Newer head shot

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Horrific final score of Irvington-Belleville football game



In all my years of covering high school athletics, now in my 35th year of seeing some amazing and incredible things in my beloved state of New Jersey, the results of one game today sickened and disgusted me more than any other in my career.

Irvington defeated Belleville today in a football game by a final score of 84-0.

That’s no misprint. That indeed was the final tally.

And get this! The wonderful people from the Irvington athletic department tweeted out that score like it was something to be proud of. Thanks to AD Dr. John Taylor for tweeting that out. Rah, rah, sis boom bah.

What do you get for running up the score like that? Bonus points? Parting gifts from Monty Hall? A win is a win unless it’s a demoralizing one like this one.

Someone responded to my rants today to say “Isn’t there a mercy rule in New Jersey? Is there a running clock?”

Well, there sure is. But it only kicks in after halftime, when a team is up by 35 or more points. There’s nothing in place for BEFORE halftime. In this case, Irvington led, 70-0, at the break. And yes, for good measure, head coach Ashley Pierre (E-mail apierre@gmail.com) instructed his team to score two more times after the marching band was done playing.

Now, let’s face facts. There is no way that something like this should happen. There is such a thing called good sportsmanship. When the score became say 40-0 in the first half, Coach (using that term very loosely) Pierre could have called off the dogs and put in the second string. Even the third string. The junior varsity. 

Hell, the freshmen could have received a few snaps.

But when the score reached 40 before halftime, that obviously wasn’t enough. No, Pierre needed 30 more points before the break. That’s sickening.

And then, they needed to score two more touchdowns AFTER halftime. That’s even more sickening.

The thing that bothers me the most about this isn’t so much the idiocy of everyone involved with the Irvington football team. It’s the fact that they totally ignored that there was another team there today. There was no regard to Belleville coach Mario Cuniglio and his band of Buccaneers. This is a team that has been struggling, but has been trying hard all year to get ready for this football season. They put their time and effort into getting ready for a year that they were all hopeful to be more competitive.

And then this happens, demoralizing a program, a coaching staff and more importantly, a bunch of teenage boys, sending them all perhaps to the brink of despair.

In my opinion, this coach and athletic director BOTH no longer have a right to participate in high school sports. Sure, you never want to play with one’s livelihood, but there has to be some repercussions for what transpired today. And apparently, with the way the score was tweeted out like one publicizes say the birth of a child, then there was no thought at all to what took place.

Obviously, they think like they did nothing wrong.

But this was a wrong like no other in the true spirit of competition in high school sports.

I don’t know how Cuniglio restrained himself after the game from laying one to Pierre’s kisser. I give him credit for doing so. But a lot of other coaches might not have had such restraint. At least Cuniglio knows a thing about sportsmanship. The opposition? Not so much.

So if you’re a reader of this blog regularly, I implore you to take the time and write, call, email even carrier pigeon your disgust to the powers-that-be in Irvington. The principal, the superintendent, everyone should not be omitted from the ire and anger.

I’ve already called the powers-that-be to offer my utter disgust. The crusade will continue Monday morning.

I don’t know if my friends at the NJSIAA will want to discuss this matter, but they should address it. It can’t be ignored. A simple slap on the wrist just won’t do.

64 comments:

  1. Totally agree. Second team at 40-0. Ugly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The writer of this article should check his facts Irvington did put in the freshman's and it's not totally Irvington fault .Also the mercy rule was called fact check fact check faction

      Delete
    2. I think we should all be looking at the New Jersey athletic association who aligns these divisions up for the schools to play in and the 1st place Irvington used to be a much tougher division where the competition was more a lines of the talent of the town we play these teams from smaller towns they don't stand a chance so it's no offense to Bellville or no offense to any of the coaches or the kids but we treated them with the utmost respect I am an alumnus we cheered their cheerleaders and their football team on all day so the sportsmanship was present the kids however that play this game only know one thing to win the coaches who coached them also teach them to win and good sportsmanship trust me if you was there you would have known that the score was not indicative of the attitude on the field don't let a few comments by wanna to members of Irvington athletic team make you think that no 1 understands sportsmanship once again know your facts before you talk

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Stop crying. Take that "L" and stop being a soar loser

      Delete
  3. Man shut your ass up! You call that demoralizing? I bet you if it were the other way around it would’ve been glorified to the high heavens and we would’ve been reading a different kind of blog. People like you disgust me. You have nothing better to do with your life than to tear down a coach and football team for playing A-1. Get a life troll. IRVINGTONVSEVERYBODY

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Look. You play the game to win. Ok the score was dominate but this is the game that played. Do you right blogs about a college team that get beaten 70-0. No! Even if they would have put in the 2nd team and ran the score up then would that have been Ok?? And yes if the shoe was on the other foot. We wouldn't be having this discussion.

      Delete
    2. If I'm a troll, what kind am I? Just curious...84-0 is nothing to be promoting...nothing

      Delete
    3. I was at the game in the coaches pulled his starters in the first quarter and put in his JV and then he put in his freshman and Belleville still could not stop them I think the coach did a real good job with sportsmanship.they need to implement a running clock system for things won't like this will not happen again in high school sports. I play for irvington high school back in the day and we used to get pounded by Union, Elizabeth, Linden, Plainfield. Nobody complained one bit about getting blow out. Because we know we was not on there level. But we went out to every game and play hard no matter what score was

      Delete
    4. Well sir I'm sorry that you feel that way but as a former baseball coach of schools from the inner city the same things happen during baseball season teams like Irvington East Orange Etc get beat by teams from the server by ridiculous scores no one complains no one says anything about these teams being well overmatched but none unless they still have to compete and if you think I'm just making this up try going to Central vs West Milford baseball game this spring and you'll see what I'm talking about furthermore in the spirit of competition things like this happen Irvington High School football team has a losing history it's about time that they get the opportunity to dominate and opposing team I'm sorry Belleville didn't have enough qualified players to compete but that's not Irvington problem go Blue Knights

      Delete
  4. Your opinion is just that...an OPINION! If you watched the game, and paid attention...the starters were taken out BEFORE halftime, not after. The score was already set at the end of first quarter so they were pulled! It's not the kids adult not the coaches fault that almost if not half of the TDs scored against Belleville were of defense i.e interceptions, fumble recoveries etc. IF as well as freshman had been in the game and they too started scoring with no problem. How do you tell children who are actively playing to not play while the clock is still ticking?! I saw nothing wrong here but it can always be debatable. Belleville should have waved a white flag or threw the towel in...that could have been an option! In the meantime your opinion won't change the outcome of the game. Everyone need to suck it up because it's OVER! On to next week's game because this is yesterday's news!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What about the years when the Union county schools would run the score up on Irvington?! I bet you never blogged about that, have you?! I wonder if the roles were reversed would this even be a topic or an issue?! I'm going to say NOT!

    ReplyDelete
  6. And another thing...to insinuate that Coach Smoke should have been punched in the face is completely classless and tasteless on your part and to even suggest that shows your character and the type of person you are! Grow up!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  7. Belleville should have forfeit at 40-0, that was the belleville coaching staff’s fault.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I hate to bring up race during such an ugly time in America, but if Irvington would've beaten a majority black high school such as Weequahic or Shabazz, I truly doubt you guys would be in such an uproar.

    Do you really expect the coach to tell these kids, "Hey. Make sure you don't score anymore. You can go allllll the way down the field, but make sure you do not reach that endzone. I understand your grandmother is in the stands watching and I understand that you are trying to impress those scouts, but please make sure you do not score because Belleville High School football team has been working sooo hard this season."

    Are you kidding me? This article is ridiculous. We didn't cry to an article when Belleville beat our baseball team like 30-zip. Somebody check my stats on that.

    -Shannon F.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's downright awful that you could even suggest racism in a case like this. Race did not come into play.

      And how does baseball transcend into a football game? One has nothing to do with the other.

      Delete
    2. You showed your privelege in this article. Not once did you condemn Belleville's coach for not calling this game. Asserting your privilege you even advocated for violence. Ho

      Delete
    3. "And how does baseball transcend into a football game? One has nothing to do with the other."....Answer: They are both team sports that's how"..."Asserting your privilege you even advocated for violence."<<<<< That part is very telling of a person's mentality

      Delete
  9. As a coach for the previous 20 years, I have to agree that this a disgrace. And if it happened to Irvington in years past, it was a disgrace then too. There is no place for this in any sport, at any age. It would be bush league for pros to do it, it is downright awful for a coach to do it with so many young men on both sides learning a pathetic lesson.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. People should feel that way all the time no matter who the team is or where they’re from. Belleville baseball team beat kids 27-1, 25-0 and the scores go on but who said anything about that? Be fair all the way around!

      Delete
  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  11. DO YOUR RESEARCH AS A JOURNALIST BEFORE YOU START RUNNING YOUR MOUTH!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Mannnnnn please! Belleville beat Irvington in baseball 30-0, Scienece 20-6, Orange 19-7, Barringer 14-0, University 27-1 Where was all your talk about some mercy and class then?.... Belleville TAKE THAT 84-0 and eat!
    Maybe you the one that should get punched in the face since you were hoping someone else would. I’m not going to do it but I damn sure would laught at you if someone did after all you said in this article. That’s probably why you became a writer cause somebody crushed your fat ass dreams.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm guessing because the black kids from Irvington should have mercy of these white kids oh no man this dude need to shut up and go sit somewhere for many years many school did the same thing to Irvington now the role reversed proud of IHS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Can you please repost your comments in English.

      Delete
  14. no reason to win 84-0 in high school you take a knee on 3 street plays then punt...... refs should have "found" holding on a few plays....

    ReplyDelete
  15. Did you play sports in school? I was on the 0 end of a few of those beatings, playing against teams that moved up divisions the next year, played exhibitions against lower division teams, etc. I would be absolutely disgusted with the other team if they did not play us as hard as they could for the entire match. It is a sign of disrespect to put in your 3rd/4th stringers against a team of starters, like you look down on them. "Good sportsmanship" isn't just about feelings, or mercy. Good sportsmanship also involves treating your opponent with respect, regardless of how far you outmatch them. Putting in freshmen against some seniors playing their last year, that's bad sportsmanship.

    ReplyDelete
  16. As a former High School athlete I feel it would be more disrespectful to not try your hardest and take it easy on an opponent. that would be bad sportsmanship. I want the team to try their hardest against me that way I can test myself and gauge how much I need to improve if I'm always playing against people worse than me my quality as a player/athlete will also deteriorate but if I play against better people I will strive to be better.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Starters were pulled early in 2nd qtr. The defense was even scoring. Irvington (I played there 84-88) was on the losing side of many games like this. As a former player, and now a coach, you are taught to give 110% every play. Belleville lost 35-0 to Fort Lee, 50-2 to Snyder, 44-6 to Passaic Valley and 52-0 to Abraham Clark. I'm sure these scores didn't implore you to write a piece about how disgraceful those teams and coaches are and how they should be punched in the face. In this day and age, to even suggest violence of any kind because someone lost a game, at any score, is both immoral and irresponsible of you as a journalist. I am a regular reader of your columns in The Observer and have always respected your opinions and even enjoyed your articles. I really expected more from you.
    Sincerely,
    Vic Hanson Irvington HS Class of '88

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vic, I did not suggest violence. I'm just saying that it took restraint on the Belleville coach's part from not hitting the Irvington coach. I'm not saying that he should have. So there was no suggestion of violence. I did suggest that if other people have the same type of ire that I have, they should contact the coach, the AD, the principal and everyone else involved. I did not suggest violence.

      And the other scores are not even close to 84-0. They scored twice in the second half. They went for TWO POINTS on the final touchdown. Thanks for being an avid reader, but I did not at all suggest violence...

      Delete
    2. You absolutely suggested violence @ogsmar go back and read what you typed or were you just talking to talk. How do you know it took restraint on the Belleville coaches part?! Did y'all have that conversation?! More importantly you should have done your research before writing this because your comments are false and have no factual base to them. You were mad because your false sense of entitlement as a white man couldn't believe how a bunch of black inner city youths beat the breaks off of non inner city white youths whom im sure you also feel should be entitled! This whole story spews HATE coming from you. This is what color bias looks like!!!!!

      Delete
    3. Zakiyyah, I grew up in Vailsburg and Irvington, I sincerely loved growing up there. I wouldn't change a thing about where I grew up. It made me the man I am today and I have lifelong friendships with people of all races. I sincerely do not think Jim's ire and disgust for this game is race based.

      As for not suggesting violence, you absolutely did Jim. Now, I certainly understand the feeling. I have had that feeling as a player and as a coach. But that is one of those things that you may think, but NEVER do or SAY. You keep that internal.
      Contacting anyone involved with IHS football to tell them the score was unfair, will not accomplish anything. Again, as a player, you are taught and trained to play at 110% at all times. Doing anything less disrespects your team, your coaches, your family, your community and even your opponent. Play and play your best at all times. Scoring 70 points in the 1st half and only 14 the 2nd have , in my opinion, shows a lot of restraint. Realize the 2nd half points were scored by players that otherwise would not see the field in a close game. They are Freshmen and Sophomores. This was an opportunity for those players to show the coaches what they are capable of doing during an actual game as opposed to at practice on the scout team. Going for 2 just meant they did not want to take the nearly guaranteed 1 point and go with the possibility of not making the 2 points. It just so happens, they were successful. It is, still, unfair to berate a coach, a team and a town because they have trained hard and worked to attain a level of play that shows on the field against a lesser opponent. I am proud to be from IHS and to have been a part of a team that only won 3 Varsity games from 84-87. I took those beatings, losses. I remember my position coach at IHS telling me, after getting hit by what seemed like a freight train, to "Suck it up. Move on to the next play." Belleville should also move on, as I'm sure their coaches and players have moved on to their next opponent.

      Delete
  18. I would like to hear suggestions as to what you think Coach Pierre should have done. The Starters were removed well before the half. Pierre asked to have the game stopped at half time... they told him he had to finish the game. Belleville was passing the ball (which stops the clock) and punting the ball horribly giving Irvington great field position on the times that the defense didn't score. Majority of the scores came from Freshman and sophomores.Guys who were fortunate to play varsity downs never mind score in a varsity game. Maybe we should have told them to not score on purpose...are we suggesting that? Because that would not be looking at the feelings of that young kid who was smiling ear to ear because when he woke up scoring that day on Varsity seemed like nothing more than an online over exaggerated dream. As someone who knows those kids personally an article needs to be written about how Belleville let those kids score. At some point you have to do your job and regardless of how you feel about Irvington... Belleville is doing something wrong. They didn't show up with kids that didn't have size or looked like they were unathletic... but they didn't play football well.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Here is a thought, after it's say 56-0 is there anything gained by either team? The losers are embarrassed and humiliated, and the winners have nothing to learn because there is no competition coming from the other team. Irvington in a show of sportsmanship could have took a knee on there downs or punted on first down. Another question I have is in a game like this, with football being as violent as it is, was anyone hurt after halftime? Because if so, that is a travesty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So putting the freshman and sophomores in wasn't sportsmanship enough for you? Or asking for the game to be called? We're we supposed to let them gain yards? Because a lot of those touchdowns came from those young players playing on defense.

      Delete
  20. Man i find this bullshit. Dont like ppl scoring so much stop them! All this good sportsmanship is bs its football. So wht wld u b saying if d jv team came in after halftime and still ran score up wht wld b ur complaint then??? Tell belleville they dnt like it do something bout it period! All this cryin bitchin and sulkin like irv high broke a law or committed a crime. Its 4 damn quarters to a game if they choose to mash d gas they r within their rights. Damn fools

    Ps: d rules shld either end a game wen its gtn outta hand or do like youth football in ga hv a running clock even on imcomplete passes but u can condemn d team who r complying within d rules tht allow this. Dont b mad at IHS b mad at d foot ball commission or those who hvnt figured out a way to prevent!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Seriously Jim, As a former collegiate athlete and state champion let me say a couple of things. 1.) A true competitor would take more offense to pity than to a beat down. 2.) It is a sport they need to get better, if a loss in high school sports pushes a kid to the brink of despair as you put it they need help in other areas of their life that winning a football game wouldn't cure. 3.) The audacity to score after 40-0?? So you say to put in second string and freshman, young men that sit the bench all year and practice their tails off, to do what? Take a knee everytime they touch the ball?? Absolutely not, those young freshman and second stringers are going to go out there to do one thing, WIN and compete, show the coaches they can perform. Not take a knee. It is just as disrespectful to a kid to put him in during a blow out game and still tell him to not play.

    It is a loss, watch film, get better, find a different conference, practice with a purpose. Don't cry and complain, get better.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Jim Hague, should maybe stay away from high sports and blog about something else. Maybe he can blog about resource inequalities in Suburban vs urban areas as it relate to high school athletic funding.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. State funding for athletic programs is the same for all schools urban and suburban. However the suburban school programs get additional money from business and private sponsors in the community or the programs raise money rather than depend on the government to give more and better equipment.

      Delete
  23. There is never an excuse for poor sportsmanship. Any college scout in attendance dismissed any performance as one team was clearly not competeive

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Where was the poor sportsmanship at? Did the Irvington players use foul language? Did they not help players up or shake hands? Did they do any plays that seemed dirty? Did they not take all starters out when they got a large lead? So was the unsportsmanlike part the fact that they won by a lot?

      Delete
    2. I hope you are kidding. Embarrassing an inferior team is unsportsmanlike

      Delete
    3. So the 30-0 score Belleville beat Irvington by in Baseball was unsportsmanlike? Asking for a friend.

      Delete
    4. Why would a college scout dismiss a performance? In college D-1A schools have been absolutely hammering D1-AA schools for decades. Schools lose by 40+ regularly in college football. It is unsportsmanlike to treat me as an inferior, and not play to the best of your ability. Did you play sports in school?

      Delete
    5. Hal, Irvington scored 12 touchdowns. In case you forgot, a touchdown is 6 points. In baseball, a run is 1. So, when Belleville scored 30 against Irvington baseball, should they have stopped at, say, 10?. They do not have a mercy rule in hs baseball or football.

      Delete
  24. Anybody who have anything to say in agreeance to this BS blog or suggest unsportsmanlike conduct etc. I don't see y'all doing anything except talking. Nobody is saying how things could have or should have been done different on Irvington side other than showing pity by taking a knee or punting on 1st down. That would have been a slap in the face of the Belleville players and can be seen as unsportsmanlike in itself! Until you're in that situation as either a coach or player then your opinions means NOTHING! The same way it appeared Belleville coach had too much pride to call the game coming out the half at 70-0 is the same way our Freshman players and IF took pride into being able to play on a Varsity level. This is football...you can miss me with the self righteous BS!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. When I played fb for HHS we used to get our butts kicked by a lot and never cried that thr other team ran up thr score. It was our fault for playing so poorly.

      Delete
  25. Fact - the score became 70-0 in the 1st half because on every Belleville offensive set they turned the ball over inside their 20 yard line. These ‘all’ led to easy Irvington scores.
    I guess the DB who intercepted should not have scored or linebacker who scooped up a fumble should not have scored either.
    I played on many teams where we got destroyed & I survived. Stop the closet racism! I haven’t seen your answer for why a Belleville baseball score of 30-0 is not also unsportsmanlike.
    As a starting defensive back through college, in games where we got shellacked I still played my best & never game up!
    What you should write about is the Belleville squad who still comes out & plays in spite of the beatings they’ve taken (score wise).
    We in Irvington don’t like people who try to put our coaches, AD & most importantly our children down.
    Any effort to penalize our program will be responded to just like we did your blog. I write a column for a major newspaper & will certainly write a column that will not reflect well if the governing body chooses such action.
    Not a threat, just a promise. Harry Paden

    ReplyDelete
  26. Holy hyperbole, Batman!!! I thought Irvington players literally pulled out guns and killed Bellville with these over-emotional words being spewed. Butthurt levels: over 9000. If I were you, I'd worry more about acquiring a gym membership than a HS football game

    ReplyDelete
  27. Shut your face and stop your crying. If you dont want to lose by that much play better. Its that simple.

    ReplyDelete
  28. If you were present you would have factual information but instead you are going off of assumptions. How about you and all of your supporters come out to see that Irvington Blue Knights are skilled players all across the board and amazing coaches. Time to wake up and give Irvington the respect that is due. We coming for everything they said we couldn't have.

    ReplyDelete
  29. He's just mad because the other team got that their asses handed to them on a silver platter. Man we can't even win a football game. Its always an issue. 84-0 nothing to be proud of really ????? The fact that the other team is not great isn't Irvington's problem. And race has everything to do with it. sore ass loser.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Belleville's coach and staff is who oughtta be ashamed. You don't wanna get your balls kicked outta ya back on the field, then how about PREPARING like you're showing up to COMPETE.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Cry me a river!!! Prepare your kids better so they won't get trampled next time. We teach kids to give 100% when they go on the field. Where was this article when they lost to Bellville in baseball, 30-0??? Bellville you just got blown out, Get over it. Life doesn't always go your way. Life Learning lesson.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I've read your article and you are so right re: the pairing of these particular schools in competition. I don't understand how they (whomever they are) could be so out of touch with their match ups.
    The classless coach who behaved as a juvenile in his unsportsmanlike actions should be really proud of crushing a team of young athletes, who were not of the same caliber as his team. So was that an accomplishment? Or did it show his players winning at any cost is paramount even if it devastates an opponent????? Sad to think this is a man who's mentoring student/atheletes.

    Signed,
    A Mom of 4 sons who played high school and collegiate football and never witnessed any actions resembling those of this coach.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If the other team can't take a beating, sports isn't for them. Also, life is going to be really tough for them, I'm sure.

      Delete
    2. How did the coach behave as a juvenile? Maybe if your 4 sons played for him you would've witnessed a solid game like the one Irvington plays and they could've gone to a better college because the Irvington Coach is really good at getting his players into quality schools.

      Delete
  33. Belleville got they ass handed to them, man up and take that L!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete