Illness forces Manasquan 's Vic Kubu not to coach football this season/Assistant Pete Cahill to run the Warriors in '07
Since this is a blog - I don't mind telling everyone it was with a great deal of personal concern and sadness that I wrote this story this evening.....
By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
Vic Kubu, one of the most successful high school football coaches in the history of the Shore Conference, said Thursday he will take a leave of absence from leading Manasquan this season.
Kubu, who turned 65 in April, has under gone two surgeries in the last year for pancreatic cancer according to Dr. Patrick Buddle, Wall, his personal physician.
Dr. Buddle said during the second surgery in January at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick the tumor and a good portion of Kubu's pancreas were removed during a 12-hour operation.
Dr. Buddle said Kubu is currently suffering from recurring infections, malnutrition, and chronic Ascides, an accumulation of fliud within the abdominal cavity.
He said the coach is showing signs of progresses. ""He's had no fever over the last four or five days and the white cell count, which is an indication of infection has gone downward.""
""Right now I'm very weak, have a hard time walking,'' said Kubu Thursday by cell phonefrom his hospital bed at Jersey Shore Medical Center where he said he's spent the last twoweeks.
Dr. Buddle said Kubu has now been admitted ""four or five times"" at Jersey Shore since January because of the infections.
"'I'm going to try and help out (this season) as much as possible,'' said Kubu. ""Right now I'm not ready to coach. I've got a lot of infections and can't get rid of them. Now those things could go away in a week. Who knows?''
Kubu's 263 victories rank second among active Shore Conference coaches to Warren Wolf of Brick Township who has 350. Kubu said long time assistant Pete Cahill will act as Manasquan's interim coach this season.
Dr. Buddle said Kubu was diagnosed last spring. ""After he recovered from the (first) surgery, when they couldn't take the tumor out, he proceded though chemothearpy and radiation therapy which actually went though during last season.''
Manasquan went 12-0 last season, winning a Shore Conference record 10th New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association sectional championship. It defeated West Deptford, 28-0, in the 2006 South Jersey Group II final.
Kubu, though he did not coach from the sidelines in 2006, guided the team from press boxes where he remained in touch with his assistant coaches via head phones.
Four members of that team, graduated seniors Ed Kirschenbaum, Jim Sullivan, Evan Ragan, and Alex Iachetta, this week have been wearing wrist bands and helmet stickers bearing Kubu's name at practices for Friday's Shore 44 all-star game.
""I can't explain how much respect we have for the guy,'' said Kirschenbaum before Thursday evening's practice. ""That's (stickers, wrist bands), that's only a small, little thing we can do for him,'' he said.
"'He was always like the big guy, always around everything, a very inspiring man.''
Kirschenbaum said he's optimistic Kubu will overcome the adveristy. ""He's the toughest guy I know,''said Kirschenbaum. ""He can beat anything. I definitely hope the best for him, and I believe he will (get better).''
Sullivan said the former Manasquan players will have added incentive for Friday's game. ""We're going to try and win this game for him, try and boost his spirts up,'' said Sullivan who has a football scholarship to Monmouth University.
''Whenever Manasquan kids go out and win games it makes him happy on the inside,'' Sullivan said. We'll try and give him a good start for next season. We know if Manasquan High School is good next year it'll help him out a lot.''
Under Kubu since 1985 the Warriors have also won or shared 14 Shore Conference division titles.
A 1960 Manasquan graduate Kubu had returned to his alma mater from Middletown North where he coached the Lions for 10 years, including an 11-0 Central Jersey Group IV championship in 1983 led by current Wall coach Chris Barnes. Prior to that Kubu served nine years as an assisatant to Wolf.
"'In typical fashion he (Kubu) keeps asking me, "What's the game plan?' Dr. Buddle said. ""My goal and Victor's goal are to get him back in good health and back on the football field.''
Manasquan will take a 19-game winning streak into the 2007 season.
By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
Vic Kubu, one of the most successful high school football coaches in the history of the Shore Conference, said Thursday he will take a leave of absence from leading Manasquan this season.
Kubu, who turned 65 in April, has under gone two surgeries in the last year for pancreatic cancer according to Dr. Patrick Buddle, Wall, his personal physician.
Dr. Buddle said during the second surgery in January at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick the tumor and a good portion of Kubu's pancreas were removed during a 12-hour operation.
Dr. Buddle said Kubu is currently suffering from recurring infections, malnutrition, and chronic Ascides, an accumulation of fliud within the abdominal cavity.
He said the coach is showing signs of progresses. ""He's had no fever over the last four or five days and the white cell count, which is an indication of infection has gone downward.""
""Right now I'm very weak, have a hard time walking,'' said Kubu Thursday by cell phonefrom his hospital bed at Jersey Shore Medical Center where he said he's spent the last twoweeks.
Dr. Buddle said Kubu has now been admitted ""four or five times"" at Jersey Shore since January because of the infections.
"'I'm going to try and help out (this season) as much as possible,'' said Kubu. ""Right now I'm not ready to coach. I've got a lot of infections and can't get rid of them. Now those things could go away in a week. Who knows?''
Kubu's 263 victories rank second among active Shore Conference coaches to Warren Wolf of Brick Township who has 350. Kubu said long time assistant Pete Cahill will act as Manasquan's interim coach this season.
Dr. Buddle said Kubu was diagnosed last spring. ""After he recovered from the (first) surgery, when they couldn't take the tumor out, he proceded though chemothearpy and radiation therapy which actually went though during last season.''
Manasquan went 12-0 last season, winning a Shore Conference record 10th New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association sectional championship. It defeated West Deptford, 28-0, in the 2006 South Jersey Group II final.
Kubu, though he did not coach from the sidelines in 2006, guided the team from press boxes where he remained in touch with his assistant coaches via head phones.
Four members of that team, graduated seniors Ed Kirschenbaum, Jim Sullivan, Evan Ragan, and Alex Iachetta, this week have been wearing wrist bands and helmet stickers bearing Kubu's name at practices for Friday's Shore 44 all-star game.
""I can't explain how much respect we have for the guy,'' said Kirschenbaum before Thursday evening's practice. ""That's (stickers, wrist bands), that's only a small, little thing we can do for him,'' he said.
"'He was always like the big guy, always around everything, a very inspiring man.''
Kirschenbaum said he's optimistic Kubu will overcome the adveristy. ""He's the toughest guy I know,''said Kirschenbaum. ""He can beat anything. I definitely hope the best for him, and I believe he will (get better).''
Sullivan said the former Manasquan players will have added incentive for Friday's game. ""We're going to try and win this game for him, try and boost his spirts up,'' said Sullivan who has a football scholarship to Monmouth University.
''Whenever Manasquan kids go out and win games it makes him happy on the inside,'' Sullivan said. We'll try and give him a good start for next season. We know if Manasquan High School is good next year it'll help him out a lot.''
Under Kubu since 1985 the Warriors have also won or shared 14 Shore Conference division titles.
A 1960 Manasquan graduate Kubu had returned to his alma mater from Middletown North where he coached the Lions for 10 years, including an 11-0 Central Jersey Group IV championship in 1983 led by current Wall coach Chris Barnes. Prior to that Kubu served nine years as an assisatant to Wolf.
"'In typical fashion he (Kubu) keeps asking me, "What's the game plan?' Dr. Buddle said. ""My goal and Victor's goal are to get him back in good health and back on the football field.''
Manasquan will take a 19-game winning streak into the 2007 season.
posted by Tony Graham at 7:39 PM
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