About Us
Tom Wilson Ricky Patterson WGLS-FM Team
First I'd like to thank a few people and organizations...
Pat Coleman of D3football.com for providing a forum, and a meeting place for fans of DIII football. And Ric Brienza of mtunionfootball.com who created the first DIII football team fan site. They have blazed a trail that I am following. Without their work and passion for small college football, the concept of rowanfootball.com would not exist.
Rowan Magazine for providing me with an article on the origins and history of the Rowan football program.
The best sports staff in college radio 89.7 WGLS-FM, for all their help.
The soccer coach that never called back during the summer of my 10th birthday. That event resulted in my neighbor, the Pop Warner football coach, adding me to his fall roster. I've been passionately involved in football as a player, referee, fan, and tailgater ever since.
My Mom and Dad who have supported me in my sports endeavors while I was growing up.
My fiance Jennifer, who is still learning the game, and is pretty good at supporting my jones for football and baseball. Her first football game was a Rowan game five years ago. She is probably the sweetest, yet toughest person I've ever met. She's redefined the term guts and determination for me.
About Tom Wilson "JT" - JT@rowanfootball.com
I am a 1990 graduate of Rowan University, formerly Glassboro State College. I was the Business Manager of the college newspaper and a DJ and sportscaster for the radio station. I am now an entepreneur and live with my fiance in Northern NJ.
When I first attended Rowan, I felt that the football program could become a DIII power because of its location, which was in the middle of a hotbed of high school football talent from South Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. Rowan is also a State school, which made it less costly than some other private DIII schools in the East.
Around 1988, Rowan was building a serious football program under the leadership of Head Coach John Bunting, a former LB with the Phildelphia Eagles, and current Head Coach of his alma mater North Carolina.
Rowan was seriously recruiting high school seniors and bringing in a few key DI and DII transfers. By the fall of 1991, Rowan was deep and talented and won its very first NCAA playoff game before losing to Ithaca College, in the second round of the playoffs. Ithaca went on to win the National Championship that year.
Since 1990, the Profs have compiled an .806 winning percentage (143-34-1), and have competed in the DIII National Championship game 5 times. Rowan has the 4th most NCAA playoff victories (24) all-time. They also have the 3rd most wins in DIII, behind Mount Union, OH and St. John's, MN during the same period.
So I guess you could say it has been a lot of fun for me. With the exception of a wishing for a couple mulligans (which aren't allowed in football), I've had a great time meeting people, tailgating, traveling, and most importantly, watching the Profs.
I'm approaching this site like my first car, a 1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass. I had to learn how to fix her up by reading a Chilton's manual and scraping my knuckles. I eventually got pretty good at keeping her going. As I learn more, I'll continue adding to and jazzing up rowanfootball.com. Keep a look out in the What's New page.
What you read on this site are my thoughts and opinions and those of individual contributors. This is site not affiliated with Rowan University or the football team. With that said, "Welcome the unofficial home of The Beast of the East -- Rowan Football Profs!"
About Ricky Patterson (2003 Season)
I am a 2001 graduate of Rowan University. I was a Business Administration major with a specialization in Management. My minor was Journalism and I am a passionate sports fan and an avid Profs Fan. I was also in the Military during my college years, serving with the New Jersey Army National Guard as a M1A1 tank driver. Driving tanks really improved my writing skills. Ha! Ha! I am currently working in the banking industry in Cherry Hill, New Jersey; however writing is my first love. I hope that readers will be completely informed with the style of articles that I present as well as enjoy its content. I am a Carneys Point, NJ native and I currently reside in Voorhees, NJ with my girlfriend Mary Kate Breslin '02.
Rowan Radio WGLS-FM - The Football Broadcast Team
Derek Jones, 24, Somerdale, NJ (2002 - Present) -derek@rowanfootball.com
Nicknames: "DJ", "Skippy", "Dre"
Derek Jones is in his fifth season calling Prof football. A Rowan graduate, Derek majored in Communications (Radio/TV/Film) during his undergraduate tenure and Public Relations for his graduate pursuits. Derek currently serves as the assistant station manager for WGLS-FM. Derek served as the WGLS Sports Director from 2000-2002 and as the WGLS graduate assistant from 2001-2002. Derek is a nine-time award-winning broadcaster. Derek also played an integral role in orchestrating the lone WGLS Marconi Award for Excellence in Sportscasting for The Profs Year in Review 2000. Derek's fondest Rowan memory is the 24-17 OT win over Mount Union in the 1999 national semi-finals. In his spare time, Derek enjoys hanging out with friends, discussing the nuances of the '92 Cowboys and listening to music.
Tom Ortuso, 20, Flemington, NJ (2002-2003 Seasons)
Nicknames: "O-train", "Tommy"
Tom is currently in his second season calling Profs football. Tom is currently a senior at Rowan University, where he studies journalism. In addition, Tom is in his second year as sports director of WGLS-FM. Prior to calling games, Tom was involved in the studio operations of Profs football, serving as board operator and halftime show host for the 2001 season. Tom is a three-time award-winning broadcaster and also writes men's soccer, women's basketball and baseball for Rowan's on-campus newspaper, The Whit. Tom's favorite Rowan football moment was the comeback 30-25 win over TCNJ, in which the Profs rallied from a 19-0 first half deficit. Outside of the broadcasting booth, Tom enjoys playing NCAA Football 2004, hanging out with friends, and watching his little brother's Pop Warner football team.
Paul Gornowski, 20, Audubon, NJ (2003 - Present) paul@rowanfootball.com
Nickname: "The Ironbear"
Paul is in his first year as sideline reporter for Rowan Football. Paul is a junior Radio/TV/Film major at Rowan. Before getting to the sidelines, Paul spent the 2001 and 2002 seasons in the WGLS-FM Studio as the highlight generator and worked on the halftime and post-game shows. Paul also is in his second year as Public Affairs Director at WGLS. He is also a three-time award winner. Paul's favorite Rowan moment was the 28-27 win over TCNJ in Glassboro, as Rowan stopped the Lion quarterback Bob Schurtz on what would have been the winning two-point conversion. When Paul is not on the sideline he enjoys playing any hockey video game, NCAA 2004, and hanging out with his friends.
