Taking the next step up
BUTLER TWP— Not so long ago, Butler teammates Nick Monteleone and Chris Haley had visions of Division Icollege football in their future.
It's happening for neither. And neither could be happier.
Monteleone, a three-year starter at quarterback for the Golden Tornado, is headed to Division IISeton Hill University on a full scholarship.
Haley, a four-year starter at placekicker and Butler's punter last season, signed a letter of intent Wednesday with Division IIIGrove City College.
"Division I coaches questioned Nick's arm strength. That was the most common thing we heard as he was being scouted,"said former Butler coach Garry Cathell. "I don't know if it was that, the fact we were losing. ... All I know is Seton Hill got itself a heckuva quarterback.
"We didn't have a throw downfield type of offense. Our receivers were possession receivers. Believe me, Nick Monteleone has a strong arm."
During his high school career, Monteleone tallied 4,538 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. He rushed for 929 yards and 16 more TDs.
"Unless you're an option quarterback, your rushing numbers are going to be negative totals,"Cathell said. "We didn't run the option. Nick's numbers are incredible."
Seton Hill is entering its third year of football, finishing 1-9 and 2-9 in its first two seasons. The Griffins are members of the WVIACand carried four quarterbacks — three sophomores and a freshman — last season.
The team averaged only 11 points per game in 2006 and scored seven points or fewer five times.
"It doesn't bother me I'm not going DivisionI,"Monteleone said. "My goal all along was to get a scholarship to play college football, and that's what I've got.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge of starting for four years. I want to play. My goal is to win — just win."
Cathell said Seton Hill is looking at Monteleone as its cornerstone player.
"They want to build the program around him," he said.
Monteleone will major in business. Seton Hill's season opener in 2007 is a Thursday night game at Slippery Rock University.
Haley is joining a Grove City team that failed to convert a field goal in three tries last season. Kickers Brad Stomaugh, Greg Collins and Tyler Parafinak combined to hit 14 of 20 PATs.Haley did not miss a PATfor Butler last season."A lot of schools contacted Chris, but kickers are a different element in recruiting,"Cathell said. "Most of the bigger programs want kickers to walk on and make the team first."After receiving offers from Slippery Rock, Mercyhurst and Bucknell, Haley decided on Grove City because "everything just fit so well."Carrying a 4.39 grade point average while ranking fourth in his class, Haley plans to major in biochemistry.He connected on six field goals last season and roughly a third of his kickoffs were touchbacks. He averaged 41 yards per punt and had seven punts wind up inside the 20-yard line.Grove City punter Henry Johnston averaged 38.6 yards last season as a senior."I've been told the punting job is wide open and the placekicking job will go to whoever does the best in camp,"Haley said.Grove City has finished 3-7 each of the past three seasons and has not had a winning campaign since 2000."That kid will work so hard this summer to get on the field up there,"Cathell said. "Both of these guys are going to be playing a lot of football next fall."
