By: Kris Hunte

Crash! Boom! Crunch! No, this is not another episode of the old school Batman series starring Adam West. The sounds you hear are the noises of pads clashing and helmets banging as the football teams of the NJAC prepare for what will undoubtedly be a bone-crushing 2010 season. 2009 was a great year to be a Montclair State Red Hawk because our very own football team comes into the new season as the defending NJAC champions.

However, instead of the coveted crimson bird, each member on the squad will be entering the NJAC fields with targets stamped onto their helmets. Nine other teams will be gearing up to dethrone the kings of the conference. With most of the MSU stars of ’09 moving on after graduation, it is now up to their successors to maintain the top spot on the NJAC totem pole. Can the Red Hawks’ rivals take advantage of its new faces to steal the crown?

Rowan and the rest of the NJAC will be chasing after senior running back Matt Jimenez and Montclair State this season.

Get ready, pigskin lovers. Time to sit back and experience the magic that is college football and to see if MSU can do what they haven’t accomplished since 1999: repeat as champions of the NJAC.

Let’s take a look at each NJAC team and see how they stack up for the 2010 season.

By: Mike Monostra

MSU football enjoyed its best season since 2003 last yearwith an NJAC championship and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, where they fell to eventual championship finalist Mount Union. This year, however, many new faces will have to try and duplicate their 2009 performance.

The changes are on both sides of the football, but may be most noticeable on defense. The Red Hawks were known as one of the better defenses in the NJAC in 2009 and won many of their games by stifling the opposing offenses.

Senior safety Mario McLean and junior cornerback Gary Knoppel will be heading up the secondary for the Red Hawks title defense in 2010.

However, in 2010, they will have to do without the services of many former starters who were lost to graduation. Chris Merkle, Brian Tweer, Dominique Dixon, Jesse Shenker, Dan Poehls, Gary Brenner, Ken McClure and Taylor Bonner were all big players in the Red Hawks’ run to the playoffs last season.

As far as returning defenders are concerned, senior captain Ed Kirschenbaum will anchor a rather young defensive squad this season. Kirschenbaum is the top returning defender statistically, registering 93 tackles and three sacks in 2009. Joining him at linebacker will be sophomore Lou Ritacco and freshman Dan Avento

By: Jon Fazio

As the weekend came to a close, freshman outside hitter Marta Topor collected 26 kills and 36 digs in four games at the Red Dragon Classic in Cortland, NY. However, it was not enough for the Red Hawks to earn a victory as Montclair State was swept in those four games to start the season 0-5.

Coach Elise Cooper felt that the team gave a great effort during the tournament and was surprised by how fast the team adjusted after losing Alyssa Batiste from an injury that occurred last Wednesday.

“The team had to make some adjustments in a single day,” said Cooper. “They really did a great job, considering the last minute changes to the line-up.”

By: Mike Monostra

On Tuesday morning, the Yogi Berra Museum had the privilege of hosting a screening of an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary. The documentary was named The House of Steinbrenner, and focused on the Yankee’s late owner George Steinbrenner.

Derek Jeter salutes the fans in 2008 after the New York Yankees played their final game in the old Yankee Stadium. A portion of The House of Steinbrenner looked back at the closing of the old stadium.

The movie, rather than portraying just a biography of Steinbrenner, instead looked at his accomplishments, his failures and how they affected the Yankee organization, and most importantly, their fanbase. Following the screening, a panel of sportswriters talked about the film. The panel was hosted by ESPN’s Buster Olney.

By: Mike Monostra

The Red Hawks recovered from a tough loss against Lycoming over the weekend to cruise easily past the New York City Tech Yellow Jackets by a score of 5-0 yesterday afternoon at MSU Soccer Park.

MSU basically dominated the possession aspect of the game, as NYCT managed just three shots in the game, with only one of those nearly hitting the net. None of those shots came in the second half.

Senior defender Mike Krol looks to make a pass in the Red Hawks’ 5-0 victory over New York City Tech.

However, the Red Hawks, despite all of the pressure they put on the Yellow Jackets, only managed a single goal in the first half from Dan Mendoza. Mendoza scored on a header after a free kick from senior captain Mike Krol. Outside of that play, however, the Red Hawks simply couldn’t put the ball into the net as the Yellow Jackets played tough defense early.