Ride Home Rants
Ride Home Rants
Bison Reunion: Tales from the Bethany Football Field
A special gathering of Bethany College football legends spans two decades of program history in this nostalgic and often hilarious reunion episode. Former players and coaches from the early 2000's through 2021 come together to share the untold stories that defined their college football experience at this small but mighty program.
The conversation quickly reveals the deep connections formed through shared hardships and triumphs. Program-defining victories take center stage as Coach Garvey recounts their monumental 2013 win against W&J—their first in 33 years—while Coach Mister describes an incredible comeback against Thomas More where they overcame a three-touchdown deficit. These weren't just games; they were cultural turning points that participants still remember with crystal clarity years later.
What makes this episode truly special is the unfiltered humor that flows throughout. From the player nicknamed "Snacks" who interrupted a serious team meeting to ask about snacks, to the fullback who "couldn't feel his legs" after a touchdown celebration, and other quirky tales, these stories capture the unique culture of small college football that rarely makes headlines but creates lifelong memories.
Beyond the laughter, there's remarkable wisdom in these reminiscences. Players discuss how coaches emphasized that every team member had equal importance regardless of playing time—a philosophy that shaped their own leadership approaches later in life. Coach Mister shares how moving from an HBCU to Bethany created unexpected friendships across cultural differences, demonstrating how football can bridge diverse backgrounds.
Whether you played college football yourself or simply appreciate authentic stories of teamwork and personal growth, this reunion offers a heartwarming glimpse into the profound impact that small college athletic programs have on the lives they touch. As these Bethany alumni demonstrate, sometimes the most meaningful foo
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Welcome everybody to another episode of the Ride Home Rants podcast. This is, as always, your host, mike Bono. I have a great and very special episode for us today. I am bringing back all of the Bethinians from Bethany College that played or coached or both football at there, that have been on the show before, but not together. So I'm bringing it back. We're going to hear a lot of war stories and a lot of things going on and talk all things Bethany College football. I'm going to let them introduce themselves, as always. But, guys, you know I need answers to these questions before you start here. So I need your name, how old you are and who is or was your favorite football player. And Bob, we're going to start with you.
Speaker 2:All right, bob Neisel, I am 41. My favorite football player would have to be Dramani Dawson.
Speaker 1:Dramani Dawson. That's wow. That's a good one for sure, and one of the great sponsors of the show we're going to bring Lando on next.
Speaker 3:Hey everyone, this is Matt Landowski, 35 years old, and I'm going to go with Bill Romanowski, the dirtiest player ever.
Speaker 1:The dirtiest player ever, go Romanowski, and if you're watching on the Patreon you'll see it as the real life Rocky, but everyone knows him as the wonderful manager of the podcast Fitty hey everybody, you know me, johnny Fitty Falcone.
Speaker 4:I'm 38 years old and I have a tie of two favorite football players of all time the incredible underdog story of Wayne Corbett coming right out of Hofstra to become the greatest New York Jet of all time, or arguably greatest New York Jet of all time, and the late great best running back of all time, mr walter payton walter payton.
Speaker 5:Those are, those are phenomenal ones, and but next we got the vampire coach himself, mr yes, sir, yes sir, mr, ask you, aka vampire coach, 49, 49 years old baby and um, you know, saying the best football player, man, walter Payton, baby, hbc Jackson State.
Speaker 1:Next, the man that gave us the idea for this episode. We got Brennan.
Speaker 6:Brennan Seacrest. I'm 22 years old and, I would say, favorite all times with Damian Tomlinson.
Speaker 1:Youngblood over here, 22 years old, 23 in a week, tomlinson young blood over here 22 years old. I get 23, 23 in a week, so no right and last but not least, right now we got fry hey.
Speaker 7:Aaron fry, 33 years old and my favorite player uh D on prime time Sanders.
Speaker 1:Okay, nice mixing that there. Obviously, everyone knows Mike bono here, 36 years old, my favorite player, very underrated position. The fullback, mike all start was my favorite. The a train, uh, but that's not what we're here to talk about. We're here to talk about all things, uh, bethany, football. This first question I have for y'all, it's for all of you, um, because we have some that are just for the coaches and some for just for the players, but this one's for all of you. Bob, we're going to start with you. Did you play or coach at Bethany you know in what year with the program?
Speaker 2:I played at Bethany. I guess my first season was 2000. I guess my first season was 2000. That's great. 2002 was the fall Finished. My last season was 2005, in the fall, so that was four years, and I coached the 06 and 07 seasons.
Speaker 1:All righty, mister, what about you?
Speaker 5:Coach there from 2004 to 2007.
Speaker 1:Okay, I believe we just had Bill Garvey join the show with us here. Let's see if we can get him on, because he's not getting out of these questions that we have at the beginning here. There he is, yeah.
Speaker 5:Bill Garvey.
Speaker 1:The last guest to join the show. Bill, we're going to let you introduce yourself. We just got rolling here. We need your name, how old you are and who is or was your favorite football player Ever At Bethany? No, just, ever just. In general, Bobby Knight, no just ever, just in general.
Speaker 8:Bobby Knox, let me All right, he's 51 years old. Huh, he's 51 years old. Hey man, you're almost 51 too, there bud.
Speaker 5:I am man. It's knocking too. I can see it.
Speaker 8:All right, so Bill Garbio is head football coach at Bethany for a good bit assistant as well. 51 years old, my favorite football player. That's a good question. I go back to my youth Herschel Walker. Herschel Walker.
Speaker 1:Okay, not a bad one. All right, and Fry, I'll ask you the question again so Bill can hear it. It's did you play or coach at Bethany, and what?
Speaker 7:year were you with the program You're going? What's going on? Coach, what's up coach? So I played from 2013 to 2016, and then I coached from the 16 to 17 year as a DA.
Speaker 1:Okay, Brennan. What about you? You're muted, Brennan.
Speaker 6:Always messing it up. Coach Garvey, I actually had a pretty unique career at Bethany because I got to play two seasons within the same year I played in 2021,. But I was able to play two seasons within the same year. I played in 2021, but I was able to play the covid season in one regular season okay, lando, what about you?
Speaker 3:I played there from uh 2008 to 2011, fall 2011.
Speaker 4:Yep, okay, betty I played um from 2006 to 2009, and then I coached with Coach Garvey as a volunteer from the spring of 2017 through the spring of 2021.
Speaker 1:Okay, garvey, what about you?
Speaker 8:I don't remember, so you remember how long you were with the program. Bobby Niles, when did you graduate, Bob?
Speaker 2:Was it 06? 06 was the spring, so you would have started in the fall of 06. So I started fall of 06.
Speaker 8:2020.
Speaker 6:One.
Speaker 8:Two Third two 2022.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I know you put some time in there. Too much guys there, Too much guys. This next question Is for just the players Only here. So the only players we have here. I need Brennan and Lando. We'll start with Lando. What position did you play?
Speaker 3:I came in Trying to play some special teams, played a little long snapper and then I worked my way to some fullback and had a little fun there. Okay, who was the coach at the time? Coach Weaver, coach Garvey, coach Upton, okay, okay, um, I'm trying to coach coach murphy, and uh I think it was coach wilder, okay, so yeah, those are all the guys there.
Speaker 6:yeah, gotcha brennan. What about you? I played a wide receiver and I also played a little bit of punter. None other than the Bill Garvey was my head coach, and I had actually coach Fetty Falcone as my punting coach. And then my wide receiver coach was coach Upton, but he's not, he doesn't need to be talked about too much. My bad, I hope he listens to this too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he knows he does listen to the show. This too, yeah, he knows he does, he does listen to the show. So, yeah, this next one's for uh, just my coaches here, uh, and just the coaches we got, uh, bill and mister. So, uh, garvey, we'll start with you. Uh, what would you say? Your biggest victory as a coach was at Bethany.
Speaker 8:Oh, that's an easy one W&J, w&j. Which year?
Speaker 4:The only time in the last 33. Aaron Fry was a part of that team 2013.
Speaker 8:2017 or 16. What?
Speaker 7:was it Fry 13, 2013. Jesus, I'm way off.
Speaker 8:No, it was my first year or second year? Your first year, all right, so it was 13. No, it was my first year or second year.
Speaker 7:Your first year, all right, so it was 13. And then we almost lost to them by a point in 16. We should have beat them the year before.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we should have beat them three years, three out of four years. I could have swore you guys beat them when I was there between 2008 or 2007, 2012. Hey, no, it was 33 years bro. Nope, I'm a little comedian here. That's what we're just trying to remember. I know I announced a lot of games there. I just can't remember which ones I announced. You should have beat them the year before.
Speaker 8:Okay, a pick six backed up through a double post. Oh yeah, At their place. Bob, you might have been on that staff then. Nah, you would have been gone.
Speaker 2:Grove City. I feel like whenever I was on staff, we beat them and that was another one that we hadn't beaten for some odd number, some ridiculous number of years.
Speaker 8:And it was homecoming.
Speaker 1:Yeah, 2006. 2006, yep, but, mister, what about you?
Speaker 5:I wanted to say there's two. That first year was, you know, that first year when we got together we beat Franklin Marshall, but then that that wasn't with us and I was there before I was there.
Speaker 8:Bob was playing.
Speaker 5:Bob was playing. Bob was a player. Yeah, we beat Franklin Marshall that first year. Yeah, you wasn't there. 50s like you missed out. Ha, ha, ha. Well.
Speaker 4:Bob. Thank God. Thank God, we're now at one in nine season.
Speaker 5:I'm happy I missed it yeah, I guess it was the first time, hey, but it was the first time they won a opener in a thousand years, man. Come on, man, you gotta find success somewhere. But no, but the best one was man. You know, when I was with Garb and you know we came back on the road man, who was that? Thomas Moore, you know, I think it was 28 to 21 or something like that. But we came back and beat them, man, we was down three touchdowns. You know what I'm saying? Half time back and beat them, man, we were down three touchdowns. You know what I'm saying? Halftime. And Garv just got into one of these little beast mode and just went. You know what I'm saying? Laser focused, like that was at the high school, right?
Speaker 5:Yeah, I think that was at the. I think so. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Wasn't that like 07 or 08?
Speaker 5:Yeah, that was like 06. 06. Yeah, that was like 06. 06. Yeah, because who was it? Was it Cruz? We had the receiver from Florida, Cruz oh.
Speaker 5:God, I know, I know, I know I said his name, mr Cruz himself, mr Florida. But you know what I'm saying, gar man, you know what I'm saying, like yo, stop this freaking losing mentality. And I was like, yeah, man, stop this freaking losing mentality. And I was like, yeah, man, stop this freaking, we ain't losing, we ain't about to lose this game. And Gardner started ripping these plays off, man, and we just started making plays after plays after plays, the defense came together and you know, them boys didn't want to lose that game, you know. So that was one of the best ones, man, being at my three touchdowns and coming back and winning. You know, winning that game was special gotcha all right.
Speaker 1:This next one, I need my players only again here. So, um, I'd be uh lando and uh brennan. Uh, who was the toughest football player you played with as a teammate, and brennan, we going to start with you toughest, as in what, toughest to deal with or toughest like just tough, like I mean, we'll go toughest on the field and yeah we'll. We'll save the toughest to deal with for another episode. That that'll be it. Yeah, I was about to say I think.
Speaker 6:I think Garvey immediately knew who I was going to say um, toughest on the field. Let me see here. I probably yeah, I was about to say I think Garvey immediately knew who I was going to say Toughest on the field. Let me see here. Probably Braylon Sibley. I would say he was a pretty tough guy. I don't think there was many times that he wasn't putting his nose down and getting into something. I got to be there. I don't know, I didn't get to see him his first three years he was there. He was only a senior. Whenever I was there, I would say he was a pretty tough guy, though he was always in the mix.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 6:I don't know. I mean, like I said, though, I was only there for the whatever one and a half seasons, so it was, honestly, it was either him or, I would say, brendan Smith was up there. Brendan was up there, Brandon Smith was always. He was a pretty tough dude too, okay.
Speaker 1:Lando, what about you? I heard you were a pretty tough nose player yourself. You can't say yourself, so who?
Speaker 3:uh, um, this is an easy one. I'm going with Eric Walker All the time. My man, he is, uh, tough as nails. Um, I have so much respect for that guy. I'll tell you a story right now. So we're playing Otterbein, top 25 in the nation at Bethany my sophomore year, I believe it was and he breaks a run and he is trucking man Guy rips his helmet off completely. He keeps running, Smashes this dude I mean helmet to head top of his face. Whatever this bust breaks. His nose got blood dripping from his face. It was unbelievable man and, yeah, definitely one of the toughest dudes. Laid it all out there and love that guy so yeah, eric Walker, I loveic walking to death uh now that I had a second to think about it.
Speaker 6:But I I got a second to think about it. I gotta throw one on more in there. That garvey's gonna agree with me on this one. Colton stoneman I'm pretty sure he tore his. I'm pretty sure he tore his something off of the bone at one point in the game and he ended up playing through it. I was like at the last game of the season. So I got to throw his name in there too.
Speaker 4:That was my dude. I recruited him that was my dude there it is.
Speaker 6:From some farm in the middle of nowhere, he was just a farm boy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but Landon, to go back to your answer, walker, I mean he's still. He's still a great dude. I love Eric Walker to death. We actually, after college, worked together for like almost 10 years together and oddly enough just funny story that just since you messaged his name like I haven't since I moved away from, uh, that area I haven't talked to Walker.
Speaker 1:And coming up on six years Now, my phone rings. The other morning I looked down and it's Eric Walker, just calling to shoot the breeze. The last time I talked to him I was in sales. He was like I'm just trying to throw you a sale. That's the kind of dude he is. He remembered what I was doing. It was trying to help somebody out, even off the field.
Speaker 1:Eric Walker is just one of the best human beings I know. I hope he listens to this. He says he does. I don't believe him all the time. But this Walker he's got kids and a wife. He doesn't have time for podcasts. But yeah, I hope he hears this. And for sure, I've been trying to get him on the show. Me and Fetty have been trying to get him on the show. For what? Two years now, long time. Two years now we're trying to get him on the show. So, landon, if you've got any pull with him still, we're just getting him on here with us here. But this next question I want for all of you here. So, bob, we'll start with you. What is your funniest memory from being a part of Bethany Football?
Speaker 2:funniest.
Speaker 1:It's a comedy podcast. I gotta go to your funniest memory man, like come on.
Speaker 8:Keep it clean, bob, I mean.
Speaker 1:We're not afraid of a lot of words.
Speaker 2:Garb, we're not afraid of villages where I went. It's funny, garb, I just sent Potter a thing about that last week.
Speaker 5:Hey, no tistle, no mention of the tistle or anything.
Speaker 2:I mean, it's just the funniest thing I got to think. Lip Talk just.
Speaker 5:Oh, my God.
Speaker 2:That's probably not clean either.
Speaker 1:We're not a clean show here. Guys Like, we can talk about stuff, it's just your guys.
Speaker 2:Lip Talk had a really good time at bubba's and I feel bad if anybody some of the younger guys didn't have that uh experience at bethany and when he went back to the room he uh relieved his bowels all over the living room. Forgot about that. And I mean I still we were were hanging out in January and we brought that up and busted his balls again about it. Forgot about that.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's funny. For sure, Brendan. What do you got?
Speaker 6:Oh, geez, a wheeze. Same thing with me. It's not even like I don't know. I almost wanted to go something in the realm of a Twitter header, but I don't know if that one's Coach Garvey knows what I'm talking about. But no, I don't know. I would probably have to go with something in the realm of Coach Upton.
Speaker 6:That was more of like a personal one, but I was having to go for COVID testing and some of the messages that he would send me on a morning. It was three times a week, it was more or less. It was probably more of a hazing than anything it was. It was if I wasn't going to get over there. It was. It was F you this, F you that. And then I would get phone calls and actually at one point I was straight across the street from coach Garvey. Uh, coach often knew that and he would would come over, knock on my door, stuff like that. But in terms of a specific story, I don't, I don't know that I would have too many of a hilarious story. I mean, like I said, that would be. That wouldn't get me in trouble, maybe, maybe it's 2020?
Speaker 6:I mean, maybe halloween um drinking beer with my head coach.
Speaker 1:I was probably up there, oh, man, that's cool, that's definitely gonna be up there, carby, you're gonna you going to let him talk to you like that man, what's your funniest moment?
Speaker 8:I was in my own private home and he was trick-or-treating and just saw me. That's it. He lived across the street. It's a small community. It's a small community.
Speaker 1:He lived across the street it is, you bet me, it's such a small community, but you know, you were there a long time. You got a. You got a funny memory. Who me?
Speaker 8:yeah, you, I mean yeah, I'm gonna go with one on this. Someone on this panel, nice lando. Do you remember doing skull crushers in the weight room and you actually crushed your skull, do you remember? You might not. You might not because you knocked yourself silly.
Speaker 5:Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 7:That's that, mr Ganella workout.
Speaker 3:That's it, man, Mr G baby.
Speaker 7:I'll give you another good one.
Speaker 8:I told another guy on this panel his very first game that he couldn't play. It, bethany. And he became a four year starter and captain. Did I not fry At center?
Speaker 7:college I got to. Let's tell that story.
Speaker 8:I did, apologize the next day.
Speaker 7:Did not? He did. He definitely did. He definitely did, he owned it, he owned it. I could tell he wanted to do it, probably the night it happened because we had like an eight hour drive.
Speaker 8:But center, you did fall down on your face. No, he ran me over. Oh, that's right you did. You got ran over. That's why I said it.
Speaker 7:So this is what happened, right? So we're playing in Kentucky. It's like a midday game. The turf is like 110 degrees. It was hot, it was hot as hell. So it got to the point like I didn't wear gloves, like that's how hot it was, I just taped my fingers. But we had maybe like five of our starters wear long sleeves and everybody was just cramping up Like one of our players actually had to stay in Kentucky.
Speaker 8:Our best corner had to stay in Kentucky. He coached mistake allowing that to happen, right?
Speaker 7:So long story short. It's the fourth quarter. It's like the start of the fourth quarter. This running back's like 6'2" 230. He's freaking huge. So Larry's one of those guys that's geared up. He got all of the long sleeves on, but he cramps up on the start of the play and so he leaves me one-on-one in the hole. He's not even slowing them up and I just went for it and he just ran me over. Man, oh man. And then I got to the sideline and I was like man, I can't say nothing. It is what it is. He made you disappear, huh, but yeah. But I will say we should have won that game we had a chance to win it.
Speaker 7:We did.
Speaker 8:Fourth and goal. I think it was.
Speaker 7:Yeah, I think we were down 33-7 at halftime and the final score was like 33-27. Yeah, yeah, we didn't give up a point.
Speaker 8:Fourth and goal. We were fourth and goal.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we were on complete pass, I got you.
Speaker 4:Finney, I know you have to have a funny story. I think the funniest as a player is in like 2007. Bethany, we had cable back then. Right, we didn't have many stations, but they got BET that year for the first time and Coach Weaver came out in a G-unit beater that 50 Cent used to wear in honor of getting BET, right in the middle of camp. And anybody knows, coach Weaver was a big dude. This cat came out in the most tight ass beater from like 50 cent, where there's a big difference in what 50 cent looked like back then compared to coach Weaver. So, um, probably as a player, it was that. Um, probably as a as a player, it was that. Probably as a coach, it was.
Speaker 4:I forget exactly when it was Maybe 2018, but Greg Avant was on kickoff return and we housed a kickoff return and Ray Kwan White took it to the house and scored and everybody runs off and Greg's big dude is our fullback and he's like coming off, like yeah, yeah, and he's high-fiving everybody on the sidelines and I'm screaming, trying to get the kickoff team ready. Coach Garvey's screaming at me in the headset and everybody else is screaming kickoff team, get ready. And and Greg is like I'm like I'm like Greg, you got to go in, greg, you got to go in. He turns around. He was like coach. He was like I can't feel my legs, you got to get somebody else. And I think I just grabbed literally the slap dick travel guy and just threw him in there and, praying, coach Garvey Wasn't going to kill me if they housed that.
Speaker 4:Uh, that kickoff return, great came off, high five and everyone all celebrating and he turns around and goes. Coach, I can't feel my legs. I just grabbed somebody and threw him in. I'm like please don't get cussed out by coach Garvey, please don't get cussed out by coach Garvey, please don't house this. So it was probably my funniest one with that interaction. But you, mister, what about you, man?
Speaker 5:It's just so many, man, it's so many that I can't even begin to figure which one. I would like to tell you know, but I had a lot of good memories, man, with Bunk and Lee. You know, when I first got out, tell you know, but I had a lot, of, a lot of good memories man with, with bunk and leave. You know there was my. You know, when I first got up there, man, you know, them two dudes was the one who showed me around and you know that was my roommate. And you know, I just came from HBC school and and I was like I'm getting ready to live with, with two dudes from West Virginia or PA, and I'm getting ready to live with two dudes from West Virginia or PA and I'm like this is not going to go well. I'm like there's no way that we're going to have anything in common. Because, coach, I don't know if you remember Coach Giangrasso he was the defensive coordinator. I don't know, it was Steve Lee and Giangrasso. You might not remember that.
Speaker 5:Okay, yeah okay, bob might't know it was Steve Lee and Gene Garst. You might not remember that. Okay, yeah, okay, bob might yeah, okay, yeah, so and but you know, but you know, long story short, man, you know we ended up being I mean, we're the best of friends, man. You know it was a wonderful, great move for me, man, because you know it was time for me to get away from down south. You know, so I met some really really good people up there. You know saying the president Buck, when he was there at the time. You know, I don't know, I know 50 might know about the Weasel House. You know saying, and yeah, the hot tub and all that good stuff. You know, of course, bubba's the and all that good stuff. You know, of course, bubba's the college bookstore. And, by the way, man, you know the one thing I would say it's always good when you have keys to the Coke machine. I don't leave it like that, nothing else, it was fun.
Speaker 4:Bono. I'll tell you a funny one, real quick Funny story though. When I was there. So, mr, this is what. 19 years ago, mr was there. So, mr, this is what 19 years ago, mr is there. You know, young assistant mr used to run 40s with us long black sleeves on shorts and tennis shoes, just out there with a hoodie, just super sweating, and we'd be in the weight room lifting next thing. You know, mr gets on the bench, just puts 225 on, just reps it out like 30 times in front of us and we were like and who the hell is this guy? You?
Speaker 4:know like just getting to know him during camp. Mr Easter just bust out 225 on the bench and just rep it out and run 40s with us.
Speaker 5:Yeah, yeah, Dang yeah.
Speaker 2:He's just trying to get back to playing weight. You know what? Oh my.
Speaker 5:God, that's right. Yeah, I say that all the time. I got to get back to playing weight. Get back to playing weight, oh man.
Speaker 3:Lando, what about you? Oh, funniest story I'm going to go with, we were in camp and we had a little meeting after with the whole team and stuff and we're all Coach Weaver. He's given us a serious speech, you know, about like staying out of trouble, all this stuff. You know, keep your head on straight and um, we go over film, all that good stuff. He's like all right guys. Well, it's about it for tonight, you know, and uh, this kid raises his hand and uh, I'm not going to name his name, but he, he raises his hand and I'm not going to name his name, but he raises his hand and he goes Coach. He goes snacks, snacks. Coach looks at him and he's like what the fuck?
Speaker 8:What's that kid's name? I need to know, I think it was Justin, I was gone.
Speaker 3:What's that kid's name I need to know? I think it was a Justin. I was gone. Okinski, I believe his last name was.
Speaker 5:Oh man, yeah, it's Snacks.
Speaker 3:Snacks, so we call him Snacks. That was his nickname, yeah.
Speaker 1:Oh my God, Wow. You have that with every locker room, though I feel like there's that one guy in every locker room. That's that way, lando. We're going to stay with you on this one and we're going to go around here. But who was the best player you either played or coached against? Who was the best player you ever played or coached?
Speaker 3:against. Who was the best player you ever played against? Played against? Um, I'm going to go with my buddy from WNJ. You mean in college or high school, or does it matter? No but yeah, when you have Bethany At Bethany, okay. Yeah, I'm going to go with my buddy. Zach Pugliese from WNJ Played outside linebacker. He was pretty tough Okay.
Speaker 1:Mr. What about you? Who's the toughest player you ever played or coached against?
Speaker 5:Man, I'll tell you what. Uh, you know you got. You got to go with uh, and garvin will appreciate this one. I gotta go with the hit man. You know I'm saying brett cluff, mr cluff, mr cluff, the man, the mental legend from Wheeling baby, come on hometown hero man, you know no man, brad was good man. I love that kid man. You know he worked hard man. And then, of course, my little five-foot, my little five-foot. You know what I'm saying. Nick, nick Naraka, you know what I'm saying. You know what I'm saying. Had, nick, I had a lot of good running backs, man. I mean a lot of good players, man. You know. Even your favorite, brian Masushi. That's another story for another time. Boy, I look at Gar.
Speaker 1:Benny, what about you?
Speaker 4:Probably from an opposing team, probably two standout. Scott Cree from Waynesburg was an All-American kick returner for them. I don't know if you remember him, coach Garf, real little little white dude who was like super fast for them when they had like Davis and Daniels and obbles as the running backs. But Scott Cree as a kick returner and I'd probably say Bobby swallow who was the quarterback for W and J. I think that year in oh seven he might've been runner up for player of the year in the country. He threw like 41 touchdowns and two interceptions. He was probably the best, the best opposing player that I seen as a player. So that's what I would say.
Speaker 7:Okay, fry, what about you? So this question you said the toughest, we played against.
Speaker 1:Yeah, played or coached against.
Speaker 7:I mean, we played Mount Union. The quarterback was decent Kevin Burke but I think I'm going to go with Alex Barofio man, my freshman year playing. He was like an All-American receiver. W&j yeah, he was solid. Okay, gar, what about you? He was solid.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he was solid Okay.
Speaker 8:Gar, what about you? I got to probably rip Bobby Swallow and then the first year we were there, geneva was making the transition I have no idea the kid's name. They had an inside linebacker who was really, really good, but he was a scholarship player too, because naia making the transition. So I don't know if that really counts, but from a dominating standpoint I would say, overall, bobby swiles probably was the best player in that league when okay, my time as a, as a player, an impact player, brought him to the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
Speaker 1:Can't, can't argue with that. Well, brennan, what about you?
Speaker 6:I hope the coach Garvey can either side with me or I know that all of his years probably blend together after he's been away for a few years from Bethany. But I would probably have to say, even though I didn't directly play, like he wasn't on the defensive side of the ball Cody Gustafson, grove City wide receiver, yeah, I think he had every. I think he had every single every. I mean he might even been up there against anybody in d1 in the NCAA. I mean I think he had every single every. I mean he might've even been up there against anybody in D1 in the NCAA. I mean I think he was like top three in the whole entire nation for his stat line. I mean it was pretty incredible.
Speaker 6:He didn't end up going to the league. We'd stayed in contact a little bit there after His brother had played there too at Grove City. But yeah, he was a heck of a wide receiver. I mean there was, I don't know. Yeah, I don't. I don't necessarily think that they do. Probably they would have probably only won three or four games that 20 to 21 year If they didn't have him. I think he was putting up like 260 ish yards a game. I mean it was, it was nuts, he was.
Speaker 4:I will back Brennan on that. That dude, that dude was phenomenal. He was that gigantic, gigantic receiver from them and that dude was fast.
Speaker 6:He just wore ankle socks. He wasn't the biggest, flashiest or he wasn't the flashiest player or whatever, I don't know. He just had a decent quarterback. But I think that whole entire wide receiver room I think it averaged at 6'4" that year that I was there, Grove City their whole entire receiving core was. They were all massive. They were all pretty big dudes.
Speaker 1:Gotcha Bob, what about you Run us out on this question?
Speaker 2:I guess Swallow, wnj and the quarterback right before him was it Dawson Stuck out. I remember I don't think it was Swallow, I think it was Dawson before him it felt like the Rams when they were the greatest show on turf. He had a couple receivers. Yeah, he just stuck out.
Speaker 1:Okay, and with that we have time for this one last question here and I want to get it in and I really want to get everybody's I don't even want to say opinion. I want to hear what everyone has to say about this. Bob, we're going to start with you. I need you to give me your funniest football story of Fetty.
Speaker 2:His existence.
Speaker 5:I mean when I first met him.
Speaker 2:I mean, when I first met him, he brought back memories of Cody Allison. Not that anybody Garvin Mr, Probably don't even remember him. I think I remember Cody Allison, yeah, yeah, I mean he just showed up one day and not 50, but Cody, he was like we had to give him reps. He was good at Madden, that was his resume. It was bad. And when 50 showed up, I was like we had to give him reps. He was good at Madden, that was his resume. It was bad. And when Fitty showed up, I was like, is this another one of these kids? But no, I don't. I can't think of a specific story other than just yeah, you, you being you, Just Fitty being Fitty.
Speaker 1:All right, brennan, what about you?
Speaker 6:Yeah, I don't know about a specific, but I can say that whenever I had first like a first impression standpoint, I kind of met Fitty with Coach G at the time and them two, like out there on the football field, were kind of in my opinion, from a coaching standpoint very different people and Coach G was just like seeing both of them on the football field at the same time because they both have I mean, you guys did special teams together, correct, fitty? Yeah. So there was times where it was just completely polar opposites, where you could see them as a player like that kind of clashing personalities, bashing heads, but like I don't think you could. Some people were able to notice it, but I just knew that like they were thinking completely different things sometimes and it would just be a, not a dumpster fire at times, but it was funny.
Speaker 6:Coach g was a character man I only got. He was only there for that three game season or whatever five game season, whatever we played, but he was a, he was a funny guy too okay, garb, I'm saving you for last.
Speaker 1:I can already see the wheels turning, and that I'm gonna save you, for we're going to skip over you for now and go to Fry.
Speaker 7:So favorite Fitty. So I was a GA right and Fitty, I think it was his first year volunteering. So spring ball about to come to a close and we're about to go home for the summer. He's like, hey, man. He's like there's a tryout in Akron, ohio. He's like you want to give it one more go? I'm. He's like you want to give it one more go. I'm like man, I don't know, man, I'm good. So he asked me for like two weeks. I'm like fuck it, man, let's do it.
Speaker 7:So he picks me up from the house or he picks me up from my dorm. I stay at his house where you live in wintersville. Yeah, so we go up, we go up to uh, akron to try out, you know, the toronto organos. We get there like six in the morning or something, and and I'm going through the drills and, mind you, he's dressed like a coach. You got to stop watch. Everybody thought he was my agent, everybody coming up to this dude. Oh man, so we're just having a good time, right? So, anyway, they ended up giving me my money back. We got onto the field and just having a good time, right. So, anyway, they ended up giving me my money back. We got onto the field and we had a good time that day.
Speaker 4:Man, that was hilarious, man I remember the assistant general manager from the Argonauts was there and I had my stopwatch and they had to reclock and fry in the long snapper from the catch and release of the punt. And I'm like I got 2.9 seconds and the assistant GM's like I got 3.3 and I was like I got 2.9. Or the general manager on the field about the catch and release time on the punt. So it was a good time.
Speaker 7:Yeah, it was. That's a long timer.
Speaker 1:Mister, what about you?
Speaker 5:Man, I would just have to say man just watching 50 on the field. Man, just watching 50 on the field. Man just running routes. You know seeing 50 try to run routes. Man, you know working on the stop and go, you know saying whether it was a comeback or post, or 50 just running that straight nine route, just watching them run. Hey, man, sometimes you know, and you know I love 50 to death. Man, you know, sometimes you might look over there you might think it's Forrest Gump, but you know 50 was a dog man. You know he worked hard. You know he worked hard and played hard man, and you know what. But he looked good on that field though. He looked good you would think he was a five-star player man. All right, l Lando, what?
Speaker 3:about you. Hey, man Finney, was all business out there, man don't lie to me, lando that's because he's here. Don't lie to me you were a leader, brother, and you got us hyped for the games and, yeah, man kept us all focused and yeah, man, you were a leader. I love you, buddy. I appreciate that. I think the best thing I ever took away yeah, man, kept us all focused.
Speaker 4:And yeah, man, you're a leader. I love you, buddy. So I appreciate it and you know, I think the best thing I ever took away. One of the best things I ever took away is I remember like coach Garvey used to say this and coach Weaver said this he goes everybody on the team, no matter if you're a starter or you're a backup, you're all. You all have the same importance on the team, whether you're're gonna be the best scout, team player or the best starter or our best player. He goes, everyone's roles and um the same, and you're just as important as the next person. So I kind of took that with me into my coaching career to try to tell people that.
Speaker 1:So, uh, but I appreciate that lando all right, garb, I gave you some time to think about this one. You've probably spent the most time with him.
Speaker 8:I mean the one thing for sure is his stupid story that he gave at back in the day when you were allowed to have a talent show. Now people call it Skit Night, skit Night. Yeah, skit Night, skit Night. That was the dumbest, dumbest and we won't even get into it, but it was dumb. I'll never forget it. That's how dumb it was and just what he brought to every single practice and stretch and his dumb questions.
Speaker 1:I was going to say how has no one on this panel thought about the questions? We've turned it into a whole segment on this panel by far about my questions just keeps it fast. But we've turned it into a whole segment on this show, the fast 55, like how have we not talked about the random questions?
Speaker 8:questions of 50 questions, for sure, oh man oh, the gorilla, the gorilla one oh yeah, you had the questions, all of them. I used to somebody smoke you on scout team and you, and, and we threw him out of practice one time too. What was that? That happened to you? Did you get whacked in scout team and somebody cheap shot at you?
Speaker 4:I got cheap shot a few times, but no, that was a stats got cheap shot by weinberg and that's when weaver threw him out of threw him out of practice. Oh yeah, weinberg, oh my god Weinberg drilled him like 10 seconds after the play was over and we've tossed him out of practice. I got drilled a few times, but that's when I usually get up and cause a fight.
Speaker 5:He had a good reason to do that right, didn't he think Weinberg was doing something with another significant other or something? Wasn't anything? Weinberg was doing something with another significant other or something.
Speaker 4:I don't even know why he did that to him, but he drilled him. That was probably one of the worst cheap shots I've seen in practice.
Speaker 5:I remember it. You know what? Let me be quiet, yeah.
Speaker 1:It's for show for another day, mr. Show for another day. That sounds like that's going to be a Patreon exclusive. If anybody else there is listening, it's only going to be for there.
Speaker 4:I'll say I appreciate all the stories there, everyone. It's good memories. Hopefully you all have a funny memory or two from it, but you guys definitely mean a lot to me. You've all been in my life at various points so I appreciate all the humor and everything. So I know it's all in good fun and love.
Speaker 5:Yes sir, yes sir.
Speaker 1:Always, always, all in good fun on this show. But that is actually going to do it for this week's episode of the Ride Home Rants podcast. I want to thank all of my guests Fry, garvey Fetty podcast. I want to thank all of my guests, fry, garvey Fitty, mr Brennan and Bob Neisel for joining the show here talking all things Bethany football. It was a lot of fun to reminisce about times back in Bethany. A little quick thing I actually announced all of the home games for Bethany College in 2009-2010 season, so I got to see a lot of these guys on the field, especially Biddy and everybody else in Fry. I believe you were there right, fry, in 2009?.
Speaker 7:No, I wasn't there in 2009. You weren't there. 2012 was when I got on campus. Yeah, 2012.
Speaker 1:Okay, I'm just a liar then, apparently. But yeah, again, that's going to do it, as always, if you enjoyed the show, be a friend, tell a friend. If you didn't tell them anyways, they might like it. Just because you didn't, that's going to do it for me and I will see y'all next week.
