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Zedalis: A message sent and an old
debt paid in full
OCEAN
Scott Larkin is a 26-year-old head football coach who looks about 17 and
talks in respectful, almost passive tones.
But the rookie coach at Ocean Township sent two messages early in
yesterday's NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III final against Long Branch that
were more vociferous than words he would ever personally speak.
When the opening kickoff wobbled out of bounds, Larkin passed on taking
possession at the 35-yard line and made Long Branch rekick. Dana Webster
returned the second kickoff to the Long Branch 48-yard line.
Four snaps later it was fourth-and-1 at the 39. Larkin declined to
punt, got a first down and Webster scooted in for the game's first
touchdown from the 13 four plays later.
The message Larkin sent was twofold. It let Long Branch, and his own
team, know exactly the way the game was going to be played. It was going
to be played the Big Red way: with passion, confidence and belief that
comes from the heart, the belly and the brain.
"Scott knew (former Ocean coach) George Conti would gamble because
he had faith in the players and the coaches," said Bill Galatro, a
former Ocean defensive coordinator.
"That's exactly where I got it from," a smiling Larkin said
outside the winning locker room. "I remember there were times when
coach Conti would go for it on fourth-and-1 in our own territory. And I
remember how good it made me feel to know that the coach had that much
confidence in us."
If Larkin remembered from his three years as a Big Red player, there is
no question those who got that same jolt of confidence yesterday will
never forget, either.
Ocean rolled to a 25-7 victory and the return to the Big Red days of
old was complete. The final missing element of Ocean football -- a
championship -- was returned to Carelli Field by one of its own.
"What we're most proud of is that Scott is one of our own,"
said Tom Pagano, the Superintendent of Schools in Ocean Township and a
former defensive line coach under Conti. "He went through our
program."
"He was a center and a typical Ocean offensive lineman,"
Conti said. "Well under 200 pounds."
But what he lacked in size, Larkin made up for in smarts. What he
lacked physically he made up with passion. And what his body couldn't do,
his beliefs could.
"I'm a first-generation Big Red guy," said Larkin, a 1993
Ocean grad. "Big Red football isn't about winning, it's about being
good people, good students about learning lessons that will help you in
school and at work and in life. And if you do all of that . . . the
winning comes.
"All I did was pass on what was taught to me."
Larkin, however, did a little more than that. Ocean was 4-6 a year ago.
And was hardly a contender.
"His biggest talent is his ability to teach kids love of the game,
how to play it and how to play it with Big Red style," Conti said.
"He reintroduced desire, commitment and tradition back into the
program. And we are big on tradition here."
So Larkin brought back the famed beach practices, the singing of bula
bula in the locker room after victories and the practice of carrying
seniors off the field. He also brought back the work ethic and belief in a
system.
"All I did was repay the school and the program for everything it
did for me," Larkin said.
After yesterday, there is no longer a balance due.
Joe Zedalis is an Asbury Park Press staff writer.
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