Suffolk County high school football was on centerstage this week as they held their first ever county-wide Media Day.
The National Football Foundation (NFF) and the Suffolk County Coaches Association got together to put on the special event. “Our partnership with the Coaches Association has helped to promote high school football in Suffolk County, and we are proud of our expanding events, including the Annual Scholar Athlete Brunches for girls and boys, the NFF Leadership Symposium, the Long Island QB Challenge, and now a Media Day,” said Chapter President Len Genova.
The event not only highlighted each school's football program but those who made it work. Coaches approached the podium to speak about their team and with each speaker you could feel the respect for the other programs and the adoration they had for the student athletes. Many coaches discussed their changing rosters and approach to the new season, while others spoke about the overall dedication it took to be a stellar high school football player. Time after time we heard words like leaders and role models being brought up as they are not just making good football players, but they are there to make the kids better people.
Each team selected a handful of players to come up and stand besides their coach for pictures, while each coach discussed the players accomplishments and what they meant to the team and school on and off the field.
Each coach also made sure to mention Westhampton Beach head coach Bryan Schaumloffel. This was his brainchild and he spearheaded the event. Coach Schaumloffel organized a Media Day for the schools from Suffolk Division 3 last season and wanted to expand on that idea. “I was so impressed with the concept and success of the event, I reached out to Coach Schaumloffel, Steve Fasciani (President, Suffolk County Coaches Association) and Tim Horan (Section XI Football Chairman) to propose the NFF sponsoring a county-wide Media Day in 2024,” Genova said.
The media event gave writers a chance to meet the coaches and players, but more than anything it allowed a spotlight to be shown on everyone within the football programs.