Hall of Fame
Shaw played on the Lions’ football team from 1988 through 1991. During that four-year span, the program posted an overall record of 31-8-2 claiming a pair of New Jersey Athletic Conference championship titles.
A product of Northfield, NJ, Shaw played defensive and offensive line for coach Bob Coffee at Mainland Regional High School. Coach Hamilton planned to use Shaw as a defensive lineman, but needed a player who could block that owned a trusty pair of hands. A catcher during his baseball days at Mainland as a catcher, Shaw was the man the staff was looking for.
As a result, Shaw played tight end in his rookie season catching 13 passes for 159 yards (12.2 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. The Lions compiled a record of 8-2 (5-1, NJAC) that season winning the conference title.
Entering his sophomore, Shaw remained on the offensive side of the ball, but coach Hamilton recognized his potential as a center and put his hands on the football at the start of each play. The moved paid dividends as the Lions stormed to an 8-1 (5-1, NJAC) record finishing second in the conference to Montclair State. Shaw earned Second Team All-NJAC honors as a center.
The 1990 season was arguably the best in football program history. The Lions won their first three contests before dropping a 10-3 decision to Glassboro State. Following that loss, they won six straight to seize the NJAC championship. The Lions traveled to two-time national champion Ithaca College and earned nation-wide attention and respect. They blitzed the Bombers to win their first NCAA tournament game 24-14 to advance to the Easter Regional finals. They were eliminated the following week at home by Hofstra, who was its final year as a Division III program.
Shaw had an exceptional season teaming with Mike Tierney (Vernon, NJ) to provide quarterback Steve Mortellite (Hammonton, NJ) the protection and time he needed to commandeer the Lion Wing-T offense. The front line allowed just nine sacks during the entire 1990 season and Shaw was named First Team All-NJAC.
In his senior season, Shaw led the College to a 5-3 record. The men in the trenches allowed just five sacks during the regular season in 1991. The 6’ 2”, 250-pound lineman joined his head coach Eric Hamilton as the only other center to earn All-American honors. Shaw was named to the First Team Kodak All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). He was selected as an All-American on teams sponsored by the Associated Press, Pizza Hut, and Champions.
Off the football field, Shaw followed the Lions football code penned by coach Hamilton in the 1991 pre-season. “Your foremost goal is to develop yourself as a student.” He developed into a scholar-athlete, and after graduating, became a physical education teacher at Southern Regional High School. He coached youth football, baseball, soccer, and golf before exiting his career in teaching to pursue the industry of finance. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 1994 and is the Regional Sales and Marketing Director of the New York region.
“The four years I had the opportunity to play football at TSC (now TCNJ) was an experience that would change my life,” noted Shaw. “Leadership, teamwork, discipline and pride were always the focus of the program. The school, programs and people will always hold a special place in my heart. I appreciated the opportunity to be part of its history.”
