Herzog: Long Island to Give Back to Boomer

Since 1996 Boomer Esiason has supported LI football with the annual Empire Challenge. Now, its Long Island’s turn to give back to Boomer.

It has happened every June since 1996. Long Island’s elite high school football players and coaches participate in the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge – I like to call it the Boomer Bowl – and have the time of their lives. For a week, they are treated like royalty – first-class practice venues, free equipment and food, pep talks from NFL players and a charity all-star game at a premier venue — Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium – before a large crowd.

There’s a scene after this year’s game that is etched in the mind of Hans Weiderkehr, president of the Suffolk County football coaches association. “In the locker room, I’m watching all the players leaving with their arms loaded with free stuff,” the former Babylon coach said. “I turned to Sal [Ciampi, the East Islip coach whose father coached Boomer in high school] and said, ‘What can we do to give something back to Boomer?’ ”

For years, Boomer Esiason, former East Islip, University of Maryland and NFL star quarterback, is the one who has been doing the giving. Proceeds from the Empire Challenge have raised millions of dollars to raise money and awareness for cystic fibrosis, the disease that struck his son Gunnar, now a sophomore at Boston College. The Boomer Esiason Foundation also supports youth football in the metropolitan area.

Nassau and Suffolk are united in their effort to send a giant thank-you card, check enclosed, to Esiason before next year’s game. Long Island’s two counties are going about it in different ways, but each hopes to outdo the other in the fund-raising department. There will be no loser.

Beginning with this week’s games in Suffolk, the home team is responsible for setting up a table and asking fans to donate at least a dollar to the BEF. The 54 public schools will have each played one home game by the end of Week 2 and after the money is counted, Weiderkehr’s organization will present a check to Esiason.
“It’s a way to give back to Boomer,” Weiderkehr said. “Look at all the time and effort and money this man has put into Long Island football.”
Nassau will do its fund raising near the end of the season. During the county’s semifinal and final playoff games at Shuart Stadium in November, tables will be set up inside with volunteers requesting contributions from fans. “It’s terrific to give back to an organization that has given so much to Nassau County football,” said Dan Agovino, president of the Nassau County football coaches association and coach at North Shore. He also will present one check for the total amount collected to Boomer.
It’s a wonderfully spontaneous gesture by the Long Island coaches, with no prompting from Boomer or his organization. In fact, when contacted on Wednesday for a comment, Michael Buscemi, senior vice president of events for the BEF, said he was unaware of this fund-raising effort. He was unable to reach Esiason for a comment, but said, “Boomer’s dedication to giving back to our community’s football programs has always been a top priority.”
And now the football community returns the favor. Unexpected gifts are the best kind and this one comes from the hearts of many. Coaches and players who have participated in the Boomer Bowl like to refer to their post-game swag this way: “Everything but the helmet.” Essentially, that is what they walk away with, compliments of Boomer, as they leave Shuart Stadium with shirts, shorts, shoes, bags – and the memory of a lifetime. “I have three coaches on my staff who played in the game and they tell my players it was the greatest experience of their lives,” said Agovino.
It’s been 15 years of Christmas in June for many Long Island players and coaches. And now Boomer, a man of great presence, will be receiving two great presents.