Keller’s Korner - 2025 Boca Raton Bowl

The game, played at Florida Atlantic University and shown on ESPN, was a thriller. Louisville edged Toledo 27–22 in one of the closest Boca Raton Bowls in recent memory. The atmosphere was electric, highlighted by Comedian Keegan-Michael Key firing up the crowd and Navy SEALs skydiving into the stadium.

Louisville featured three Jewish players — including one from Davie, Florida — while Toledo had one Jewish player and a Jewish head coach.

Louisville’s Jewish Players

The Cardinals, representing the ACC, entered as favorites. Their starting quarterback, Miller Moss, has a Jewish father, Eric, whom he credits for inspiring his football journey. “My father was my first coach when I was just five or six years old,” Miller told me. A USC transfer, he added, “I hope to get in the NFL and I am excited for the draft.” His favorite NFL quarterback is Joe Burrow.

Miller grew up in California and shared, “We celebrated both Hanukkah and Christmas.” His mother Emily said, “I am so proud of him.” His father Eric added, “He is a hero in a time that needs heroes.” When I asked Miller about his parents, he said, “I am super grateful to them. I am super proud to be their son.”

Another standout is Shai Kochav, who lives in Davie, Florida and attended TRU Prep Academy in Miami Gardens. A 5‑star long snapper recruited by LSU, Army, and other colleges, Shai possesses a rare skill set that should draw NFL attention.

“I will continue to train and hopefully make an NFL team,” Shai told me. His girlfriend Hannah added, “He is the hardest worker I know. He takes his work very seriously and is a great person and player.”

Shai’s parents, Mike and Pam Kochav, proudly wore their Kochav jerseys at the game. Pam also sported a button with her son’s photo and told me, “I am very proud of him.”

Standing 6’3”, Shai is not someone you want to mess with — he’s a third‑degree black belt and a five‑time Taekwondo world champion. Louisville also has Jewish punter Carter Schwartz, though I was told he was not at the game.

Toledo’s Jewish Representation

Toledo, which plays in the Mid-American Conference, had one Jewish player and, notably, a Jewish head coach. Jason Candle served as head coach throughout the 2025 Season but accepted the UConn job shortly before the bowl game. As a result, Robert Weiner was elevated to head coach just three weeks before kickoff.

I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with Robert. Jewish college football coaches are rare — Jedd Fisch and Ryan Silverfield are among the few — but Robert is a rising star who had the Rockets prepared on short notice.

“Football coaching has been my love since 1989,” he told me. “I started at my alma mater, Jesuit High School, as an assistant coach. From there I was the head coach at Plant High School for 16 years. We won four Florida State titles and 14 district titles.”

Robert left Plant after the 2019 Season to join Toledo’s staff in 2020. Raised in Cherry Hill, New Jersey before moving to Tampa, he joked, “I still have the cassette that had my Haftorah on it. I remember it was on December 10th.”

At the post‑game press conference, the love his players have for him was obvious. Emotional at the table, he said, “There are no moral victories. It was the greatest privilege to be the head coach for the Boca Raton Bowl.” Robert will be coaching at another college in 2026.

I did not get a chance to speak with Tanner Rubinstein, but he is also a Jewish player for the Rockets.

Voices Around the Bowl

Doug Mosley, Executive Director of the Boca Raton Bowl since its inception in 2014, is a walking encyclopedia of the event. He told me, “We had the game on December 23rd so more children could attend as school is out.” He also noted that December 23rd is the anniversary of the very first Boca Raton Bowl, when Marshall defeated Northern Illinois.

Scott Singer, Mayor of Boca Raton since April 2018, said, “I have attended all 12 bowl games. This might be one of the best as it was a close game.”

Fran Nachlas, the Deputy Mayor of Boca Raton, added, “I have attended the last three bowl games.” I love Fran’s enthusiasm, and she shared that she will be running for Boca Raton Mayor in 2026.

I also enjoyed speaking with ESPN’s Evan Cohen, co-host of the early‑morning show “Unsportsmanlike with Evan, Canty and Michelle.” Like Mayor Singer, Evan said, “I have been to all the Boca Raton Bowl games and love them all.”

I encourage everyone to attend the Boca Raton Bowl in 2026.

Neil Keller is a Jewish historian. Visit: www.NeilKeller.com to learn who is Jewish.