Ewing, NJ ... There is no reason to turn on ESPN to find out how Super Bowl XLIV will unravel. The College of New Jersey has its own cast of NFL experts and prognosticators right on campus who have reduced the outcome to a simple science. Even President R. Barbara Gitenstein offered a few rudimentary thoughts.
Considering the topic is football, the man behind the curtain is head coach Eric Hamilton. Hamilton was finally able to clear his throat and air-dry the tears after his beloved New York Jets were shown the front door by the Colts (after entering the playoffs through the rear entrance). The veteran coach is drawn to the sentimental favorite that hails from New Orleans.
“The fan in me is going to ‘officially’ pick the Saints 31-24 figuring without
Dwight Freeney (injured),
Reggie Bush will be three-dimensional and make this a wide-open ballgame,” noted Hamilton, who will enjoy a helping of traditional ice cream sundaes with the family during the game. “There is a plenty of room for the Saints-sentimental for this being their first time. Along with that comes a lot of first-time energy and enthusiasm. How do you pick against
Peyton Manning? Well, I will.”
The ankle-injury to Freeney, a defensive end who accumulated 13.5 sacks for the Colts this season, seems to factor heavily into the Ewing campus intellect. Executive Director of Public Relations and Communications
Matt Golden not only feels the Freeney injury will have an impact, but he can also relate to the 6’ 1” 268-pound All-Pro. Golden is also questionable for his weekly pick-up basketball game in the St. Gregory’s Church over-30 league after suffering a career-threatening knee injury.
“Freeney and the Colts defensive backs being banged up will give Brees the time he needs to have a big day,” Golden explained from his plush corner office in Green Hall. “I’ll be eating a big bowl of chili at my brother-in-law’s watching the Saints upset the Colts 31-27.”
Hopefully he doesn’t burn his tongue on the spoon.
Junior
Leigh Mitchell, a Lions field hockey and lacrosse player, chuckled at the thought of grown men thinking with their hearts rather than their heads. She opposed Hamilton and Golden going with the Colts with no hesitation. Mitchell felt no need to complicate her statement with X’s and O’s. She backed her prediction up with this quip. “Peyton Manning. That’s my boy.”
There are members of the TCNJ community who are seemingly held hostage in a state of denial, wandering the campus dazed and confused regarding the nation’s most popular sporting event. When Communications Studies adjunct faculty member
Jacob Farbman was asked by student
Megan Creighton ’11 whom he thought would win the game, he responded, “The Eagles can’t lose.”
And if anyone thought that
President Gitenstein will just kick back and watch Super Bowl XLIV for the commercials, she would simply show you the hand. The president dug just deep enough to toss a little pocket-change of her expertise regarding the Colts-Saints showdown.
“I prefer not to pick sides when so many TCNJ community members are pulling for each team, so instead of a prediction I'll offer a little analysis. The Colts seem to be the logical choice because of their experience, and I think the quick-strike offense of the Saints will be hindered somewhat by the Colts' Tampa-2 defensive scheme, which generally protects against the big play.
“The injury to Dwight Freeney, however, causes me to question whether the Colts will be able to pressure
Drew Brees effectively with their base, four-man pass rush. If not, the Saints will be able to get their backs and tight ends out into routes. That will occupy the Colts' safeties and create one-on-ones for
Devery Henderson and
Robert Meachem.
“On the other side of the ball, I'm sure
Gregg Williams will conjure up some exotic blitz schemes, but nobody is better at diagnosing those than Peyton Manning. This should be a high-scoring affair that isn't decided until the final moments.
“By the way, half of any winnings that result from this analysis should be donated to The College of New Jersey Foundation.”
Such a typical response from a college president...
Enjoy the game!!
Mark Gola:
Colts 31-16
Eric Hamilton, Head Football Coach:
Saints, 31-24
Lyle Fulton, Assistant sports information director:
Colts 38-35
Matt Winkel, Comm. Office for Web and Multimedia:
Saints, 35-31
Leigh Mitchell, ‘11 Health and Exercise Science major :
Colts, 28-24
Cindy Friedman, Dir. of Adv. Operations and Creative Services:
Saints, 27-13
Dave Icenhower, Head Wrestling Coach/Sr. Assoc. Athl. Dir.:
Colts, 28-21
Matt Golden, Exec. Dir. of Public Relations and Comm:
Saints, 27-24
Murisa Thomas ’10, History and Secondary Education major:
Colts, 21-17
Brian Noyes, Athletics Program Assistant:
Saints, 31-20
Megan Creighton ‘11 Marketing major:
Colts, 28-24
Tony Marchetti, Comm. Officer and Managing Editor:
Colts, 31-28
Cory Dwyer ’12, Political Science major:
Colts, 34-28
Shaun Field ’12, Bio-medical physics and Spanish:
Saints, 27-21
Jacob Farbman, Adjunct Professor of Communications:
Eagles by forfeit