If you've read Newsday the last few days, you know the Roosevelt school district is in a financial hole. Which brings me back to the plight of its athletic program. The district needed $40,000 to ensure the fall season could begin. It's since been raised. But more money is needed.

And rival Cold Spring Harbor, which already chipped in up to $22,000 in donations, is still at the forefront in the effort to raise cash for Roosevelt athletics. The two teams face off in the Nassau Conference IV football season opener this Friday night. You can expect the game to be heated -- these teams have met in the last two conference championship games.

But if you show up at Cold Spring Harbor for the 7 p.m. start -- and please do, the Seahawks' stadium is amazingly nice -- bring extra cash. Cold Spring Harbor will be donating its concessions proceeds to Roosevelt athletics. And who knows, maybe they'll pass the hat in the stands, too. The point is, if you are a fan of high school sports, prove it with your wallet on Friday night.

Posted by Jason Molinet at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Hey Rob:

I saw you play for the first time Saturday against Half Hollow Hills West. If I took anything away from what was a sloppy but thrilling Suffolk football Division III season opener, it was that booming leg of yours. Not many kickers have come along with your potential since Ward Melville produced NFL punter Todd Sauerbrun back in 1991.

I know that’s a lot to swallow, but what I’m trying to say is this: You can’t play two sports this fall. You need to choose. I know you already are a star in soccer. But if you drop soccer and focus on football, I see major opportunities in front of you. You have a Division I leg. Only the timing and decision-making is a little off.

When the first punt of the day was snapped over your head and into the end zone on fourth and 17, you should have scooped it up and run out the back of the end zone rather than try to get a first down. You gave Hills West the ball at the Comsewogue 12-yard line instead of conceding two points and pinning them deep.

You had another punt and field goal attempt blocked later in the game. I can’t fault you there. But you do need to be a step quicker.

Sauerbrun booted a 63-yard field goal in high school. I saw you just miss wide left on a 50-yard field goal that probably had the range from 60 yards out. (You made the kick from a much tougher angle again and again at halftime.) And you boomed three of four kickoffs into the end zone – two of them sailing 9 yards deep.

Yes, that leg of yours is special. There’s nothing like big-time college football. If you work at it, the chance to play at that level is there. But you need to put all your effort into one sport. So choose now and don’t look back.

Posted by Jason Molinet at 07:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)