Ocean State Sidelines

The latest "Ocean State Sidelines" podcast welcomes Donovan Santoro, who supplied the Providence Friars with a verbal commitment last week. Santoro becomes the third member from the Class of 2023 to pledge to PC. He joins fellow Southern California Academy teammates Garwey Dual and Drew Fielder as part of Ed Cooley's latest recruiting haul.

In the latest episode of Ocean State Sidelines, sportswriter Brendan McGair (Pawtucket Times/Woonsocket Call) catches up with WPRI 12's Taylor Begley & Sam Knox. Suffering from a case of Zappe Fever? Time to give credit to Matt Patricia & Joe Judge? Besides discussing the Patriots, stock is put into the RIIL football scene. Plus, thoughts on Johnston native Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics opening the 2022-23 NBA season with a win over the Philadelphia Sixers. 

In the latest episode of Ocean State Sidelines, sportswriter Brendan McGair (Pawtucket Times/Woonsocket Call) talks with John Gillooly about his new book titled "Friday Night Thunderbolts." A retired sports scribe who covered R.I. high school sports for the Providence Journal for 50 years, Gillooly followed the Cranston East football team for an entire season (2018) and ultimately produced a book that's more than just a football story. From coaches to players, to the climate surrounding the Cranston East program, Gillooly produced a book that will keep you turning the pages.   

The final Friday in September and the first Saturday in October will feature a few non-league high school football matchups that offer plenty of intrigue (Woonsocket at Central, St Raphael at North Kingstown). Plus, sportswriters Brendan McGair (Pawtucket Times/Woonsocket Call) and Will Geoghegan (The Independent) preview Saturday's Governor's Cup showdown between Brown & URI.

Sportswriters Brendan McGair (Pawtucket Times/Woonsocket Call) and Will Geoghegan (The Independent) discuss a noticeable trend based off last week's RIIL high school football results and break down the Week 3 slate of games. 

The latest episode of the Ocean State Sidelines podcast welcomes Drew Fielder, a four-star prospect from the Class of 2023 who supplied Ed Cooley's Providence Friars with a verbal commitment earlier this week. Fielder talks about his love of football while growing up in Idaho along with the person who helped change his viewpoint regarding basketball and the potential avenues it could open. Of course, we get into his recruitment and why he felt comfortable in slamming the brakes on the process when he had additional official visits on the docket.

One of the top Providence College basketball players in the Ed Cooley Era stops by for the latest episode of Ocean State Sidelines as sportswriter Brendan McGair (Pawtucket Times/Woonsocket Call) welcomes LaDontae Henton, who's gearing up for his second season as Special Assistant to the Head Coach. Henton looks back at his standout career with the Friars and also reflects on the similar traits between last year's special PC squad and the PC team that captured the 2014 Big East Tournament.

Bring on Thursday Night Lights! Four RIIL high school football games are on tap Thursday as sportswriters Brendan McGair (Pawtucket Times/Woonsocket Call) and Will Geoghegan break down the games that will take place over three days. There's also a big-time college football game involving a pair of nationally ranked teams as URI hosts Delaware at Meade Stadium Saturday. 

We're now t-minus eight weeks until the start of the 2022-23 college basketball season with sportswriter Brendan McGair (Pawtucket Times/Woonsocket Call) welcoming Bryant University associate head coach Phil Martelli Jr. to the Ocean State Sidelines podcast. From the role his father played, to finding his way in the coaching circles, to forming a connection with Bryant head coach Jared Grasso, to life as the primary scheduler of non-conference games, Martelli provides plenty of insight over the course of this wide-ranging conversation.

A new R.I. high school football season is afoot and sports writers Will Geoghegan (The Independent) and Brendan McGair (Pawtucket Times/Woonsocket Call) talk about the games that are on tap this week along with a few other additional pigskin-related matters.