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From the courthouse to the basketball court

Sporting News, The, Feb 4, 2005 by Kara Yorio

Tom Manzo still marvels at the memories, such as the time a man sat across from him and admitted to stabbing someone 30 times. It was the final piece of one of the puzzles he always was trying to put together as a homicide detective in Monmouth County, N.J.

"I've put people in jail for life," says a seemingly incredulous Manzo, who has made a whiplash career move since retiring as a lieutenant two years ago at age 44 after 26 years in law enforcement.

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Now, he's coordinator of school spirit for Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J. The Division I basketball school was the Northeast Conference's representative at the NCAA Tournament last year and is favored to be so again. Part of the team's dominance over the NEC comes from a newfound home-court advantage. Last season, the Hawks went 13-0 at home, helped along by the crowds at Boylan Gym. Manzo, a West Long Branch resident for most of his life and a longtime Hawks fan, has played a big part in that spirited transformation.

After he retired, Manzo volunteered at Monmouth, working with community sponsors and serving as a liaison between the community and the university. Soon, the school's president decided he wanted to create a full-time position that concentrated not only on bringing in community sponsors but increasing student spirit and continuing campus traditions as well as creating new ones.

Athletic director Marilyn McNeil says there was an official search but, in the end, Manzo was the best man for the job. She admits he also was the only one willing to work for the "miniscule" salary. Manzo's impact has been obvious--particularly at Boylan Gym.

Students used to sit scattered around the gym at basketball games. Manzo brought them together to create a rowdy student section. He moved the band to that section and put the cheerleaders in front of it. He started competitions between campus student groups to get them to sporting events.

Men's basketball coach Dave Calloway says things definitely have changed. The team always drew fan support from the community, particularly on weekends, but now the students are out in full force.

"There's an energy," Calloway says.

The opposition is taking notice. After Monmouth's undefeated run at home last season, Central Connecticut State coach Howie Dickenman told the Asbury Park (N.J) Press that when his assistants watched game tapes, the Hawks "seemed to jump higher, run faster and shoot better when they're home."

The undefeated home streak ended against Princeton earlier this season, a 4-point loss to a tough nonconference opponent. But the Monmouth students still are coming out, ready to rattle NEC opponents from now until Selection Sunday.

And if the Hawks make their second straight NCAA Tournament, Manzo will have packages ready for fans willing to follow them wherever they go. That's the only problem--the Hawks will have to go somewhere. Smart money won't be on a Monmouth win, but that won't matter to Manzo.

These days, Monmouth losses are the biggest negatives in a career that once was predicated on the negative. And an NCAA Tournament loss is a lot easier to shake off than an unsolved murder.

JIM BEAM presents

SPORTING NEWS

CHARACTER OF A Champion

Peyton Manning

You look at Peyton Manning's numbers and simply have to shake your head in disbelief: 49 touchdown passes, breaking Dan Marino's NFL record of 48; a career-high 4,557 passing yards; a completion rate of 67.6 percent; and a passer rating of 121.1 that shattered Steve Young's previous record of 112.8.

Manning won his second MVP award this year, joining a list of two-time MVP quarterbacks that includes Johnny Unitas and Joe Montana. (Brett Favre is the only NFL quarterback to win three MVP awards.) "I've thought of myself as something of a (football) historian and someone who appreciates those names," Manning says. "What I accomplished is something special for the team. Good things come along with that."

The Colts scorched the Broncos, 49-24. in their first playoff game, with Manning throwing for 457 yards. He completed 27 of 33 passes, giving him a QB rating of 145.7 for the game. Only Bernie Kosar in 1986 had more passing yards in a playoff game. and he needed two overtimes to get 489.

SPORTING NEWS editors choose one player each month whose performance demonstrates the "Character of a Champion."

From the courthouse to the basketball court

Sporting News, The, Feb 4, 2005 by Kara Yorio

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