re: Is Bower our first New Jersey football prospect?

Al Green?

Edelman was originally from NOLA. Lives in NJ now, I'll ask him if he came to LSU from NJ.
Greg Cook was from NJ.
Jim Hubicz and Nebosha Sormaz were from PA.

I talked to Bill Edelman this morning and he was thrilled someone remembered him and was really humbled. Said he's seen Bower and is an incredible player. He even called him to congratulate him!

Actually I'm that person, Bill Edelmann, but was never anyone's idea of a prospect and was never recruited.

Yes, I was raised in New Orleans and attended Holy Cross for 6th & 7th grade, but I learned & played football at Pascack Valley High School, Hillsdale,NJ {Bergen County} for a Coach Ralph Cavalucci who had been a player & disciple of Vince Lombardi's at Saint Cecelia's {Englewood,NJ} during late 50s.

I was a general, full-time student, working full-time at local business & student food services during my freshman year Aug'79-May'80. I chose to 'walk-on' for Coach Stovall's inaugural season, during Oct'80 after reading a story in LSU's Daily Reveille, seeking more 'Scout Squad' members. I was 6'2", barely 180# as an Outside LB. I learned from Coaches Bishop Harris & Ron Taylor and players Rydell Melancon, Greg DuBroc, Shawn Moore & Tim Joiner. As walk-ons we were also taught by playing among Len Marshall, Al Richardson, Liffort Hobley, Jeffrey Dale, Waldon Cager, Gene Daniels, Mike Montz, Gene Lange, Mike Gambrel, Mike Turner, Mike Burkes, Kevin Langford, Bob Smith, Clint Berry, Al Rischer, Lance Smith, Greg Koch, Malcolm Scott, Dalton Hilliard, Mitch Andrews, Herm Fontenot & Rogie Magee from Oct'80-Dec'82 before the Orange Bowl {walk-ons neither practiced nor dressed for the Bowls}.

A third scholarship went unclaimed for the '83 year so Coach Stovall awarded that last one to me, a third awarded that month {two freshman were recognized & awarded theirs before me}.

So in answer to the question, I may have been the last NJ high school football player to have been on an LSU Football roster, although I only played three plays in the Alabama game of Nov'83. I did 'letter' for my final season as the L-Club standard was in participating all four years and being on the team during the player's fourth & final season, which I did.

As an aside, I was happy to be a friend of John Fritchie, Rick Chatman, Michael Brooks, Toby Caston, Scott Bromley, Mike Mahtook, Jerry Blake, Jimmy Macready, Shawn Burkes, Brian Kinchen, Dale Begue, Mark Bass, Tim Tucker, Darryl Daye, Carlos Hornbrook, Keith Detweiler, Dave Stoudt, Bob Connell & Bob ??? {receiver} and so many others I met and played with or against.

We had a great team of guys - that team shut down 'Bama at 'Bama, by holding their vaunted offense to 80-yards TOTAL on the day while LSU totaled 300 against the Bear's final team, in what he later termed "a good ole' fashioned arse whipping'"

We had greatest group of managers under Jeff Boss including but not limited to Randy, Pudge, Marty, Dale & T.Joe, plus an excellent training staff with John Purdy & Doc Anderson directing Murray, Gary, Troy & Andy.

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Is Bower our first New Jersey football prospect?

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dunno, I just hope Peppers is the 2nd

Is this Rydell ???

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To Bill Edelman - thanks for a great post - I'm always interested in the "Where Are They Now" stories.
What are you doing now ?

And best wishes...

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+1

Corporate Finance Exec.
Glad I let you know about this thread!!!

Wasn't Mike Koerner from somewhere around NJ? I know he's a baseball guy, but I think he's from near there.