When Vin Ascolese was a little boy, perhaps eight years old or so, he told his friends that when he grew up, he was going to play on a state championship football team, become a high school All-American and go on to play college football at a Southeast Conference school.
“I really did say that,” Ascolese said.
Sure, every 8-year-old has pipe dreams.
If anyone would have heard Ascolese speak of those dreams when he was first putting on a football uniform, they would have told him he was nuts, despite his football pedigree.
However, everything that Ascolese predicted would happen when he was a youngster came true last week, when he gave a verbal commitment to the University of Arkansas.
Four days later, Ascolese made it official, signing his national letter of intent with the SEC school, two months after winning the NJSIAA North Section 1, Group IV state championship and two weeks after he was named as a Parade All-American.
“No one believed me when I said it when I was a kid,” said Ascolese, the Hudson Reporter Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player. “It’s just awesome that it all came true. I’m now officially a Razorback. I now have to get to work and get ready.”
Ascolese was one of seven local football standouts to sign national letters of intent on National Signing Day Wednesday, but he probably had the biggest prize of all.
“It was a combination of everything,” Ascolese said about his reason to select Arkansas over Cincinnati, Illinois and Texas A&M. “The coaches, the team, the fans, the campus. The energy was awesome when I was there. There are no promises. I have to go there and prove myself. But if I go there mentally and physically ready and do what I have to do, there’s no question I can do well.”
While Brandon Napoleon (West Virginia) and D.J. Singleton (Wisconsin) remained with their early verbal commitments, standout Marauder tight end Michael Giacone had a change of heart and signed with Boston College instead of his initial commitment to Rutgers.
The reason for Giacone changing his mind came a few days earlier, when former Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano left Piscataway to become the new head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Before the recruiting process began for Giacone, head coach Rich Hansen instructed him – and the countless others he has sent to the collegiate ranks over the years – one thing.
“You should never pick a college based on a coach, because the coach does leave,” Hansen reminded his athletes.
It’s a message that hit home with Giacone after Schiano departed for Florida.
“I felt like I was blindsided,” Giacone said of Schiano’s leaving. “I had a great relationship with him.”
Just two weeks ago, Giacone spent an entire evening in his own living room with Schiano, talking about the future with the Scarlet Knights.
“I saw the news on ESPN after getting calls from a few friends and I was in the state of shock,” Giacone said. “After Coach Schiano left, I took a step back and re-evaluated everything. I knew that my commitment to Rutgers was based on the coach. So I looked at everything and realized that Boston College was the best place for me. The school is great, the coaches are great. I knew that I only had a little time to make my decision.”
So after thinking it over, Giacone changed his mind on a decision he made months ago and signed with Boston College instead. The new coaching staff at Rutgers, in particular, new head coach Kyle Flood, did reach out to Giacone to try to change his mind.
“I knew it was hard for me going back on my word,” Giacone said. “Coach Flood did talk to me [Monday night], but by then, I realized Boston College was a better fit.”
Regardless, signing the national letter of intent was like a dream come true for Giacone.
“Words can’t describe this,” Giacone said. “I came from an athletic family and always dreamed of playing Division I football. To see it finally come to life is the best feeling in the world. It’s a little bittersweet, how it all worked out, but I got to share the day with guys who I made great friendships with. They went through the same thing that I did.”
As have countless other Marauder grid standouts in the past. Two-way lineman Keon Williams also signed a letter of intent to go to Delaware State in the fall and standout running back Jared Crayton signed on with Fordham.
It meant that five former Prep grid products signed scholarship papers worth approximately $1.5 million. Not a bad deal at all.
“It’s a credit to the kids,” Hansen said. “They believe in what we’re doing and they sacrificed a lot to be in the situations they’re in. The thing I’m most proud of is the way they talk about their Prep experience. That’s the most important thing. I think they’ll be prepared to compete at the next level. They’ve been prepared for the future. It’s a proud day for the program, the school and everyone here. They’re all good kids. They found places that are right for them. As long as they’re comfortable with their decisions, then everything is fine.”
Hansen believed that Giacone did the right thing by choosing Boston College, because Giacone believes it’s the right thing.
“He feels like he made the right choice and I support his decision,” Hansen said.
Legendary retired North Bergen football coach Vince Ascolese believes his grandson made a wise choice in Arkansas.
“I’m very happy with it,” the elder Ascolese said. “I got to sit with Bobby Petrino [the head coach at Arkansas] Thursday night and he didn’t say a hell of a lot, but just his face let you know where he was coming from and what he expects. He was up front and honest and I liked that.”
Ascolese said that he was proud of the way his grandson handled the entire recruiting process.
“He handled it well,” the elder Ascolese said. “He was very mature about it and he knew what he wanted. I think this was a very good move for him.”
The younger Ascolese said that he received some advice from former Bergen Catholic standout and current Houston Texans Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Cushing. The two have developed a friendship from working out together at DeFranco’s Gym in Wyckoff in Bergen County.
“Cushing was giving me all the inside information,” Ascolese said. “He’s been like a mentor to me. He’s been a big help.”
St. Anthony tight end Nate Ortiz also signed his national letter of intent to join Williams at Delaware State.
So it was once again a fine day for Hudson County’s finest football standouts as they make their first step towards the rest of their lives.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.
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