Early Season Notes
by Ray Floriani
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – A few warm-ups as the season is finally here, from the gridiron to the world of officiating.
The call was made a few days ago to the Rutgers Media Relations office. Kathy answered the phone and said media relations director John Wooding “was in a meeting”. Don’t worry, I assured her, the call was not for a credential for the then-upcoming Louisville football game. “Oh, we’ve had good interest in basketball, too,” she replied.
Rightfully so, with the excitement Fred Hill is bringing to the program. But right now, a few words on football. This is a basketball site, yet Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano deserves a mention. His club is having a great year, highlighted by Thursday’s great come-from-behind win over Louisiville. Furthermore, Schiano is a friend of the basketball program.
In the Spring of 2004, the RU faithful were starting to grow weary of Schiano’s promises of a bright future. His job was not in jeopardy per se, but there was a sense of restlessness. During that March, Rutgers made a run to the NIT finals. Following the loss, who was in the hallway congratulating and consoling coach Gary Waters? Schiano, who visited with the coach for a few brief moments in the hallway outside of the locker room. Schiano himself was in spring practice preparing his own program. Still, he took the time to venture to New York and support a coaching colleague competing in a championship game. It was a wonderful gesture of class on the part of Schiano.
You hear a number of schools that have good basketball programs but ‘football rules’. Think James Naismith’s game will ever be a bigger priority on the Alabama campus than football? Rutgers believes they can be strong in both sports, and Thursday night’s win will certainly help towards that end. The name in charge of the football program would be the first to revel in its happening.
As basketball writers we must maintain objectivity. But for Greg Schiano and his Rutgers football program, I hope for only the best. They have given Garden state residents pride and more to talk about than rising property taxes.
On a sad note it is with regret we mention the passing of Art MacDonald. ‘Artie’ as he was known to players, coaches and fellow officials, was an outstanding referee who died of a heart attack in late October. Artie was in his late fifties and still active. Followers of the Atlantic 10, Big Ten or MAAC watched him a number of times each winter. He worked his way up from the high school ranks in New Jersey to one of the better officials around. Artie went as far as the Elite Eight of the NCAA and regularly went far into the NIT rounds.
When I began officiating 17 years ago, Artie invited me after a game I was covering at Rutgers, to sit in on the officials’ post-game conference. He then took the time to explain many aspects of the college game with the idea of learning the differences of the high school game from an officiating perspective. He reached a rarefied level in the game, but was always there to help out those who were starting out and progressively learning.
Artie loved to socialize. He chain smoked and I always admired how he could smoke and still run the floor well. Unfortunately that nicotine habit probably brought his early demise.
There are classic Artie stories. Probably one of the best involved Vic Moncalieri, a good North Jersey official. Apparently, near the end of his high school officiating career Artie had a game in Essex County (NJ) with a coach who couldn’t stand him. Vic stands about the same height as Artie (about 5’7″) and has the same reddish hair. Artie explained the situation and sent Vic, and never told the school’s athletic director there was a replacement. Vic walks in the gym and the coach immediately says, “Damn, got that MacDonald today.” The game progresses and the coach is soon in a full whining mode, contesting virtually every call by Vic. Finally, by the bench the coach has Vic in earshot and says, “you are nothing but an incompetent, Irish, mother (expletive).” The whistle blows and Vic administers a technical. “What did I do?” the coach asks. “Did I get the T because I said you are incompetent?” Vic says, “No.” “Was it because I cursed?” the coach asks. Again Vic says “no.” “Then why?” pleads the coach. In a classic response, Vic turns and said, “You got the T for calling me Irish. I’m Vic Moncaleir, pleased to meet you coach.” The coach looked up, spotted, and actually laughed. He ultimately hired Vic back for a game or two each year.
Just a classic sort which Artie could only laugh about when he verified it was true. Yes, Artie will be missed, but he certainly made his mark in the game over three plus decades of officiating service.
