July 28, 2025 • 46 mins
Brian and Eric McCabe talk about Lourdes and working in higher education. Eric has worked in college athletics and shares the hard work it takes to be successful in the field.
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(00:06):
All right everyone, welcome backto another Alumni Spotlight here
on the Our Lady of Lords Regional School Facebook page.
Brian Christiana. Here again, it is June 23rd,
2025, and we have a good friend,Lords alum Eric Mctabe is in the
house. Eric, how are you, my friend?
Brian, thanks for having me. You know as I just told you in
(00:26):
our little pre conversation. Just flew in from Disney and boy
are my arms tired. How?
How was your Disney trip? It was so incredible, you know,
got to go with my family, my brother Patrick, his wife Dez
and their three kids and my sister Molly and I, you know, I
told my wife I think I'm becoming a Disney person.
(00:47):
So I really hope she lets us go back soon.
Was how many times you've been to Disney before Eric?
Oh, you know, my, my parents took me in 8th grade, which was
back in 1997. Wow.
Yeah. So, so since then, I was back
there two years ago, just my family.
And, you know, we, my wife said,hey, you know, let's go with
(01:10):
your brother and your sister. And it just turned out they were
going this past week. So we went.
And when you had reached out to me while I was at Disney, there
was a great, you know, memory, something relatable back to my
time with Miss Builder, her English courses.
(01:30):
So we were at the one swimming pool and there was there was a
slide and, you know, I'm up there with my youngest daughter
and there's a whole bunch of other other kids fighting for
hierarchy of, you know, who's going next in the slide.
And I'm just, you know, after I get to the bottom of the slide,
(01:51):
I'm like, Sadie, that's like Lord of the Flies, those kids
picking up there for hierarchy. Yeah.
And, you know, reading that bookin Miss Builders class and just
tying those two together, I was like, that's crazy.
You know, actually it's Lord of the Flies is actually my Amazon
cart to to purchase and reread and.
(02:11):
It's a great book. Yeah, because of those kids on
the slide, Yeah. We we read that with the
sophomores and they absolutely the the males, the boys in the
class love that book just because of the adventures the
kids go on and so forth. It I mean, it is the cast is
mostly male dominant. So I mean, but Eric, I agree
with you. Reading that book was ah, oh,
it's phenomenal. It's phenomenal.
(02:32):
When you went over to Disney, what were some of the big
changes you noticed from when you were there in the late 90s
to now? Because a lot has changed.
Well, it's a little slightly more expensive than I think it
was a little bit, it's a little bit.
But I mean, all the added experiences being there from a
child to an adult and seeing it through my children's eyes,
(02:55):
it's, it's, you can't beat that.Was there were there any places
you specifically wanted to go toat Disney?
So, so we did a day at each parkand then we had a resort day,
which was nice because we stayedat the cabins in Fort
Wilderness, which was pretty cool.
And you know, my sister-in-law Dez, she's a Disney planner, so
(03:16):
if anybody's out there looking, she could hook you up.
And my, my brother's family and my sister, you know, go there at
least every year so they know itby the back of her hand.
So it was a lot stress less for my wife.
We let my sister-in-law, Dez, plan everything.
And so it was super smooth. And one of the nicest things
about it is they were able to get us on a pontoon boat our
(03:40):
first night there, and we were able to watch the fireworks off
from the lake. Wow.
Yeah. Like if, if, if you're going
there and you're able to swing that because those are hard to
come by. It was, it was a great, great
man. Eric, are you a Star Wars guy?
5050, yeah, 50 Really like a rise of the resistance right
there. Yeah, Galaxy's Edge is a really
(04:02):
unique experience for there. Yeah, and I treated myself to
the Rondo rap, which goes back to, you know, our Polish
heritage. It's like a spicy kielbasi with
slaw and a pita. Highly recommended.
For sure. Did you guys go anywhere else
while you were in Florida? Did you go to Universal?
Did you get a chance to go? Over there.
Oh it it does not. But Epic Universe I think is
(04:23):
next on our list. So ladies and gentlemen, again,
we have Eric McCabe here on the Joe.
Please leave any comments, any questions you might have for
Eric. Eric's going to be here with us
for a little bit talking about everything going on, his
professional career and his timeat Lourdes.
So Eric, you started your time in Catholic education when you
were young. Where, where did you, did you,
(04:43):
were you Queen of Peace guy? Were you Holy Spirit?
Prior to Queen of Peace I was Saint Mary's coal mine wow up
until 4th grade and then my brother and sister ended up at
well, my brother definitely I. It's a little hazy if my sister
was at Queen of Peace for a few years before they went to public
(05:05):
school, but obviously they ultimately went to Lords where,
you know, I'm one of 16 family members.
I would love to see if there's any other family that could be
that number of Lords graduates the.
Velocity Family had a lot of people.
A lot. And then there were there were
two other students from Saint Mary's.
(05:26):
I'm Angelina Artona and Jessica Jelen, who went from Saint
Mary's to Queen of Peace and then through Lords.
So yeah, I was once one of the few that went to Queen of Peace
all when Saint Mary's closed. I was in 4th grade.
All the other students went to Holy Spirit.
Stuff, man, you went. Who are some of the people you
went to school with in the earlyyears that you went to Lords
(05:48):
with? Yeah, so the early years was
that whole group, Scott Fabrizio, Eddie Cristiano at
Belaco, Katie Wagner, Zach Sikora.
Wow. You know, that was a group that,
you know, we were all about the same year that, you know, went
up and and remember back then, Queen of Peace, 7th and 8th
(06:10):
grade was at Lourdes. So 7th and 8th grade, I was, I
was there at Lourdes already. And you know, you know, it's
funny, Brian, being from Colt, my, you know, all those kids,
like they have hopes and dreams of going to Mount Carmel.
Not me, not me. Day one I was.
I can't wait to be a Red Raider.Yeah.
It's good stuff and Eric, you, you went out to Lords then and
(06:32):
you were involved with a lot of stuff.
Can you tell us the viewers whatyou were involved in when you
were at Lords? Yeah, it was.
So I'm gonna refer back to the great podcast you had with
Scott. I messaged him after and tell
him how great it was. You know, we were the first
football team to play under the lights.
Wow. It was verse Pine Grove.
(06:53):
Pine Grove thought they were going to come in and put a beat
in on us and we ended up being victorious out of that.
So the news item even published a picture of the captains.
So it was me, Mark Crush, Matt Valeko and Scott walking out
onto the field for the first time with the lights, which you
know, I still have framed to this day.
(07:14):
Probably one of the best photos ever, I'd say in in the news
item. So yeah.
So a four year member of football, four years basketball.
Let's see. I I too was in the the plays.
I was a muscle man in little Abner.
(07:34):
And I think that was that was mymaybe my junior year.
I forget what my senior year was, but I was also in that play
as well when Mr. Steyer was the band director.
There was also a performance or two where I went and helped hold
their their decorations in place.
So. So the wind wouldn't blow big.
(07:57):
I'm a big like bass 2. So I was in chorus as well.
And, you know, not the greatest singer, but Mr. Steyer let me go
to diocese in chorus my senior year.
So that was pretty neat. And then, you know, all the
clubs, I think everybody signed up for every club.
So yeah, obviously the biggest one is Mr. Keely and Key Club.
So yeah, that's. And I was also on, Brian,
(08:19):
believe it or not, there was a stage of my life where I did
comp contemplate going to the priesthood.
Wow. So, yeah, so I was, I was a
Eucharistic minister at Lord at Lords.
And I was also on like the religious committee.
And, you know, I think if, if priests were able to be married,
I think I would have went that route.
(08:40):
But yeah, I definitely with, with Father Sawicki, I went and
I visited Mount Saint Mary's Seminary with him and Father
Charles. So yeah, I did contemplate that
early in my life as well. You brought that up and I was
going to say Father Suwicki was out Lords around the same time
as you. Yeah, we're sitting there.
There was a lot that that thought process was definitely
(09:02):
hitting the Lord's area in the early 2000s.
They, the diocese at that time had a very good priest in charge
of recruiting and I'm Yeah. So if I definitely thought about
it there for for a year or two. Eric, I had one of the kids
actually asked me yesterday. They were looking through a
yearbook and they said what was the key?
And I, I didn't even have an answer for him.
(09:24):
So can you please just tell me yes.
It was, it was a service club and I think the big thing the
Key Club did was the Christmas toy drive every year.
So obviously we'd have mass, everybody would bring the toys
and I think the Key Club would deliver them to, I'm not sure if
it was the Salvation Army or wherever the toys were going.
(09:46):
That's awesome. I think that was our biggest
service project. That's great.
And Eric, you did bring up football and again, I know we're
going back some time now, but did they tell you as a football
player that you guys were going to be playing under the lights?
How did like was that something brought up years prior?
How did that all come about? Well, you know, Brian, that's
what the 8020 fund was originally for, was for
(10:10):
facilities and lights at Lourdes.
And I mean it took till 2001 to get the lights installed.
And I think obviously, you know,because you schedule your games
in advance, I think going into that year we knew they were
gonna be installed. And all throughout summer
workouts we were out there when all the lights were getting
(10:32):
installed and the whole field was mapped out.
So that was definitely pretty cool to be one of the first
teams, well, the first team to use the lights out there.
Prior to that, would you guys play on Saturdays?
Yeah, and I think, you know, Scott mentioned how much he
liked that we'd play Saturdays at noon, noon or one, which was
nice because then you could go to the other high school games
(10:53):
Friday night. Yeah.
And at the time, I mean Southernwas in the beginning of their
their whole run. Mount Carmel was still pretty
good at the time. Yeah, yo, ABS, absolutely.
That was a like definitely part of their heyday as well.
And I guess on on Saturdays it was nice being the only game in
town that you'd get those other kids who played Friday night.
(11:15):
If they wanted to watch football, they'd come.
They'd come see us at Lourdes. Besides that game underneath the
lights, what are some memories that come to your mind with
football? Trips to Shenandoah. 462.
A little a little definitely interesting.
And then I think we had a our last home game that year in the
fall of 2000 verse line mountain.
(11:37):
Line mountain was they were good.
They were good. And we just gave them a battle
like we played all out. And there were some other some
other athletes who weren't typically in the limelight that,
you know, the light shined on them that night.
Frank Kaleida, Phyllis Savage. I think they had great games
(11:59):
versus line that line Mountain. It was an overall, it was an
overall great team effort. You know, we didn't we came
close, Yeah. But it was it was great.
And then our last game was at Williams Valley.
And you know, Mark Crush just kick one of the longest field
goals I think in Lords history. When you were at Lords, was it
(12:22):
coach Chad Lasky? Is that you played for?
My freshman year I got to play for Coach Chaz.
You played for coach Chaz? Wow.
What was that experience? And your dad, Brian?
Yeah, his year that after college he did do a.
Year with coach Chaz What? Was it like playing for coach
chess? You know, growing up as a kid
(12:42):
and just a Chesney name and, youknow, obviously we were family
friends from being in cult, you know, that was one of the
greatest, you know, football experiences of my life.
And then, you know, with Coach Shedlewski staff Coach Charlie
Else from Mount Carmel and, you know, my uncle Ray Shimko, Yeah.
And you know, Dennis Lentini, who also came down from Mount
(13:06):
Carmel, you know, just learned alot from those those coaches.
You know, it's so great when I get to see him to this day.
And, you know, luckily I get to see my Uncle Ray a lot.
So I. Was gonna say what was it like
playing for your uncle? Yeah, well, he wasn't my uncle
at the time. It was not till my senior year
him a man got married. But you know, he had coached me
(13:29):
as a Colt, mutt, Cougar, so it was familiar, and that makes
life easier when it's familiar. So that's football obviously
happens in the fall. I personally think your real
love happens in the winter time.Oh Brian, my love was always,
was always and will always be football.
(13:50):
Oh, OK. You know, but it's, it's there's
something special about playing,having played basketball for
coach Corbett. That's what I was going to get
into now. So you played for Lords
basketball during the time when Coach Corbett was there,
legendary coach Lee Corbett. What was that experience like?
He he made a man out of it. You know, it was Lords plays
(14:14):
basketball a certain way and that's how you do it.
And I always remember, you know,I believe it's before we took
the court at the home game, every visiting game.
You know, he said something along the lines is like,
remember, we do it with class. And I mean, that still sticks
with me till till today. And, you know, dunking wasn't
(14:38):
one of their favorite things to do.
So showboating was a no now. So I definitely attempted A dunk
or two here and there and had to, you know, run 25 laps the
next day of practice. Yeah, I didn't make the dunks,
but it was fun attempting it. Hey I.
Mean, yeah. Practice made them all the time.
I think I, you know I would dunkfor you when I coached you and
(14:59):
yeah, you. You, I remember after practice
you would show us that you had some.
Hops, yeah, but it was, I mean, there was a way to do things and
you did things the right way. And you know, that definitely
stuck with me as part of who I am today.
Early 2000s also Lords had success.
Your teams were again, you guys had a lot of good players and
you brought up Coach Crush. I mean, two very tall guys down
(15:23):
below. How could teams compete with
that? Yeah.
Well, I mean, that's when we were, we were like evenly
matched though. Like if you look like Nativity
had some guys that were bigger, that's, but it was, you know,
Eddie did a great job at the point, you know, it was a very,
(15:43):
it was very team, very team oriented.
Everybody had the same mission to succeed.
You know, I, I was able to startthe first half of the season and
then coach Korbich made some adjustments that he thought were
better for the team. And then I came off, I came off
the bench the second-half of theseason.
And, you know, obviously you're disappointed with the changes,
(16:05):
but, you know, your maturity comes out and how you handle
situations like that. Yeah.
And, you know, you know, I fit into a better role that
ultimately kept me on the court,you know, longer.
So it was honestly a blessing indisguise.
Eric, what what do you think made the school league so
(16:26):
special at that time? Because you're playing teams
like Nativity Marion Catholic, another tough Catholic school,
and also at this time, Cardinal Brennan was there as well.
And we took an L to Cardinal Brennan and boy, did we run a
lot after that one. Definitely, Brian.
I think having two officials instead of three helped because
you were probably able to sneak some stuff in that the officials
(16:48):
wouldn't have seen if there werethree.
But no, I, you know, I definitely the schooling
basketball at that time I think is second to none compared to
any of those other conferences. It was just we were just
warriors. Yeah, and like you said, you
played with Eddie, Coach Prush was there.
Who are some of the other guys on the team at the during your
time at Lords? Yeah, Matt, Matt Valeko was
(17:10):
there with us, Kiefer, who's who's name of the principal at
at Southern Mike. Yeah.
Danny Hauer, what was there? Paul Zanella was there with us.
Mike Pottabinsky was there with us.
So we had, I mean, you know, we had size.
We had talent and people and role players.
(17:31):
And I was definitely a role player.
You know, I think I was on the court a lot for my defensive and
rebounding skills. I wasn't a scorer.
I'll never claim to be, but I think if you know your role and
you execute your role, you know you'll be on the court.
Straight stuff. Final question about your senior
year. You brought up 2001.
Obviously, one of the biggest events in United States history
(17:52):
happened during that time. What was it like being a high
school student during 9/11? Were you out?
Were you in the building that day?
So no. So 2001, I was actually a
freshman Susquehanna. Oh, OK.
I'm sorry. I mean, no, you're fine.
I was actually. I do.
I was in economics class that morning with Matt Valeko, and I
(18:13):
don't think at that second when the news came out, we really
grasp what happened and our professor at the time was like,
do you want to stay in class? Or you know, I could let you
out. We ended up finishing class, but
you know, we go to football practice that day because Matt
and I both played football our freshman year.
(18:35):
And, you know, it's one of our teammates had worked there that
summer. And just at that time realizing
the effect of what happened and all the people that affected on
our team at that moment. And, and I think that's when it,
you know, it took a few hours tofinally hit us and, you know,
still talking about that. We were one of the we were one
(18:58):
of the few college teams to playthat week.
I think it was like homing. And we ended up still playing
that that game. Wow, that's that Saturday.
That's crazy. And I mean, that time in America
was was crazy. And the fact you guys still
played, I mean, not really wow. That's that's wow.
That's the word that comes to mymind is just wow.
(19:19):
And we went to Susquehanna. Eric, what made you decide to go
to Susquehanna? Brian, that is a story for a
different day. I I originally had a scholarship
to play football at Lock Haven. I did end up going to
Susquehanna. I blew my knee out my freshman
year, so. And that was back before knee
(19:42):
surgeries are what they are today.
Yeah. So that pretty much ended it for
me. And then I transferred to Saint
Francis University, where, you know, I got my undergrad from.
But, you know, I'll tell anyway.I've had a very spontaneous life
as far as decisions I've made, but every decision I've made has
got me to where I am today and you know, I won't look back on
(20:03):
any of it. Recently Lords has had a lot of
graduates that went to Saint Francis.
Well, how was Saint Francis for you?
One of the best decisions of my life.
I wish our guidance counselor atthe time, Mrs. Feudale, was
there and worked with hers. I was very like, we were close.
(20:23):
I was the the vice president of SAD and she oversaw SAD and I
forget sister's name, but she had wanted me to go there right
out of high school. And it's funny, I end up there
like 2 years later and I think she always knew I was gonna end
up there. Saint Francis in Loretto, what's
that area like? It's a university on the middle
(20:49):
of a mountain. On one side you have like
federal prison, on the other side is like a a children's
detention center. But you know, they are going
through changes now moving to D3.
Yeah, I originally transferred there to to play football.
However, I started working with their women's basketball
(21:09):
program, which was extremely successful.
So I got to travel with them allover the country to places I
wouldn't have never made otherwise.
So it was definitely one of the best decisions of my life.
And be, you know, I am where I am today because because of
Saint Francis. So you started working with the
girls basketball team. What was your role?
(21:31):
So I was a student assistant, a manager there, but you know,
they, they gave me, you know, responsibilities above that, you
know, would help with, with travel, you know, any, any
administrative abilities I coulddo.
They let me, they let me partakein.
And some of those, I'm sorry. Yeah.
(21:51):
And I mean, I was with them for,for 2 championships.
So I got two rings with them andgot to see many awesome cities
and Division One institutions along the way.
That actually was what I was going to ask you.
What were some of the cool universities that you got to see
during your time at SFU? So North Carolina, Chapel Hill,
(22:13):
Yep, Carmichael Gymnasium, whichwas the original gymnasium where
Jordan played in before the DingDome was made.
Wow Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt was cool because the
the benches are on the end zone and not the sideline.
Yes, if anyone's ever seen a game at Vanderbilt and let's see
(22:35):
where else. I think we played one of our
NCAA games at the barn at Minnesota and their gym is
raised. So you're sitting below Iowa
State. I was at for another for another
NCAA tournament. It's it's funny, my, my very
good friend Travis Williams, whoteaches at Southern Columbia,
(22:58):
you know, he's a big sports, notlike me.
I, I, we write down everywhere we've been and I've had a list
and it's very, it's very extensive.
Kentucky, West Virginia, Penn State, which Saint Francis
actually beat Penn State at Saint Francis the year after I
graduated. So that was probably their
(23:20):
biggest win in women's basket intheir women's basketball
history. So I've been to a lot, lot of
places, a lot of states. It was, it was, it was great to
travel. Sidebar everyone, this is
actually a really cool thing about Eric.
He can remember any mascot from a university team you bring up.
It was incredible. I'll never forget.
(23:42):
We're in the van on our way. I don't we were going to some
school and it was myself, Eric and Coach Lapotsky were there
and you literally said Brian name a college and and I was
just throwing curveballs at him and he was able to name them
all. How?
How do you and how are you able to do that?
Well, you know, I'm still, I'm still pretty good at that and I
(24:04):
have now tried to expand my, my knowledge to division two and
three schools from having been amongst all divisions in my
career. I, you know, I think it's if
it's something that interests you with you to pick up.
But my Uncle Ray will still try to stump me sometimes.
People that are watching, pleasecomment.
Some will ask Eric, see if he can get, see if he can get any
(24:28):
wrong. I don't think he will.
But Eric, you're at Saint Francis, you're getting towards
the end. What were you thinking was next?
Or what were you hoping was? I definitely wanted to go on a
sport, so I graduated with my marketing degree.
You know, I thought, you know, I'd try getting in with an
advertising firm in the Pittsburgh area.
(24:49):
Ultimately, my senior year at Saint Francis, I also had a
sports marketing internship withthe university.
So from working with athletics in my sports marketing
internship, I interviewed with two schools right after I
graduated, one being UTEP and and the other being Bucknell and
(25:09):
you know, offered accepted Buck Bucknell because you know, it's
right in our in our backyard andstarted my professional year at
Bucknell. And that was the first place I
ever met you at Eric. Well, I mean, I remember you
told me the one time you remembered seeing me in the
hallways as a little kid with mygram.
But this was the first time I ever got to meet you and
remembered. And it's a job that you had that
still I I do it today, the job that you had.
(25:32):
Can you tell us about that amazing job?
Yes. So I was, I think one of
probably the top three all time Suika psychos at Suika Pavilion
at Bucktown University. So I4 basketball games my I
would put on a red, I had two wigs, 1 orange, 1 blue.
(25:53):
And I would go throw out T-shirts and get the crowd riled
up. You know, much as you do for
your, Yeah, multiple baseball gigs, Yeah.
It was it was so cool seeing a local guy.
Now I remember to this day, we're sitting there going to see
Bucknell play and my dad Pudge goes, hey, that, that's Eric.
And I'm like, OK, cool. And then we came up and talked
(26:14):
to you after the game and it wasmy my dad like catching up with
an old friend. And it was one of the coolest
experiences ever. And I think it's one of the
reasons why I wanted to get intosomething.
Oh, Brian, you're making me blush.
So you're at Bucknell, but you also did you were in like with
tickets over at Bucknell, correct?
So, so I, I was a marking assistant at Bucknell for two,
(26:35):
two years, you know, after that,because that was only like an
assistant ship. It wasn't a permanent position.
You know, I was applying for other jobs.
I had had an offer. I decided ultimately wasn't what
I wanted. So I was able to become the
ticket manager at Bucknell, you know, where I stayed there for
(26:56):
another four years. After Bucknell, what was next?
After Bucknell was Hershey Entertainment and Resorts for a
very brief 2 month stay. What was going on at Hershey
Entertainment? Yeah, so at Hershey
Entertainment, I was, I was, I had offered or I had accepted a
position at Bowling Green University to go be their
(27:18):
athletic ticket manager. But then, you know, Hershey came
back and offered me and I was like, well, you know, I'm a big
family person. I love being closer to home.
So I ultimately decided to take that position.
It was very brief because ultimately the head coach I
(27:40):
worked for at Saint Francis was the top assistant at East
Carolina. They needed a director of
operations, which was something I had always wanted to be for
women's basketball. So I, you know, I jumped ship.
Go Pirates. Yeah, I was about to say.
Yeah, You know, went over to East Carolina for a year and a
(28:02):
half. Being the director of operations
is you do basically direct everyop, every operations.
One of the things I tell people and they're like their jaw drops
is like I'm like, yeah, I spent $250,000 on a charter flight to
(28:27):
UTEP and back because, you know,I oversaw our budget was like
$1,000,000 budget at the time. So I oversaw all scholarships,
all food, wow, all travel as as a director of operations for,
for a group of five school at that point.
Yeah, East Carolina was still at, was still in Conference USA
(28:50):
at that point. Now in the American Conference,
which, you know, Brian, I'm getting old.
I'm getting old. So my name, you know, names.
What's Southern Cal's head coach?
Wait, it's Lincoln Riley right now?
Yes, he was actually the offensive coordinator in East
Carolina, was there. Wow Lincoln Riley, who was who's
been considered for many head coaching John.
(29:13):
Yeah. Career Eric.
What part Eastern East Carolina is that in South North Carolina?
That is in Greenville, home of Mr. Beast, which they also refer
to as G Vegas. Does it live up to that name?
It does, especially around Halloween.
(29:34):
Halloween is a very big holiday for the students of East.
Carolina. East Carolina What?
What's the difference between there and a school like Buck
now? Size there's like, you know,
it's it's a state. It's a state school in a North
Carolina system. OK, so there's like 25,000 kids
there. Oh wow OK, I didn't know it was
that side. Yeah, it's about 25,000.
(29:56):
Sports are a big deal. Ruffin McNeil was the head
football coach at that time and they were very successful.
So going to football games was amazing, packed houses.
Now they're trying to get back to that.
But if you ever go on YouTube and pull up like East Carolina
entrance videos for football, I mean I think they have some of
(30:18):
the most ever created. What's the band base like for
the mother? Like how the fan base?
Very good people love East Carolina athletics in that area.
I mean, otherwise you have to travel.
I I think NC State was maybe an hour away, an hour and a half
away. So a lot of those people really,
(30:40):
really came to, you know, East Carolina for women's basketball.
The support was very good there as well.
So it was, it was, yeah, it was.It was a good experience.
Besides being involved with football, what other what other
stuff would you go do when you were down in North Carolina?
You know, Brian, honestly, I worked a lot.
So, you know, if in coaching positions on coaching Staffs,
(31:00):
yeah, it was a lot of like 10 to12 hours a day.
Wow, seven days a week. You know, at that level it
doesn't stop. So Eric, you're at, you're down
there in North Carolina. You're you eventually find your
way back closer to the area after that, correct?
I I do, absolutely. There was a point where I was
out of, out of athletics for two, 2 1/2 years and I missed
(31:25):
it. I missed it a lot.
I was. That's when I would volunteer at
Lourdes. Yeah, with Coach Klumber in
athletics. And I also volunteered at
Susquehanna University in athletics and got.
Yeah, Go ahead, Brian. You're good.
When you were volunteering with Coach Klumbera, is that when you
were coaching junior high sports?
(31:47):
I think yes, it was. It was a little bit.
No, actually that was that was during my time at Bucknell is
when I coached, Yes. And then I came back to
volunteer. I volunteered.
I think it was around 2013. I was gonna.
(32:09):
Say prior on my freshman, sophomore year, you were.
I remember that. Yeah, yeah.
Yep. So I volunteered at Lourdes and
at Susquehanna University and then the, the athletic director
that hired me out of college at Bucknell was the, the athletic
director at Bloomsburg. And you know, I, I want to take
(32:29):
anything to get back in. So they had an equipment manager
position open. So I left my previous job and I
went and I became their equipment manager for six
months. My good friend who was the
assistant to the AD, which was the position I ultimately got at
at Bloomsburg was was leaving was moving down to North
(32:52):
Carolina with his wife. So I was able to get promoted
into that position and I stayed there at Bloomsburg for about 5
1/2 years. Wow, that drive you back into
sports? How was it for you during that
time when you weren't working for sports?
I mean it, it definitely was noteasy, I'm sure.
You're absolutely right, Brian, and this is what I'll tell.
I'll tell anybody who wants to work in sports, I'll say, you
(33:14):
know, make sure it's what you want to do because if you get
out, when you try to get back in, it's twice as hard.
I would not have thought that, but I mean, you're 100% right.
And I see it now like what's working with these teams,
especially like the ticket wrapsand the marketing, advertising
people like you said, 12 hour days, Eric, and even on game
days, they're spending even morethan that.
(33:35):
Yeah, absolutely. And I would like to take a quick
second and thank Jared for his comment.
Yeah, it was fun when we played for you, Eric.
And Eric, what was it like coaching Lords junior High
sports? It was something I never a lot I
would do, yeah, but something I always wanted to do.
And I was so grateful. Having been a player, I got to
(33:57):
play at Marks Hall and then ultimately I got to sit on the
bench as a coach and see the players I coached play at Marks
Hall. So the to be there as a player
and a coach was, you know, for akid from the coal Region, I
think you know, one of those once in a lifetime experiences.
Eric, who are some of the peopleyou coached with when you were
(34:18):
out Lords? Yeah, so coach with some
legends. Yes, you did.
Coach Dave Sandry? Yep, Coach Collins.
I I that's who I was waiting to sit.
Yeah, Coach Kevin Collins. One of the best.
Trying to hold back my emotions there.
Coach Dietz. Coach Dietz taught me a lot.
Coach Doc, Yeah, he's the man and he's, he's kicking butt
right now. Yep, yes, he is.
(34:40):
He's had a great career and on the high school girls side, and
you know, I like to think I taught coach Derek Lapotsky some
things too. I actually believe that, yeah.
So, yeah. So, yeah, that those were, I
mean, it's hard to put into words, you know, what you
learned from those guys. And you know, the good thing was
(35:00):
they're all Notre Dame fans. So we went to, I mean, countless
football games together. You, all you guys would always
go out. You guys were all very close and
it definitely showed on the court because I felt like we
were always very organized and you guys prepped us very well.
So coach, you were involved withLords basketball.
You're over at Bloom now, though, and when you're the
assistant to the athletic director, can you tell us what
(35:22):
that job, what it does like, howmuch work goes into?
Yeah, absolutely. The easiest way to put it,
Brian, is you do everything yourboss does not want to do.
So ultimately if if Doctor McFarland, who's the athletic
director there now and has been I think for close to 12 years
now, anything he was unable to do, I would step in and attend
(35:43):
for him. I also oversaw ticketing any
special events we hosted, like the Globetrotters.
Bloomsburg was redoing their flood walls at that time, so I
managed to having all of Bloomsburg high school sports up
at our up at our on our fields, which was a lengthy task.
(36:07):
Countless things is so much, youknow, it's hard to remember
unless I looked at my resume, it's hard.
It's hard to remember them all. Yeah, and Bloomsburg has a
great, great. They have great boosters, great
support. Can you talk about their
boosters over there? Yeah, I mean, the biggest 1 is
Steph Pettit. Yeah, you know, former football
player A6, very extremely successful businessman, a great
(36:30):
person, him and his wife, you know, and it's nice.
I was actually there when we gotto hire Coach Shep Talk.
Yeah, Coach. Another local guy.
You know, and it's taken some years, but he's he's bringing
Bloomsburg football back to where it was.
And it's pretty cool seeing thatCoach Shep talks, bringing a lot
of local talent in. Do you feel that's a big step to
(36:52):
getting Bloomsburg again to whatthey were?
I mean, it is Brian, but I stilldon't think they'll ever be, you
know, the IUP Crimson Hawks where you know, I currently AM.
Yep, that's that was where I wasgoing next.
After Bloom, you go over to IUP.What's it like now being at IUP?
Yeah. So this is this fall will be the
start of my fifth year here. You know, it was, it was a
(37:15):
dramatic change from Bloomsburg to coming over here.
Brian, if you ever get a chance,you know, you got to come up and
see our basketball facility. It is probably one, it's
probably one of the top five in division two and rivals most
small school division ones. OK, you know, we got plans in
(37:35):
the future to, you know, upgrade, upgrade our other
sports and make some additions. So, and you know, a lot of IUP's
athletic programs are very have been very traditionally
successful and it's, it's nice to be, I mean, Bloomsburg's
were, you know, successful as well.
(37:56):
It's nice to stay on that trail of success, you know, coming
from Bloom to IUP. Eric, what where in Pennsylvania
is IUP? I mean, I know it's in the
western part of the state, but I've personal I've never been
past Altoona. So please.
Yeah, you keep going past Altoona, down 22, you go past
Saint Francis where you know, about 45 minutes from Saint
(38:18):
Francis here in Indiana, PA. We are the the first Indiana
prior to that other College in the other state.
You know, it's funny relating Indiana to the other Indiana
coach Signetti, their football coach was a football coach here
first. Yeah.
And his brother came back to be our offensive coordinator going
(38:43):
into the season. So, so we we were the first
Indiana. Do you see Cason over there
often? Yes, yes I do.
Obviously with him being, being part part of baseball, he's he's
a great kid. He helped me log sand from
Lowe's this past spring when to dry out the field.
So yeah, it's nice having, you know, with Coach Klein here
(39:06):
who's a local guy from Lewisburg.
Yeah. Surprised to bring in local kid
what as well. So it's also, it's always nice
when we have kids from the coal reef.
Eric, you just brought up about local baseball.
What was your thoughts on the Mount Carmel baseball team this
year? The first game I saw my cousin
Noah pitch was the state championship.
(39:26):
Wow. That is the only game I got to
see him play live in person. And it's fantastic.
And not just with Mount Carmel baseball, but with all the coal
region sports, you know, with with the numbers in the schools
that they are now, how well thatcoal region area produces on the
(39:47):
mainstage, you know, for what the Coal Region has, you know,
they still put their best foot forward.
It's great. And again, you were talking
about your family earlier, your cousin Noah Shimko.
He's dominating. He dominated sports in his four
years. He's going now to the University
of Maine. Also my also my godson Brian.
(40:07):
I didn't know. Wow, Yeah.
I mean, we, we could not be be prouder of him.
He's, you know, I'm glad the other players on the opposing
side don't know him because, youknow, he's a big.
Yeah, he's a great kid. And I mean, it's so crazy seeing
how remembering seeing him as a small kid all the way now to a
(40:27):
senior in high school. He he's a freak athlete that
that describes it to me. Yeah.
And, you know, it's funny, like I think it is when I was back
for his graduation, for his or his graduation party.
I remember when he was this is going back 1015 years when he
was much, much younger and he thought baseball was going to be
(40:48):
his career. And he was playing like fall
ball. And he said he said something
along the lines of he didn't want to play football anymore.
But halfway during the cold Cougars football season, he came
back out. And I'm like, man, just, you
know, I remember when you said you didn't think this is for you
and look at you now. That's awesome.
And he's he's down to the University of Maine where he's
(41:08):
going to be playing. There's been some other Mount
Carmel guys that have played there as well over the years and
they for the most part been verysuccessful.
Yeah. And you know, no matter where
you are, where you go, it's, it's what you put in. 100
percent, 100%. Eric, we're getting close to the
end. Just some simple questions for
you, Eric. We're going to go back to
Lourdes. Who are some of the people that
influenced you as a high schooler?
(41:31):
Man, obviously you know, I'm I was one of Miss Builders
favorites. Not not many people get to say
that. No, but I I mean I can strongly
say that. She's, she's a good one and I
still talk to her pretty frequently And she's, she's a,
she's a great lady. Tough cookie by all means, but
one of one of the best teachers ever be in those hallways.
(41:51):
Yeah. And then obviously, you know,
during our time, Mr. Keeley, it was, it was always, it was
always something like he, you know, he, Mr. Keeley had his own
way, but you learn stuff from him without, without knowing.
I, I think that's what I would say.
(42:12):
You know, I don't know if Mr. Styers retired from Shamokin or
not. I think he's still involved,
yeah. But when he was at Lourdes, he
he made a a great impact all my life there when it came to like
the chorus and plays and and allthat.
And you know, especially, you know, not a teacher, but you
know, Victoria Boris. Yeah, oh great, man.
(42:35):
Dude, he wanted that whole school to be part of, of, of the
plays. You know, it didn't matter what
you did outside of that. You know, I was very lucky to be
there when Father Charles was around.
Yeah. Don't get to talk to him as much
now, but here, here and there, Mr. Kier was our was a man, our
(42:58):
fresh. We had freshman ball back then.
Yeah, he was our freshman coach at the time.
And I think those, you know, those are the people I still
remember. Oh, man, Brian, how many 24
years later? Yep.
Well, that's a long time. 24 years later, it's crazy.
Is your class planning on anything?
(43:19):
Have you heard anything? You know, it's, it's funny,
there was a Facebook, a Facebookgroup and you know, it took, it
took a hacker or something to message in a group sell about
these alumni T-shirts that you know, and who, you know, whoever
(43:40):
started messaging in these groups about selling T-shirts.
Obviously it was a fake person that got so many responses from
our class, you know, which did, which did talk to talk about,
you know, hopefully getting somewhere together down the
line. I don't think there's anything
in stone that I know about, but but that post made people talk
(44:02):
again. So that was interesting.
That's awesome and some other alums have said of that their
classes are close and it's greatto see your classes starting to
get some chitter chatter going more a month.
Yeah, I know for especially, youknow, most of us being early
40s, you know, families and kidsnow, man, 2001 was a long time
ago. You brought up.
You brought up family, kids. What's it like being a father
(44:23):
now, Eric? Man, it was, it was something I
always, always hoped for. Thought I'd get there earlier in
life. But you know.
My wife and I have been togetherfor over 8 years, married three
years this past June. I have a 14 year old daughter
and my youngest just turned 7. Their birthdays are like 2 weeks
(44:46):
apart. Exact 2 two weeks apart, seven
years apart. Best accomplishment in life,
that's. Awesome.
That's great to hear. And Eric, I, I want to thank you
again for giving us some of yourtime, man.
It's been, it's been a great time catching up with you.
The final question I have, who are some other alums that you
recommend we do this with? Anybody from my class of 2001?
(45:10):
OK, I'll say that. OK, you know my brother and
sister are are always available.I did talk with your brother,
Pat. We are going to get something
together. Or anybody you know in the
Zalaki family? Yeah, Alex, Luke, Tyler, Emma.
You know, you know, I would say my uncle Dan Zalaki, who beat
Southern as a quarterback back in the 80s, I think that was the
(45:33):
last Time Lords beat Southern. In wow, in football, in.
Football, yeah, yeah. I mean, there's, you know, any,
any Zawlaki family member, I think be all.
Right. That's great to know.
And Eric, thank you again one more time for giving us your
time. It was great catching up with
you and I hope you have a great day.
Hey, thank you, Brian. It was an honor to be here and
(45:53):
just, you know, thanks for reaching out.
Thanks for having me be part of this.
You know, it's, it's more just special what you're doing
special. I'll coach anything for you and
we'll we'll definitely keep in touch.
So thank you again. We'll hope you have a great rest
of your day and stay cool. All right.
See you, Brian. Bye everyone.
All right everyone, welcome backto another Alumni Spotlight here
on the Our Lady of Lords Regional School Facebook page.
Brian Christiana. Here again, it is June 23rd,
2025, and we have a good friend,Lords alum Eric Mctabe is in the
house. Eric, how are you, my friend?
Brian, thanks for having me. You know as I just told you in
(00:26):
our little pre conversation. Just flew in from Disney and boy
are my arms tired. How?
How was your Disney trip? It was so incredible, you know,
got to go with my family, my brother Patrick, his wife Dez
and their three kids and my sister Molly and I, you know, I
told my wife I think I'm becoming a Disney person.
(00:47):
So I really hope she lets us go back soon.
Was how many times you've been to Disney before Eric?
Oh, you know, my, my parents took me in 8th grade, which was
back in 1997. Wow.
Yeah. So, so since then, I was back
there two years ago, just my family.
And, you know, we, my wife said,hey, you know, let's go with
(01:10):
your brother and your sister. And it just turned out they were
going this past week. So we went.
And when you had reached out to me while I was at Disney, there
was a great, you know, memory, something relatable back to my
time with Miss Builder, her English courses.
(01:30):
So we were at the one swimming pool and there was there was a
slide and, you know, I'm up there with my youngest daughter
and there's a whole bunch of other other kids fighting for
hierarchy of, you know, who's going next in the slide.
And I'm just, you know, after I get to the bottom of the slide,
(01:51):
I'm like, Sadie, that's like Lord of the Flies, those kids
picking up there for hierarchy. Yeah.
And, you know, reading that bookin Miss Builders class and just
tying those two together, I was like, that's crazy.
You know, actually it's Lord of the Flies is actually my Amazon
cart to to purchase and reread and.
(02:11):
It's a great book. Yeah, because of those kids on
the slide, Yeah. We we read that with the
sophomores and they absolutely the the males, the boys in the
class love that book just because of the adventures the
kids go on and so forth. It I mean, it is the cast is
mostly male dominant. So I mean, but Eric, I agree
with you. Reading that book was ah, oh,
it's phenomenal. It's phenomenal.
(02:32):
When you went over to Disney, what were some of the big
changes you noticed from when you were there in the late 90s
to now? Because a lot has changed.
Well, it's a little slightly more expensive than I think it
was a little bit, it's a little bit.
But I mean, all the added experiences being there from a
child to an adult and seeing it through my children's eyes,
(02:55):
it's, it's, you can't beat that.Was there were there any places
you specifically wanted to go toat Disney?
So, so we did a day at each parkand then we had a resort day,
which was nice because we stayedat the cabins in Fort
Wilderness, which was pretty cool.
And you know, my sister-in-law Dez, she's a Disney planner, so
(03:16):
if anybody's out there looking, she could hook you up.
And my, my brother's family and my sister, you know, go there at
least every year so they know itby the back of her hand.
So it was a lot stress less for my wife.
We let my sister-in-law, Dez, plan everything.
And so it was super smooth. And one of the nicest things
about it is they were able to get us on a pontoon boat our
(03:40):
first night there, and we were able to watch the fireworks off
from the lake. Wow.
Yeah. Like if, if, if you're going
there and you're able to swing that because those are hard to
come by. It was, it was a great, great
man. Eric, are you a Star Wars guy?
5050, yeah, 50 Really like a rise of the resistance right
there. Yeah, Galaxy's Edge is a really
(04:02):
unique experience for there. Yeah, and I treated myself to
the Rondo rap, which goes back to, you know, our Polish
heritage. It's like a spicy kielbasi with
slaw and a pita. Highly recommended.
For sure. Did you guys go anywhere else
while you were in Florida? Did you go to Universal?
Did you get a chance to go? Over there.
Oh it it does not. But Epic Universe I think is
(04:23):
next on our list. So ladies and gentlemen, again,
we have Eric McCabe here on the Joe.
Please leave any comments, any questions you might have for
Eric. Eric's going to be here with us
for a little bit talking about everything going on, his
professional career and his timeat Lourdes.
So Eric, you started your time in Catholic education when you
were young. Where, where did you, did you,
(04:43):
were you Queen of Peace guy? Were you Holy Spirit?
Prior to Queen of Peace I was Saint Mary's coal mine wow up
until 4th grade and then my brother and sister ended up at
well, my brother definitely I. It's a little hazy if my sister
was at Queen of Peace for a few years before they went to public
(05:05):
school, but obviously they ultimately went to Lords where,
you know, I'm one of 16 family members.
I would love to see if there's any other family that could be
that number of Lords graduates the.
Velocity Family had a lot of people.
A lot. And then there were there were
two other students from Saint Mary's.
(05:26):
I'm Angelina Artona and Jessica Jelen, who went from Saint
Mary's to Queen of Peace and then through Lords.
So yeah, I was once one of the few that went to Queen of Peace
all when Saint Mary's closed. I was in 4th grade.
All the other students went to Holy Spirit.
Stuff, man, you went. Who are some of the people you
went to school with in the earlyyears that you went to Lords
(05:48):
with? Yeah, so the early years was
that whole group, Scott Fabrizio, Eddie Cristiano at
Belaco, Katie Wagner, Zach Sikora.
Wow. You know, that was a group that,
you know, we were all about the same year that, you know, went
up and and remember back then, Queen of Peace, 7th and 8th
(06:10):
grade was at Lourdes. So 7th and 8th grade, I was, I
was there at Lourdes already. And you know, you know, it's
funny, Brian, being from Colt, my, you know, all those kids,
like they have hopes and dreams of going to Mount Carmel.
Not me, not me. Day one I was.
I can't wait to be a Red Raider.Yeah.
It's good stuff and Eric, you, you went out to Lords then and
(06:32):
you were involved with a lot of stuff.
Can you tell us the viewers whatyou were involved in when you
were at Lords? Yeah, it was.
So I'm gonna refer back to the great podcast you had with
Scott. I messaged him after and tell
him how great it was. You know, we were the first
football team to play under the lights.
Wow. It was verse Pine Grove.
(06:53):
Pine Grove thought they were going to come in and put a beat
in on us and we ended up being victorious out of that.
So the news item even published a picture of the captains.
So it was me, Mark Crush, Matt Valeko and Scott walking out
onto the field for the first time with the lights, which you
know, I still have framed to this day.
(07:14):
Probably one of the best photos ever, I'd say in in the news
item. So yeah.
So a four year member of football, four years basketball.
Let's see. I I too was in the the plays.
I was a muscle man in little Abner.
(07:34):
And I think that was that was mymaybe my junior year.
I forget what my senior year was, but I was also in that play
as well when Mr. Steyer was the band director.
There was also a performance or two where I went and helped hold
their their decorations in place.
So. So the wind wouldn't blow big.
(07:57):
I'm a big like bass 2. So I was in chorus as well.
And, you know, not the greatest singer, but Mr. Steyer let me go
to diocese in chorus my senior year.
So that was pretty neat. And then, you know, all the
clubs, I think everybody signed up for every club.
So yeah, obviously the biggest one is Mr. Keely and Key Club.
So yeah, that's. And I was also on, Brian,
(08:19):
believe it or not, there was a stage of my life where I did
comp contemplate going to the priesthood.
Wow. So, yeah, so I was, I was a
Eucharistic minister at Lord at Lords.
And I was also on like the religious committee.
And, you know, I think if, if priests were able to be married,
I think I would have went that route.
(08:40):
But yeah, I definitely with, with Father Sawicki, I went and
I visited Mount Saint Mary's Seminary with him and Father
Charles. So yeah, I did contemplate that
early in my life as well. You brought that up and I was
going to say Father Suwicki was out Lords around the same time
as you. Yeah, we're sitting there.
There was a lot that that thought process was definitely
(09:02):
hitting the Lord's area in the early 2000s.
They, the diocese at that time had a very good priest in charge
of recruiting and I'm Yeah. So if I definitely thought about
it there for for a year or two. Eric, I had one of the kids
actually asked me yesterday. They were looking through a
yearbook and they said what was the key?
And I, I didn't even have an answer for him.
(09:24):
So can you please just tell me yes.
It was, it was a service club and I think the big thing the
Key Club did was the Christmas toy drive every year.
So obviously we'd have mass, everybody would bring the toys
and I think the Key Club would deliver them to, I'm not sure if
it was the Salvation Army or wherever the toys were going.
(09:46):
That's awesome. I think that was our biggest
service project. That's great.
And Eric, you did bring up football and again, I know we're
going back some time now, but did they tell you as a football
player that you guys were going to be playing under the lights?
How did like was that something brought up years prior?
How did that all come about? Well, you know, Brian, that's
what the 8020 fund was originally for, was for
(10:10):
facilities and lights at Lourdes.
And I mean it took till 2001 to get the lights installed.
And I think obviously, you know,because you schedule your games
in advance, I think going into that year we knew they were
gonna be installed. And all throughout summer
workouts we were out there when all the lights were getting
(10:32):
installed and the whole field was mapped out.
So that was definitely pretty cool to be one of the first
teams, well, the first team to use the lights out there.
Prior to that, would you guys play on Saturdays?
Yeah, and I think, you know, Scott mentioned how much he
liked that we'd play Saturdays at noon, noon or one, which was
nice because then you could go to the other high school games
(10:53):
Friday night. Yeah.
And at the time, I mean Southernwas in the beginning of their
their whole run. Mount Carmel was still pretty
good at the time. Yeah, yo, ABS, absolutely.
That was a like definitely part of their heyday as well.
And I guess on on Saturdays it was nice being the only game in
town that you'd get those other kids who played Friday night.
(11:15):
If they wanted to watch football, they'd come.
They'd come see us at Lourdes. Besides that game underneath the
lights, what are some memories that come to your mind with
football? Trips to Shenandoah. 462.
A little a little definitely interesting.
And then I think we had a our last home game that year in the
fall of 2000 verse line mountain.
(11:37):
Line mountain was they were good.
They were good. And we just gave them a battle
like we played all out. And there were some other some
other athletes who weren't typically in the limelight that,
you know, the light shined on them that night.
Frank Kaleida, Phyllis Savage. I think they had great games
(11:59):
versus line that line Mountain. It was an overall, it was an
overall great team effort. You know, we didn't we came
close, Yeah. But it was it was great.
And then our last game was at Williams Valley.
And you know, Mark Crush just kick one of the longest field
goals I think in Lords history. When you were at Lords, was it
(12:22):
coach Chad Lasky? Is that you played for?
My freshman year I got to play for Coach Chaz.
You played for coach Chaz? Wow.
What was that experience? And your dad, Brian?
Yeah, his year that after college he did do a.
Year with coach Chaz What? Was it like playing for coach
chess? You know, growing up as a kid
(12:42):
and just a Chesney name and, youknow, obviously we were family
friends from being in cult, you know, that was one of the
greatest, you know, football experiences of my life.
And then, you know, with Coach Shedlewski staff Coach Charlie
Else from Mount Carmel and, you know, my uncle Ray Shimko, Yeah.
And you know, Dennis Lentini, who also came down from Mount
(13:06):
Carmel, you know, just learned alot from those those coaches.
You know, it's so great when I get to see him to this day.
And, you know, luckily I get to see my Uncle Ray a lot.
So I. Was gonna say what was it like
playing for your uncle? Yeah, well, he wasn't my uncle
at the time. It was not till my senior year
him a man got married. But you know, he had coached me
(13:29):
as a Colt, mutt, Cougar, so it was familiar, and that makes
life easier when it's familiar. So that's football obviously
happens in the fall. I personally think your real
love happens in the winter time.Oh Brian, my love was always,
was always and will always be football.
(13:50):
Oh, OK. You know, but it's, it's there's
something special about playing,having played basketball for
coach Corbett. That's what I was going to get
into now. So you played for Lords
basketball during the time when Coach Corbett was there,
legendary coach Lee Corbett. What was that experience like?
He he made a man out of it. You know, it was Lords plays
(14:14):
basketball a certain way and that's how you do it.
And I always remember, you know,I believe it's before we took
the court at the home game, every visiting game.
You know, he said something along the lines is like,
remember, we do it with class. And I mean, that still sticks
with me till till today. And, you know, dunking wasn't
(14:38):
one of their favorite things to do.
So showboating was a no now. So I definitely attempted A dunk
or two here and there and had to, you know, run 25 laps the
next day of practice. Yeah, I didn't make the dunks,
but it was fun attempting it. Hey I.
Mean, yeah. Practice made them all the time.
I think I, you know I would dunkfor you when I coached you and
(14:59):
yeah, you. You, I remember after practice
you would show us that you had some.
Hops, yeah, but it was, I mean, there was a way to do things and
you did things the right way. And you know, that definitely
stuck with me as part of who I am today.
Early 2000s also Lords had success.
Your teams were again, you guys had a lot of good players and
you brought up Coach Crush. I mean, two very tall guys down
(15:23):
below. How could teams compete with
that? Yeah.
Well, I mean, that's when we were, we were like evenly
matched though. Like if you look like Nativity
had some guys that were bigger, that's, but it was, you know,
Eddie did a great job at the point, you know, it was a very,
(15:43):
it was very team, very team oriented.
Everybody had the same mission to succeed.
You know, I, I was able to startthe first half of the season and
then coach Korbich made some adjustments that he thought were
better for the team. And then I came off, I came off
the bench the second-half of theseason.
And, you know, obviously you're disappointed with the changes,
(16:05):
but, you know, your maturity comes out and how you handle
situations like that. Yeah.
And, you know, you know, I fit into a better role that
ultimately kept me on the court,you know, longer.
So it was honestly a blessing indisguise.
Eric, what what do you think made the school league so
(16:26):
special at that time? Because you're playing teams
like Nativity Marion Catholic, another tough Catholic school,
and also at this time, Cardinal Brennan was there as well.
And we took an L to Cardinal Brennan and boy, did we run a
lot after that one. Definitely, Brian.
I think having two officials instead of three helped because
you were probably able to sneak some stuff in that the officials
(16:48):
wouldn't have seen if there werethree.
But no, I, you know, I definitely the schooling
basketball at that time I think is second to none compared to
any of those other conferences. It was just we were just
warriors. Yeah, and like you said, you
played with Eddie, Coach Prush was there.
Who are some of the other guys on the team at the during your
time at Lords? Yeah, Matt, Matt Valeko was
(17:10):
there with us, Kiefer, who's who's name of the principal at
at Southern Mike. Yeah.
Danny Hauer, what was there? Paul Zanella was there with us.
Mike Pottabinsky was there with us.
So we had, I mean, you know, we had size.
We had talent and people and role players.
(17:31):
And I was definitely a role player.
You know, I think I was on the court a lot for my defensive and
rebounding skills. I wasn't a scorer.
I'll never claim to be, but I think if you know your role and
you execute your role, you know you'll be on the court.
Straight stuff. Final question about your senior
year. You brought up 2001.
Obviously, one of the biggest events in United States history
(17:52):
happened during that time. What was it like being a high
school student during 9/11? Were you out?
Were you in the building that day?
So no. So 2001, I was actually a
freshman Susquehanna. Oh, OK.
I'm sorry. I mean, no, you're fine.
I was actually. I do.
I was in economics class that morning with Matt Valeko, and I
(18:13):
don't think at that second when the news came out, we really
grasp what happened and our professor at the time was like,
do you want to stay in class? Or you know, I could let you
out. We ended up finishing class, but
you know, we go to football practice that day because Matt
and I both played football our freshman year.
(18:35):
And, you know, it's one of our teammates had worked there that
summer. And just at that time realizing
the effect of what happened and all the people that affected on
our team at that moment. And, and I think that's when it,
you know, it took a few hours tofinally hit us and, you know,
still talking about that. We were one of the we were one
(18:58):
of the few college teams to playthat week.
I think it was like homing. And we ended up still playing
that that game. Wow, that's that Saturday.
That's crazy. And I mean, that time in America
was was crazy. And the fact you guys still
played, I mean, not really wow. That's that's wow.
That's the word that comes to mymind is just wow.
(19:19):
And we went to Susquehanna. Eric, what made you decide to go
to Susquehanna? Brian, that is a story for a
different day. I I originally had a scholarship
to play football at Lock Haven. I did end up going to
Susquehanna. I blew my knee out my freshman
year, so. And that was back before knee
(19:42):
surgeries are what they are today.
Yeah. So that pretty much ended it for
me. And then I transferred to Saint
Francis University, where, you know, I got my undergrad from.
But, you know, I'll tell anyway.I've had a very spontaneous life
as far as decisions I've made, but every decision I've made has
got me to where I am today and you know, I won't look back on
(20:03):
any of it. Recently Lords has had a lot of
graduates that went to Saint Francis.
Well, how was Saint Francis for you?
One of the best decisions of my life.
I wish our guidance counselor atthe time, Mrs. Feudale, was
there and worked with hers. I was very like, we were close.
(20:23):
I was the the vice president of SAD and she oversaw SAD and I
forget sister's name, but she had wanted me to go there right
out of high school. And it's funny, I end up there
like 2 years later and I think she always knew I was gonna end
up there. Saint Francis in Loretto, what's
that area like? It's a university on the middle
(20:49):
of a mountain. On one side you have like
federal prison, on the other side is like a a children's
detention center. But you know, they are going
through changes now moving to D3.
Yeah, I originally transferred there to to play football.
However, I started working with their women's basketball
(21:09):
program, which was extremely successful.
So I got to travel with them allover the country to places I
wouldn't have never made otherwise.
So it was definitely one of the best decisions of my life.
And be, you know, I am where I am today because because of
Saint Francis. So you started working with the
girls basketball team. What was your role?
(21:31):
So I was a student assistant, a manager there, but you know,
they, they gave me, you know, responsibilities above that, you
know, would help with, with travel, you know, any, any
administrative abilities I coulddo.
They let me, they let me partakein.
And some of those, I'm sorry. Yeah.
(21:51):
And I mean, I was with them for,for 2 championships.
So I got two rings with them andgot to see many awesome cities
and Division One institutions along the way.
That actually was what I was going to ask you.
What were some of the cool universities that you got to see
during your time at SFU? So North Carolina, Chapel Hill,
(22:13):
Yep, Carmichael Gymnasium, whichwas the original gymnasium where
Jordan played in before the DingDome was made.
Wow Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt was cool because the
the benches are on the end zone and not the sideline.
Yes, if anyone's ever seen a game at Vanderbilt and let's see
(22:35):
where else. I think we played one of our
NCAA games at the barn at Minnesota and their gym is
raised. So you're sitting below Iowa
State. I was at for another for another
NCAA tournament. It's it's funny, my, my very
good friend Travis Williams, whoteaches at Southern Columbia,
(22:58):
you know, he's a big sports, notlike me.
I, I, we write down everywhere we've been and I've had a list
and it's very, it's very extensive.
Kentucky, West Virginia, Penn State, which Saint Francis
actually beat Penn State at Saint Francis the year after I
graduated. So that was probably their
(23:20):
biggest win in women's basket intheir women's basketball
history. So I've been to a lot, lot of
places, a lot of states. It was, it was, it was great to
travel. Sidebar everyone, this is
actually a really cool thing about Eric.
He can remember any mascot from a university team you bring up.
It was incredible. I'll never forget.
(23:42):
We're in the van on our way. I don't we were going to some
school and it was myself, Eric and Coach Lapotsky were there
and you literally said Brian name a college and and I was
just throwing curveballs at him and he was able to name them
all. How?
How do you and how are you able to do that?
Well, you know, I'm still, I'm still pretty good at that and I
(24:04):
have now tried to expand my, my knowledge to division two and
three schools from having been amongst all divisions in my
career. I, you know, I think it's if
it's something that interests you with you to pick up.
But my Uncle Ray will still try to stump me sometimes.
People that are watching, pleasecomment.
Some will ask Eric, see if he can get, see if he can get any
(24:28):
wrong. I don't think he will.
But Eric, you're at Saint Francis, you're getting towards
the end. What were you thinking was next?
Or what were you hoping was? I definitely wanted to go on a
sport, so I graduated with my marketing degree.
You know, I thought, you know, I'd try getting in with an
advertising firm in the Pittsburgh area.
(24:49):
Ultimately, my senior year at Saint Francis, I also had a
sports marketing internship withthe university.
So from working with athletics in my sports marketing
internship, I interviewed with two schools right after I
graduated, one being UTEP and and the other being Bucknell and
(25:09):
you know, offered accepted Buck Bucknell because you know, it's
right in our in our backyard andstarted my professional year at
Bucknell. And that was the first place I
ever met you at Eric. Well, I mean, I remember you
told me the one time you remembered seeing me in the
hallways as a little kid with mygram.
But this was the first time I ever got to meet you and
remembered. And it's a job that you had that
still I I do it today, the job that you had.
(25:32):
Can you tell us about that amazing job?
Yes. So I was, I think one of
probably the top three all time Suika psychos at Suika Pavilion
at Bucktown University. So I4 basketball games my I
would put on a red, I had two wigs, 1 orange, 1 blue.
(25:53):
And I would go throw out T-shirts and get the crowd riled
up. You know, much as you do for
your, Yeah, multiple baseball gigs, Yeah.
It was it was so cool seeing a local guy.
Now I remember to this day, we're sitting there going to see
Bucknell play and my dad Pudge goes, hey, that, that's Eric.
And I'm like, OK, cool. And then we came up and talked
(26:14):
to you after the game and it wasmy my dad like catching up with
an old friend. And it was one of the coolest
experiences ever. And I think it's one of the
reasons why I wanted to get intosomething.
Oh, Brian, you're making me blush.
So you're at Bucknell, but you also did you were in like with
tickets over at Bucknell, correct?
So, so I, I was a marking assistant at Bucknell for two,
(26:35):
two years, you know, after that,because that was only like an
assistant ship. It wasn't a permanent position.
You know, I was applying for other jobs.
I had had an offer. I decided ultimately wasn't what
I wanted. So I was able to become the
ticket manager at Bucknell, you know, where I stayed there for
(26:56):
another four years. After Bucknell, what was next?
After Bucknell was Hershey Entertainment and Resorts for a
very brief 2 month stay. What was going on at Hershey
Entertainment? Yeah, so at Hershey
Entertainment, I was, I was, I had offered or I had accepted a
position at Bowling Green University to go be their
(27:18):
athletic ticket manager. But then, you know, Hershey came
back and offered me and I was like, well, you know, I'm a big
family person. I love being closer to home.
So I ultimately decided to take that position.
It was very brief because ultimately the head coach I
(27:40):
worked for at Saint Francis was the top assistant at East
Carolina. They needed a director of
operations, which was something I had always wanted to be for
women's basketball. So I, you know, I jumped ship.
Go Pirates. Yeah, I was about to say.
Yeah, You know, went over to East Carolina for a year and a
(28:02):
half. Being the director of operations
is you do basically direct everyop, every operations.
One of the things I tell people and they're like their jaw drops
is like I'm like, yeah, I spent $250,000 on a charter flight to
(28:27):
UTEP and back because, you know,I oversaw our budget was like
$1,000,000 budget at the time. So I oversaw all scholarships,
all food, wow, all travel as as a director of operations for,
for a group of five school at that point.
Yeah, East Carolina was still at, was still in Conference USA
(28:50):
at that point. Now in the American Conference,
which, you know, Brian, I'm getting old.
I'm getting old. So my name, you know, names.
What's Southern Cal's head coach?
Wait, it's Lincoln Riley right now?
Yes, he was actually the offensive coordinator in East
Carolina, was there. Wow Lincoln Riley, who was who's
been considered for many head coaching John.
(29:13):
Yeah. Career Eric.
What part Eastern East Carolina is that in South North Carolina?
That is in Greenville, home of Mr. Beast, which they also refer
to as G Vegas. Does it live up to that name?
It does, especially around Halloween.
(29:34):
Halloween is a very big holiday for the students of East.
Carolina. East Carolina What?
What's the difference between there and a school like Buck
now? Size there's like, you know,
it's it's a state. It's a state school in a North
Carolina system. OK, so there's like 25,000 kids
there. Oh wow OK, I didn't know it was
that side. Yeah, it's about 25,000.
(29:56):
Sports are a big deal. Ruffin McNeil was the head
football coach at that time and they were very successful.
So going to football games was amazing, packed houses.
Now they're trying to get back to that.
But if you ever go on YouTube and pull up like East Carolina
entrance videos for football, I mean I think they have some of
(30:18):
the most ever created. What's the band base like for
the mother? Like how the fan base?
Very good people love East Carolina athletics in that area.
I mean, otherwise you have to travel.
I I think NC State was maybe an hour away, an hour and a half
away. So a lot of those people really,
(30:40):
really came to, you know, East Carolina for women's basketball.
The support was very good there as well.
So it was, it was, yeah, it was.It was a good experience.
Besides being involved with football, what other what other
stuff would you go do when you were down in North Carolina?
You know, Brian, honestly, I worked a lot.
So, you know, if in coaching positions on coaching Staffs,
(31:00):
yeah, it was a lot of like 10 to12 hours a day.
Wow, seven days a week. You know, at that level it
doesn't stop. So Eric, you're at, you're down
there in North Carolina. You're you eventually find your
way back closer to the area after that, correct?
I I do, absolutely. There was a point where I was
out of, out of athletics for two, 2 1/2 years and I missed
(31:25):
it. I missed it a lot.
I was. That's when I would volunteer at
Lourdes. Yeah, with Coach Klumber in
athletics. And I also volunteered at
Susquehanna University in athletics and got.
Yeah, Go ahead, Brian. You're good.
When you were volunteering with Coach Klumbera, is that when you
were coaching junior high sports?
(31:47):
I think yes, it was. It was a little bit.
No, actually that was that was during my time at Bucknell is
when I coached, Yes. And then I came back to
volunteer. I volunteered.
I think it was around 2013. I was gonna.
(32:09):
Say prior on my freshman, sophomore year, you were.
I remember that. Yeah, yeah.
Yep. So I volunteered at Lourdes and
at Susquehanna University and then the, the athletic director
that hired me out of college at Bucknell was the, the athletic
director at Bloomsburg. And you know, I, I want to take
(32:29):
anything to get back in. So they had an equipment manager
position open. So I left my previous job and I
went and I became their equipment manager for six
months. My good friend who was the
assistant to the AD, which was the position I ultimately got at
at Bloomsburg was was leaving was moving down to North
(32:52):
Carolina with his wife. So I was able to get promoted
into that position and I stayed there at Bloomsburg for about 5
1/2 years. Wow, that drive you back into
sports? How was it for you during that
time when you weren't working for sports?
I mean it, it definitely was noteasy, I'm sure.
You're absolutely right, Brian, and this is what I'll tell.
I'll tell anybody who wants to work in sports, I'll say, you
(33:14):
know, make sure it's what you want to do because if you get
out, when you try to get back in, it's twice as hard.
I would not have thought that, but I mean, you're 100% right.
And I see it now like what's working with these teams,
especially like the ticket wrapsand the marketing, advertising
people like you said, 12 hour days, Eric, and even on game
days, they're spending even morethan that.
(33:35):
Yeah, absolutely. And I would like to take a quick
second and thank Jared for his comment.
Yeah, it was fun when we played for you, Eric.
And Eric, what was it like coaching Lords junior High
sports? It was something I never a lot I
would do, yeah, but something I always wanted to do.
And I was so grateful. Having been a player, I got to
(33:57):
play at Marks Hall and then ultimately I got to sit on the
bench as a coach and see the players I coached play at Marks
Hall. So the to be there as a player
and a coach was, you know, for akid from the coal Region, I
think you know, one of those once in a lifetime experiences.
Eric, who are some of the peopleyou coached with when you were
(34:18):
out Lords? Yeah, so coach with some
legends. Yes, you did.
Coach Dave Sandry? Yep, Coach Collins.
I I that's who I was waiting to sit.
Yeah, Coach Kevin Collins. One of the best.
Trying to hold back my emotions there.
Coach Dietz. Coach Dietz taught me a lot.
Coach Doc, Yeah, he's the man and he's, he's kicking butt
right now. Yep, yes, he is.
(34:40):
He's had a great career and on the high school girls side, and
you know, I like to think I taught coach Derek Lapotsky some
things too. I actually believe that, yeah.
So, yeah. So, yeah, that those were, I
mean, it's hard to put into words, you know, what you
learned from those guys. And you know, the good thing was
(35:00):
they're all Notre Dame fans. So we went to, I mean, countless
football games together. You, all you guys would always
go out. You guys were all very close and
it definitely showed on the court because I felt like we
were always very organized and you guys prepped us very well.
So coach, you were involved withLords basketball.
You're over at Bloom now, though, and when you're the
assistant to the athletic director, can you tell us what
(35:22):
that job, what it does like, howmuch work goes into?
Yeah, absolutely. The easiest way to put it,
Brian, is you do everything yourboss does not want to do.
So ultimately if if Doctor McFarland, who's the athletic
director there now and has been I think for close to 12 years
now, anything he was unable to do, I would step in and attend
(35:43):
for him. I also oversaw ticketing any
special events we hosted, like the Globetrotters.
Bloomsburg was redoing their flood walls at that time, so I
managed to having all of Bloomsburg high school sports up
at our up at our on our fields, which was a lengthy task.
(36:07):
Countless things is so much, youknow, it's hard to remember
unless I looked at my resume, it's hard.
It's hard to remember them all. Yeah, and Bloomsburg has a
great, great. They have great boosters, great
support. Can you talk about their
boosters over there? Yeah, I mean, the biggest 1 is
Steph Pettit. Yeah, you know, former football
player A6, very extremely successful businessman, a great
(36:30):
person, him and his wife, you know, and it's nice.
I was actually there when we gotto hire Coach Shep Talk.
Yeah, Coach. Another local guy.
You know, and it's taken some years, but he's he's bringing
Bloomsburg football back to where it was.
And it's pretty cool seeing thatCoach Shep talks, bringing a lot
of local talent in. Do you feel that's a big step to
(36:52):
getting Bloomsburg again to whatthey were?
I mean, it is Brian, but I stilldon't think they'll ever be, you
know, the IUP Crimson Hawks where you know, I currently AM.
Yep, that's that was where I wasgoing next.
After Bloom, you go over to IUP.What's it like now being at IUP?
Yeah. So this is this fall will be the
start of my fifth year here. You know, it was, it was a
(37:15):
dramatic change from Bloomsburg to coming over here.
Brian, if you ever get a chance,you know, you got to come up and
see our basketball facility. It is probably one, it's
probably one of the top five in division two and rivals most
small school division ones. OK, you know, we got plans in
(37:35):
the future to, you know, upgrade, upgrade our other
sports and make some additions. So, and you know, a lot of IUP's
athletic programs are very have been very traditionally
successful and it's, it's nice to be, I mean, Bloomsburg's
were, you know, successful as well.
(37:56):
It's nice to stay on that trail of success, you know, coming
from Bloom to IUP. Eric, what where in Pennsylvania
is IUP? I mean, I know it's in the
western part of the state, but I've personal I've never been
past Altoona. So please.
Yeah, you keep going past Altoona, down 22, you go past
Saint Francis where you know, about 45 minutes from Saint
(38:18):
Francis here in Indiana, PA. We are the the first Indiana
prior to that other College in the other state.
You know, it's funny relating Indiana to the other Indiana
coach Signetti, their football coach was a football coach here
first. Yeah.
And his brother came back to be our offensive coordinator going
(38:43):
into the season. So, so we we were the first
Indiana. Do you see Cason over there
often? Yes, yes I do.
Obviously with him being, being part part of baseball, he's he's
a great kid. He helped me log sand from
Lowe's this past spring when to dry out the field.
So yeah, it's nice having, you know, with Coach Klein here
(39:06):
who's a local guy from Lewisburg.
Yeah. Surprised to bring in local kid
what as well. So it's also, it's always nice
when we have kids from the coal reef.
Eric, you just brought up about local baseball.
What was your thoughts on the Mount Carmel baseball team this
year? The first game I saw my cousin
Noah pitch was the state championship.
(39:26):
Wow. That is the only game I got to
see him play live in person. And it's fantastic.
And not just with Mount Carmel baseball, but with all the coal
region sports, you know, with with the numbers in the schools
that they are now, how well thatcoal region area produces on the
(39:47):
mainstage, you know, for what the Coal Region has, you know,
they still put their best foot forward.
It's great. And again, you were talking
about your family earlier, your cousin Noah Shimko.
He's dominating. He dominated sports in his four
years. He's going now to the University
of Maine. Also my also my godson Brian.
(40:07):
I didn't know. Wow, Yeah.
I mean, we, we could not be be prouder of him.
He's, you know, I'm glad the other players on the opposing
side don't know him because, youknow, he's a big.
Yeah, he's a great kid. And I mean, it's so crazy seeing
how remembering seeing him as a small kid all the way now to a
(40:27):
senior in high school. He he's a freak athlete that
that describes it to me. Yeah.
And, you know, it's funny, like I think it is when I was back
for his graduation, for his or his graduation party.
I remember when he was this is going back 1015 years when he
was much, much younger and he thought baseball was going to be
(40:48):
his career. And he was playing like fall
ball. And he said he said something
along the lines of he didn't want to play football anymore.
But halfway during the cold Cougars football season, he came
back out. And I'm like, man, just, you
know, I remember when you said you didn't think this is for you
and look at you now. That's awesome.
And he's he's down to the University of Maine where he's
(41:08):
going to be playing. There's been some other Mount
Carmel guys that have played there as well over the years and
they for the most part been verysuccessful.
Yeah. And you know, no matter where
you are, where you go, it's, it's what you put in. 100
percent, 100%. Eric, we're getting close to the
end. Just some simple questions for
you, Eric. We're going to go back to
Lourdes. Who are some of the people that
influenced you as a high schooler?
(41:31):
Man, obviously you know, I'm I was one of Miss Builders
favorites. Not not many people get to say
that. No, but I I mean I can strongly
say that. She's, she's a good one and I
still talk to her pretty frequently And she's, she's a,
she's a great lady. Tough cookie by all means, but
one of one of the best teachers ever be in those hallways.
(41:51):
Yeah. And then obviously, you know,
during our time, Mr. Keeley, it was, it was always, it was
always something like he, you know, he, Mr. Keeley had his own
way, but you learn stuff from him without, without knowing.
I, I think that's what I would say.
(42:12):
You know, I don't know if Mr. Styers retired from Shamokin or
not. I think he's still involved,
yeah. But when he was at Lourdes, he
he made a a great impact all my life there when it came to like
the chorus and plays and and allthat.
And you know, especially, you know, not a teacher, but you
know, Victoria Boris. Yeah, oh great, man.
(42:35):
Dude, he wanted that whole school to be part of, of, of the
plays. You know, it didn't matter what
you did outside of that. You know, I was very lucky to be
there when Father Charles was around.
Yeah. Don't get to talk to him as much
now, but here, here and there, Mr. Kier was our was a man, our
(42:58):
fresh. We had freshman ball back then.
Yeah, he was our freshman coach at the time.
And I think those, you know, those are the people I still
remember. Oh, man, Brian, how many 24
years later? Yep.
Well, that's a long time. 24 years later, it's crazy.
Is your class planning on anything?
(43:19):
Have you heard anything? You know, it's, it's funny,
there was a Facebook, a Facebookgroup and you know, it took, it
took a hacker or something to message in a group sell about
these alumni T-shirts that you know, and who, you know, whoever
(43:40):
started messaging in these groups about selling T-shirts.
Obviously it was a fake person that got so many responses from
our class, you know, which did, which did talk to talk about,
you know, hopefully getting somewhere together down the
line. I don't think there's anything
in stone that I know about, but but that post made people talk
(44:02):
again. So that was interesting.
That's awesome and some other alums have said of that their
classes are close and it's greatto see your classes starting to
get some chitter chatter going more a month.
Yeah, I know for especially, youknow, most of us being early
40s, you know, families and kidsnow, man, 2001 was a long time
ago. You brought up.
You brought up family, kids. What's it like being a father
(44:23):
now, Eric? Man, it was, it was something I
always, always hoped for. Thought I'd get there earlier in
life. But you know.
My wife and I have been togetherfor over 8 years, married three
years this past June. I have a 14 year old daughter
and my youngest just turned 7. Their birthdays are like 2 weeks
(44:46):
apart. Exact 2 two weeks apart, seven
years apart. Best accomplishment in life,
that's. Awesome.
That's great to hear. And Eric, I, I want to thank you
again for giving us some of yourtime, man.
It's been, it's been a great time catching up with you.
The final question I have, who are some other alums that you
recommend we do this with? Anybody from my class of 2001?
(45:10):
OK, I'll say that. OK, you know my brother and
sister are are always available.I did talk with your brother,
Pat. We are going to get something
together. Or anybody you know in the
Zalaki family? Yeah, Alex, Luke, Tyler, Emma.
You know, you know, I would say my uncle Dan Zalaki, who beat
Southern as a quarterback back in the 80s, I think that was the
(45:33):
last Time Lords beat Southern. In wow, in football, in.
Football, yeah, yeah. I mean, there's, you know, any,
any Zawlaki family member, I think be all.
Right. That's great to know.
And Eric, thank you again one more time for giving us your
time. It was great catching up with
you and I hope you have a great day.
Hey, thank you, Brian. It was an honor to be here and
(45:53):
just, you know, thanks for reaching out.
Thanks for having me be part of this.
You know, it's, it's more just special what you're doing
special. I'll coach anything for you and
we'll we'll definitely keep in touch.
So thank you again. We'll hope you have a great rest
of your day and stay cool. All right.
See you, Brian. Bye everyone.
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