This is Now, That was Then

This is Now, That was Then

Baylor, Bucknell, Berkely, Boston, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Clemson, Colgate, Syracuse, Stevens and Yale. This was a list of a few Hoboken High School College acceptances, class of 2024. Whether these were from a few Mile Square scholars or many, the students should be gleaming with pride.

Leaving the comfort of the Red Lego structure on Eighth and Clinton Streets will bring the normal anxiety and anticipation but your Red Wing preparation should resolve the pending unpredictable world.

Well, back in the 90’s a rigorous IB Curriculum was adopted and initiated by Dr. Edwin Duroy, for students to explore. In addition, the dreadful and highly debatable SAT exam became a central focus for a number of reasons.

The football coach Ed Stinson, an English major, had the power of sight knowing course work and ones’s grade point average were critical to college acceptance rates. Division One schools required SAT scores and grades to meet the requirement of admission whether one was an athlete or not. Mr. Stinson was blessed when the stars aligned properly when a group of players emerged from all parts of Hoboken, yet the SAT obligation was developing into a formidable opponent.

Football titles and 68-1 record over a five- year stretch in the 1990’s, and beyond caught the attention of major universities per the Stinson era.

In order to ensure credible college admissions, players entered an extensive SAT tutoring sessions which eventually became a non-credit period course at Hoboken High.

The high school staff and central office became a critical artery to raise scores and grades for all learners.

Ed’s time and tenacity and a crazed yet delightful passion became a central preamble. The zero period was offered to all who could make the early start with the late Jerry Kiely, math supervisor as the point person. Also, private scheduled tutoring sessions were held in the school library. Two female SAT scholars from the Princeton area arrived per administrative approval providing key instruction to a number of staff members who wanted to teach the dreaded SAT’s.

So, for months, students prior to the SAT exam, athletes, males and females attended work sessions. The goal was essential beyond the X’s and O’s of the gridiron. Thousand Point SAT board was created.

Famous coaches from top universities send letters to the football staff and high school administration seeking recruiting the decade team of the 90’s and beyond. Yet their GPA and SAT scores were just as important as impressive.

On a recent Demarest/Hoboken Sports Hall of Fame dinner in April, a number of aging yet good looking football adults alluded to that special time of SAT success and academic worthy landmarks.

In attendance at the function Wilbur Valdez, graduate of the class of 1995 at Hoboken High, scholarship to the University of Miami, played football, with a degree in sociology, a minor in sports management and later a MA from St. Peter’s University.

Now the dean of students at Union City High of 3000 students reviving the football program to championship status credits Coach Ed Stinson and Hoboken High staff, preparing him beyond his exceptional athletic success. Mr. Stinson looked out for students beyond the walls of the Mile Square high school.

Lastly, Wilbur noted many of his high school classmates who received athletic scholarships secured degrees from their universities.

We recently had a solar eclipse, but the 90’s and thereafter were unique orbits at Hoboken High, of not only football success but a pep rally of hitting the “balls and books”, and making a goal line stand.

Some Scholarship Players

1995 Rashard Casey-Penn State

1995 Wilbur Valdez-University of Miami

1995 Ivan Ramos-Rutgers University

1995 Louis Turso-Rutgers University

1995 Ravon Anderson-University of North Carolina

1997 Steven Berson-Rutgers University

1997 Keon Walker-Syracuse University

1997 Michael Forcum-New Haven University

1999 Tyrell Dortch-Michigan State

2001 Joe Radigan-Rutgers University

2002 Ira Guilford- Ohio State

2002 Quadar Ladson- Hofstra University

2004 Rashawn Brown-Delaware State

2006 Duval Kamara-Notre Dame University

2013 Jamor Mc Closter Syracuse University

2023 Jaylen McLain- Ohio State

By, Dennis Sevano, SAT Tutor in the 90’s

Dedicated to the late Dan Binetti, former Marine, St. Peter’s University baseball coach and Hoboken School Administrator.