Above: Stonybrook's Lynell Suggs Hauls in a TD in the endzone ...

The Small School Report: Scout’s notebook #1
Elon Vs. Stonybrook- 9/6/08-Final-Elon 30-Stonybrook-20

By Dr. Bill Chachkes

I knew it would be a weird day simply because of the impending approach of tropical storm Hanna. Elon dominated a bit early due to field position before the weather factored in. They are known as a mostly passing team and proved so again this time out. QB Scott Riddle was sacked 4 times (including 2 by #94 James Harris in the first half), but was 26-42-241 with only 1 interception and 3 touchdowns.

Notes: Elon
Terrell Hudgins (11-138-1TD) continues to show his full range of skills. DB Karlos Sullivan was named SoCon special teams player of the week based on his 106 Punt return and 24 K.O return yardage. He also had 1 Interception and one of the punt returns was and 81 yd. score. FB Tim Applegate had a “career” day with a 9yd. TD catch.

Stonybrook

Lynell Suggs (3-62-1TD) is something special to watch. Coming out of the powerhouse high school program that is Bronx, NY’s Lehman, he makes people sit up and notice his moves and route running ability, even on a wet field. Defenders Tyler Santucci and James Harris combined for 17 total tackles. Harris is the right size for an end (6’5”-270) and sheds blockers well, but seems to allow shorter OL’s to get under his pads at times, throwing off his motion towards the QB. Santucci controls his turf like any inside linebacker, but brings exceptional tackling skills. RB’s Gowins and Cuttino combined for 174 Yds. Rushing, with Gowins Scoring a Touchdown on a 72-yard run.

The Last Word: "Games are won and lost on fundamental things," said Stony Brook head coach Chuck Priore. "We did not execute on the offensive side of the ball in the first half. We had some blown assignments, some miscues and a couple of penalties that led to our defense playing a little bit too long. I am proud of the way we played in the second half. We have to learn how to be better against these types of teams. We will move forward and I am sure that we will be successful." Coach Priore has a storied career as a “Small College” football Coach, including a 30 game win streak at Trinity college in Hartford Conn. Coming off the huge win over Colgate in the last game, this one shouldn’t be too hard to get past.

Here we see Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long get selected "number one" by the Miami Dolphins, then meet the media in the Interview Room downstairs.

I talked with former Cal and 49ers Head Coach and now NFL Network Personality Steve Marriuci at the Chelsea Piers Lunch for the NFL Draft in New York City. Steve and I talked about the West Coast Offense and to what degree it was being used around the NFL, and Coach Bill Walsh's legacy in this area.

My friend, Yahoo! Sports Michael Silver waxes intelligently and hiliariously on the NFL Draft, race and racism in it, Gene Upshaw and the players union, and Cal sports.

On Thursday, April 26th, Wil Mara, Bill Chachkes, and I headed over to an establishment called "Merchants NY" after the NFL Media Lunch at Chelsea Piers. There, in the cigar bar, we met Wade Burch, the executive chef at Merchants and a man with an interesting background. He severed as chef for EDS Founder and CEO Ross Perot, Tom Landry, the first Head Coach of The Dallas Cowboys, and Jerry Jones, the current owner of the Dallas Cowboys. Over cigars, Wade told us exactly what he thought of all three men, based on his personal contact with them in his role as chef.

It was eye-opening, and provides a view to why former Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells may have left the Dallas Cowboys.

In the video, Wade starts by explaining that he wasn't very happy with "The Tuna" as Parcells is referred to, in response to Wil Mara's question. "I think he gave up too soon, but I think there were some mitigating circumstances we don't know about. I can only know from having cooked for Mr. Jones 25-odd times and the way he treated me (and I was born in Arkansas) he treated me like shit. He tried to treat me like one of his employees and I wasn't;. He's not the sweetest guy."

By contrast, Burch expresses complete admiration for Perot and Landry, two legendary figures in Texas pop-culture.

Burch's rant about Jones gives a unique view into the inner workings of the Cowboys organization and essentially points the finger at the football organization's head man -- and not Terrell Owens -- as the reason for the departure of Parcells. This window may also explain why Jones has gone through so many coaches during his tenture as Cowboys' owner. By stark contrast, Clint Murchison, the founder of the Cowboys had one coach -- Landry -- from 1960 to 1985, when he sold the team to a group led by H.R. "Bum" Bright.