would come out victorious!!!! GO CARROLL!!!!
        ---- anonymous Carroll football player '01

    Although I know that I am not a football expert, I do think that I have a pretty good understanding of the sport and the way it's played. I have seen both Prep and Carroll play this year, and they are both
extremely talented teams. I have known many of the players on both teams since grade school and know that they are all really good players. Mattaway and Zambino have been playing together since 6th grade, and Shaw and the rest of the guys are very good players. But to be completely honest, as good as they are, I really don't think they are as good as The Prep on either side of the ball. Offensively, between McGann and Kyle there is really very little you can do to slow them down. With the O-line anchored by Connors and Spadaro and the rest of the guys, it's just too tough. Defensively, Wags and Heenan have both been starting at linebacker since sophomore year and are both first or second team All-Catholic players. Mailey, Tucci and Denny "O" hold down the D-line, with Wesner and O'Beirne and Gallagher keeping the secondary together. I have no doubts that Carroll is a very good football team; their record proves that they can win games. But I definitely question the teams that they're playing and the way it 'appears' that they run up the score on much lesser opponents. The Prep has gone out of their way to play tough teams like Holy Cross and North Penn. There's even a rumor floating around that Coach Brooks talked to Carroll's coaches and AD about scheduling a game, but that he was denied. I don't know if that's true or not, but if it is, Carroll has no business saying that
they're a better team because it's clear that they're dodging The Prep. Even though we all know it won't happen, the only way to decide who is the better team would be to have a game. But until then, none of this talking really makes much sense, 'cause it's mostly biased opinions from high school kids like myself. Let 'em play, that's the only way this will get settled.
         --- Mike Barker, SJP '01

    All of this talk about Prep/Carroll is great but there is a greater matter for both teams to focus on: Winning out. Carroll has to deal with a solid Malvern team, while the Prep may have as many as three tough games left against superior teams. The Prep has played one of the toughest schedules in the area -- second only to Glen Mills, maybe. And as players on teams who play in the big games know, big game after big game takes its toll on a team physically and mentally. Carroll has not played a decent team yet -- their players will tell you this -- and their starters are well rested and healthy, I am sure, from playing 24 minutes of football each week. The Prep however is rather banged up from playing the best out there for 10 weeks, and the bye week should do them some good. All of that said
they both have respectable programs run by hard-working coaches. It would be great if the two teams squared off in December (I don't think it is going to happen, but there is an offer on the table, so anything is possible) but they both have more important goals on hand of winning out, and
capturing their respective championships.
---- someone who knows

  Yea, Prep! Sikkkkkkkke. Carroll has power on both sides of the ball. No one in the country can guard Maurice Stovall. On the defensive side, you might as well punt on first down. Prep, stop all this yap about the Blue Division and how it is weak. Everyone knows the best team in the Catholic League is in Radnor Township.
    ---- Carroll player

    All right, I want to set the record straight. I don't play football, but I've watched Carroll play many times this season and I'm friends with a some of the Carroll football players. I also went to grade school and played (sort of) St. Denis football with Prep stars Ambrogi and Connors. I love these kids, they're some of the best guys I've ever met, but i would love to see Carroll make them look bad in a
Prep/Carroll match up. And I know Carroll would make them look bad. You can't stop a force like our team after the season we've had so far. It'd be a great game, but the Carroll underdogs would come out victorious. The fact is, we have the running game, we have the passing game, and we have the defense to shut the Prep down. With monsters like Shaw, Vanak, Reed, and Mattaway, how could they stop us? And for whoever wrote that comment as me: Learn to spell my damn name, then you can start thinking for me.
--- the real Bob Wynne

    It would all really be a moot point if they squared off when the Prep  supposedly offered their services week 3. Alas, Carroll needed the practice against the Academy Parks of the world to gear up for their 'league schedule.' I use  the term 'league' loosely. Instead, we have a coach who deludes his
players and school into thinking they are onto something special. Granted, they are a nice team. But, upon pulling out of the school these autumnal  Saturdays they wouldn't have to look past the Carroll girls field hockey team for some real competition. I am a Carroll grad ('93) and long time supporter of the program and school. It was and is a special place (I'm not gonna let such a trivial matter as high school football get me totally down on my alma mater). But what has taken place this year is an embarrassment. What is to be learned from trouncing teams 77-0? I was at one of those debacles and watched in amazement as the starting QB and O-line played into the 4th quarter. I guess they were keeping the subs fresh for the JV game? In closing, if they were to meet this year I reckon it wouldn't be much of a game. Prep is the best team in the tri-state area, mainly because they recruit the whole tri-state area. I say good for them. I thought it was OK when Carroll was recruiting from 'Eastern Bloc' countries (Bigus, where is he???) for hoops, so I'm not going to cast aspersions on how many 'scholarship' players Prep has. Coach Brooks and his staff deserve credit for a job well done in turning around that program. It was only yesterday they were the 'TEMPLE" of the Catholic League.
    2000 Fantasy Bowl Result: Prep 38, Carroll 14. I've never seen an O-line that size in high school. Prep has speed everywhere. Wouldn't really be much of a contest, but I'd be first in line to see it. What a shame. Why not play the week after the individual championship games? Someone call the Archdiocese and tell them there is money to be made. That should get the wheels in motion.
        ---- Kevin Gillespie, Carroll '93
        p.s. -- Do Carroll guys still steal all the cocky/arrogant Prep guys' women? Here's to hoping some things never change.
p.p.s. -- Lance, I knew you were always jealous of us Carroll guys.

    I bet Lance Shaw didn't rush for a combined 100 yards in all his games against Carroll. He wilted in the face of their tenacious defenses, even in his best seasons.
        ---- someone who kept tackling him
        (Ted's note: I decided to check. Lance had 14 soph year and 68 senior year. He was hurt when the teams met in '92, his junior year.)

    I think that they should play this game. I have been to most Prep games and one Carroll game. Carroll hasn't played anyone, except Wood (ha, ha, ha). Carroll doesn't deserve respect until they earn it and play with the big boys. I can bet that Carroll will keep it close, but the Prep will run them over. They have faced steady competition all year (Roman, O'Hara, La Salle, and even the weaker teams like Judge are better than anyone Carroll has faced). Prep will make the Carroll team look like freshman if they play.
        ---- La Salle student

    Bottom Line!! Prep would dominate Carroll in a football showdown. They would not agree to a pre-season game against us.  Why: Because they knew Carroll had a chance of going undefeated because their division (stinks). He knew playing us would decrease that chance. We would kick your (butt). GO HAWKS!!
        -- John Paul DiJulia '0, St. Joe's Prep

    I think there are a lot of people with no life and they have to sit there and try to fill the void with high school football.  Don't get me wrong, I love football and I play it, but some people need to find something new to get worked up about.  Prep and Carroll feud??  The truth of the matter is that neither team is really that good. Try going to a Downingtown or CB West game.
        ---- Pat Clary, Malvern RB-DB

   I have no inclination towards either team, being that I am the QB for Malvern Prep, but it is obvious that Carroll really does not have too tough of a schedule.  St. Joe's on the other hand, surely does.  I won't sit here and try to pretend I can predict who will win, but I do know that Carroll will not be undefeated when/if they play the Prep, because once again Malvern will take a
trip up to Radnor on Thanksgiving Eve and ruin yet another "almost" perfect season for Carroll, even if Malvern's QB has a broken wrist.  But this time, Patriots, please refrain from clearing your bench and trying to fight us and our parents after the game, just because you can't control yourselves after losing a game.  That's what separates schools like the Prep from you.  It's about class, and challenge, and you really are yet to have a challenge this year.
        ---- Bill Corbett, Malvern QB

    To the Malvern players and also to the players of other teams who have written such stupid coments to the Prep-Carroll guest opinion: Let's get it straight, Carroll and Prep are better than all of your teams, hence the firestorm over Carroll-Prep -- not Prep-Malvern, not O'Hara-Prep or whatever. So keep your opinions to yourself. In ending this statement, it makes me sleep better at night knowing that so many other teams are putting in time to write things to the two most superior teams in the Catholic League, which most of you guys wouldn't even play JV for.
    ---- Carroll starter

    First of all I would like to say that almost every school recruits athletes. I do know for a fact that Prep recruits players, but non-athletes and athletes have an equal oppurtunity to go to Prep. No
matter how good of an athlete you are, you still need to pass the entrance test. And I also know of some "star" athletes around the city that have been "recruited" by the Prep, but don't play here because they were unable to acquire high enough grades. The second thing I want to say is how come everyone says North Penn is a bad team. Did anyone check out the box scores for Week 10? CBW 13 NP 7. Prep 55 NP 27. It might not mean a lot, but it sure does mean something. This whole issue should have been brought upon by the Prep, not by Carroll, since we asked for a game and you didn't want to play. I think if everyone did decide to play, you would still bail out.
        ---- Prep '02

    This will definitely be my last thought, because I really do have better things to do, but for the Carroll starter that decided to put Malvern and other schools down, I just want to stress the fact that I, as well as my backup, would easily start at QB for Carroll.  Now, this has nothing to do with the Prep game, and maybe Malvern won't beat you this year (for once), but please don't threaten that I personally would have to play on your JV team because that is not the case.  Again I say, Prep would dominate or at least win by a sizeable margin, and 6-2 Malvern will once again come ready to play.  I really just wish you Carroll kids could relax and realize that football is not everything, and that you kids are not invincible.  By the way, if our game wasn't locked by contract, I am sure you wouldn't be playing us this Thanksgiving. And if it really came down to it, I'm sure you definitely wouldn't play Prep, either.  I have a broken wrist so unfortunately I probably won't be able to chew up your secondary. But No. 19 will do the same thing, and you can shake my hand after the game.
        ---- Peace, #10

    Gentlemen....We think because we get ourselves a few writeups in the paper or beat a team by 70 points that we are automatically God's greatest gift to football. I hate to say it, boys, but we aren't. We are just a couple of local high school teams that feed off of the ink we receive every week and let it get to our heads. Now let's take a look at what "REAL" high school football is. Go to a Downingtown or a C.B. West game and try to even think about matching your teams up with them. It is just physically and mentally impossible to play with them and trust me I know. Don't get me wrong, though ....  Malvern, Carroll and St. Joe's are tough teams, but not nearly as tough as the two teams I listed above. So, before we go praising and patting ourselves on the back, put your team into a powerhouse division and see how you'll make out.
---- Brendan Carney, Malvern K-P

    First of all, I would like to say that Carroll has a very weak schedule, and this showed last year when they went into their Thanksgiving game against us, Malvern Prep. They had not faced a challenge all year, and when they played us, it showed. Kevin Waterman had not seen a great defense like Malvern's and threw four picks. I think this would be the same result if Carroll played The Prep this year, even though I do not like many of Prep's students. Carroll may be undefeated, but please, look at who they play. When they play Malvern Prep every Thanksgiving, they seem to have a lot of talent and a great record, but yet they have lost 13 of the 16 games played on Thanksgiving. Its hurts me say this, but Prep would beat up Carroll pretty good. I would love to see Prep try to pick us up for next year,
since Carroll and O'Hara have dropped us for the upcoming season. I think Prep-Malvern would be a great and competitive game next year, unlike if Prep played Carroll played this year.
        ---- Matt Skellan, Malvern Prep QB

    I give props to Bill Corbett, I hope you kill them.
        ---- Prep '02

    To Kevin Gillespie, Carroll '93, I say to you... SHUT UP! You surely don't know anything about football and you know nothing about us. Obviously these past seven years you've grown distant and lost connection to Carroll. In that game against Wood (77-0), the starters were not even in at the half.  I being a "scrub," know that myself because I started at the half. And because even our "scrubs" are as good as anyone around. We were able to spank them, 77-0. Mr. Bielli (our coach and the greatest ever) can't tell us whether or not to score. We "scrubs" have the desire to have that TD or interception too, ya know! We would embarrass The Prep and you, too. We have more SPEED.... STRENGTH... and HEART. In conclusion, I hope that you, Kevin Gillespie, get your head on straight 'cause we are the best. And when and if we play The Prep, you'll see sparks FLY! GO CARROLL!!!!!!
        ---- anonymous Carroll football player
        P.S. -- Oh, and things have changed, Mr. Gillespie. Prep guys' girls are ugly. We'd rather have Carroll girls. The best around!!!!!!!
        P.P.S. -- You da man, LANCE!!!

    Carroll will never play The Prep. If Carroll gives them a good game, someone will try to move them to the Red Division, where they should be. Carroll does not want that.
        ---- anonymous

    I think that this whole topic is ridiculous. The Prep has the size, strength, and speed that Carroll doesn't have. If the Prep did play Carroll, they would embarrass them. They have no one that can stop Kyle Ambrogi, let alone have to deal with the size and strength of their offensive line. No teams in the Blue can even came close to the ability Prep has. All of the teams in the Red would give Carroll a good game; that is if they don't beat them. Saying this, Carroll would have no chance against the only undefeated team in the Red, THE PREP. Plain and simple: Carroll would have no chance and would get dominated up and down the field, HANDS DOWN.
        ---- anonymous

    To all you Carroll fans who claim you are better than the PREP, please answer the question, "Why wouldn't you play us in the beginning of the season?????" Why has no Carroll student or player addressed that? Most likely this game will not go on. No harm to the Prep  -- we are ranked better anyway, so it doesn't matter to us. However we have a tough schedule with teams like Roman and La Salle and possibly O'Hara. Carroll on the other hand has McDevitt (a joke). So, if Prep wins out, we will be looked at as better than Carroll and champions of the REAL division. All that is left for you to do is cry a big river of tears that the PREP is the better team. To the Malvern dude that said CB West is so much better. An important stat -- SJP 55, North Penn 26; CB West 13, North Penn 7. How is North Penn so much better?
---- Prep student

    To the anonymous Carroll football player: The funny thing is, you will be paying the price next year for the actions taken this year. I hope to be at the game when West calls time out to jam home one last TD. Alas, they will probably have more class.
        ---- Vader, Darth
        P.S. -- After you get finished getting the ice, bringing up the bags to practice and taping ankles, could you please see to it that the shrine to Mr. Gillespie is cared for? Your cooperation is appreciated.

    What we need is a re-vote in Florida and a Carroll-Prep football game. Which is more likely to happen? If they were to play, Prep wins, 24-17. I have never seen an offensive line that big and that fast at this level. Ambrogi is an excellent back. It helps that he doesn't get touched until he is 6-8 yards downfield every time he carries. Ted Silary might even score a few TDs running behind those hogs. Imagine the possibilities. (Ted's note: I'll kick the PATs). Lance Shaw's idea is a good one: Use the "power of print" to make this game happen. (Ted's note: What, the power of website isn't good enough?)
        ---- anonymous

    I do agree with this lunatic on some points. This new division stuff is completely messed up and has been since the day whatever wackjob thought it up. I'm a little disappointed, however, with his loyalty. The football teams past and present have been known to dominate when everyone was against us (including some of our alumni). Carroll has been a highly ranked team since I can remember, but they got shafted into the Blue Division, so of course they are going to look dominating. But the Red Division is played on a much higher level. Every week is a playoff game. I'm not discrediting Carroll. Undefeated is a thing to be proud of, whatever league you're in. But at the same time Prep will prevail overall. That's what we do. That's how Coach Brooks works our program. So tell
your brother to watch out.
        ---- Prep '99

    To "Prep student" -- The reason we did not play you in the beginning of the season is because you offered us a game on the third week, when we had already scheduled a game. As much as we wanted to play you, we didn't feel it was right to back out of our commitment with Bonner. We were looking for a game over Labor Day, after having been dropped by Radnor. Had Prep offered a game then, we would be 10-0 and Prep would be 9-1; and this portion of the web site would be nonexistent (Ted's note: And I would have a lot more free time).
        ---- Ward Williams, Carroll

    Well, obviously students and alumni from Carroll would say that Carroll was the better team, and students and alumni from The Prep, like I am, would vote for The Prep. Both teams were great during the regular season, both holding perfect records, and both teams are expected to make it all the way. The only thing that I can say is that it would be decided on the field, where it should be. I can talk about how great Prep team is, or how bad Carroll is, but I won't, because all of it would be completely biased. All I know is that I can't wait for that game to happen, if and when it does. And don't complain about the "Prep's little rich boy egos" because from what I understand, students from Carroll aren't exactly poor. So, stop whining. GO PREP!!
    ---- Dan De Feo, Prep '03

    To Ward Williams -- If you are gonna spend so much time on the sidelines not playing and talking with your coaches, you should get the story straight. The Prep originally wanted to play Carroll in the second week, but Carroll was already playing some other powerhouse (Academy Park). (You see, The Prep was seeking out the best games to play to prove they are the best.) But Carroll only had an opening for Labor Day weekend -- the first week for those of you scoring at home. The Prep offered to drop their game with North Penn for the chance to play a truer rival. Carroll declined, claiming that their president did not want them playing a private school. It is a shame the game couldn't be played, but it was Carroll who dropped the ball.
        ---- someone who knows

    One day I walked through a park and I saw a bird, his name was Jim.  I said, "Jim would you like to see a Carroll-Prep game?"   Jim said "yes."  Let them play, to see who is the best in the area. And if not for that, do it for Jim.
    ---- Brendan Mallon Prep '01
    P.S. -- Jim was later run over by a lawn mower.

    The 1990 Carroll team would have rolled this Carroll team, plus we played everybody and crushed everybody (Ted's note: before losing the title to Ryan) and that was before open enrollment! Dan Bielli was my d-back coach and I have nothing but respect for him, but give me a break, this Blue Division is like a JV league! I wish them nothing but luck. Unfortunately, we will never know how good they truly were! The reason we didn't have any 70-point blowouts was because coach Clancy had us on the bench to start the third quarter. Ask St. John Neumann!! (Ted's note: It was 56-13.)
        ---- GO, PATS!!

THIS FILE IS WAY TOO LONG. CLICK HERE TO FIND COMMENTS CONTINUED.