Would You Like A Pendant With That Muffler?

Albert Brown Sr.

By JOHN ERZAR jerzar@leader.net
 Wednesday, January 17, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1B 





WILKES-BARRE - Bishop Hoban High School is hoping a big man can make a big
difference in its lowly football program. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Former University of Michigan All-American and NFL offensive lineman Greg
Skrepenak was named Hoban's football coach Tuesday afternoon, taking over a
program that has lost its last 22 games and is 1-39 the last four years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ``Let the record show that I'm not going to be the savior of this
program,'' said Skrepenak, a GAR Memorial High School graduate who was a
second-round draft pick in 1992 and played four seasons with the Los
Angeles/Oakland Raiders and two more with the Carolina Panthers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I'm not going to be the one responsible if the program wins or loses.
That responsibility will fall on the participants. Coaches don't win
championships; players do. My job is to put the players in the best possible
positions they can be in.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hoban's last winning season was 1988, when the team finished 8-2. Since
then, the Argents have been 15-104 and recorded five winless seasons. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We certainly hope to move up,'' said Hoban Athletic Director Jim Higgins.
``We wanted to give credibility to the program. I hope a lot of people know
we're 100 percent behind the program.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hoban Principal Monsignor David Tressler believes the hiring will quell
rumors that the school was dropping football. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We want to assure the community and the Hoban community to our commitment
to the football program,'' Tressler said. ``I don't know where the rumors came
from, but I've always been behind the football program. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I'm a person who constantly re-evaluates, seeing what we could do to
improve. So we put the program through a really strong reevaluation.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Skrepenak replaces Steve Moore, who was 0-20 in two seasons at Hoban. The
Argents started last season with 22 players and were outscored 442-50. They
had 14 healthy players at the end of 1999 and had to forfeit two games because
of injuries. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Obviously, this program hasn't been successful lately,'' Skrepenak said,
``but I believe I can create some interest in the entire school and the
football program in particular.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Moore was told in early December his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
He reapplied and was among eight applicants for the position. Tressler
declined to name the other six candidates or Skrepenak's salary, saying both
were personnel matters. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``The check will be considerably smaller than I'm used to,'' Skrepenak said
jokingly. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Skrepenak began to consider coaching at the high school level when he was
in the NFL. He plans on being firm but fair with his players and wants to be a
friend and confidant as well. He cited former Michigan head coach Bo
Schembechler and offensive line coach Jerry Hanlon as his main influences. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I've been very blessed and fortunate to be coached by some very fine
coaches,'' Skrepenak said. ``Consequently, I've had the misfortune to be
coached by some not-so-good coaches. I hope I can take what I've learned from
the good ones and the bad ones and teach these kids about football and
basically how they can apply the game to everything they do.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Skrepenak's top priority is getting the kids in the weight room and putting
together a coaching staff. His prior coaching experience was as an assistant
boys basketball coach at GAR and Berwick. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``There has been a great interest already by the present members of the
team,'' Tressler said. ``I'm looking forward now to expanding on that and
building on that.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER STAFF PHOTO/MADALYN RUGGIERO &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Former NFL player Greg Skrepenak laughs with Monsignor David Tressler,
left, and Rev. Thomas J. O'Malley on Tuesday during a press conference
announcing Skrepenak's hiring as Bishop Hoban's football coach. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 info for box &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 GREG SKREPENAK &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 HIGH SCHOOL - 1987 graduate of GAR Memorial High School, where he starred
in football, basketball and baseball. Received All-State and All-American
recognition, Regional Player of the Year and National Player of the Year
runner-up in football. Scored more than 1,000 points in basketball and was
All-State honorable mention and McDonald's All-American nominee. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 COLLEGE - Four-year starter at the University of Michigan at offensive
tackle, making 48 consecutive starts. Three-time All-Big 10 Conference,
two-time All-American and Big 10 Offensive Lineman of the Year. Finalist for
the Outland and Lombardi Trophies. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 PROFESSIONAL - Second-round draft choice (32nd overall) of the Los
Angeles/Oakland Raiders in 1992. Starting tackle for two seasons. Starting
guard for the Carolina Panthers in 1996 and 1997. Started 58 NFL games. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

`skrep' Named Hoban Coach 
The Gar Graduate, Former University Of Michigan All-american, And Nfl Star
Hopes To Help Revive Struggling Football Program.

`skrep' Named Hoban Coach The Gar Graduate, Former University Of Michigan All-american, And Nfl Star Hopes To Help Revive Struggling Football Program.