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Showcase for Players But Also Education
The Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge football game represents different things to different players. For some players, the game is an early chance to test their skills against the type of competition they will face in college football. For other players, it's their last chance to catch a college coach's eye and earn a scholarship, or at least encouragement to try out for a walk-on position on the team. And for others, it is their final competitive league football game.
But regardless of each player's football future, the game is a chance to give the more than 100 participants a spotlight they've probably never had before in their playing career. And it's also a chance for them to meet their former opponents, practice with them, and develop friendships that will long outlive the game.
"For many players, this is the biggest game of their lives," said Esiason, standing on the edge of the field surveying the game that he brought to life five years ago. "They get eight days of practice at the Jets facilities, good food, professional referees, pro style jerseys that they get to keep, and the game is televised. I wish this had been around when I was in high school."
Missing out on this caliber of an all-star game when he was a schoolboy star at East Islip High School is what drove Esiason to start the game. But to Esiason, the importance of the game goes deeper than that.
The Empire Challenge game raises funds for two causes - youth football on Long Island, and Cystic Fibrosis research. Major corporate sponsors Outback Steakhouse, Canon, NFL Flag, Chase Manhattan Bank, and Newsday provide substantial funds, resources, and expertise to help make the Empire Challenge one of the strongest high school all-star football games in the nation. "We've got so much we want to do, so many people to help," said Esiason. "Our sponsors understand our goals, and that's why they are so active."
Finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis continues to drive Boomer and other members of the Foundation. And it's rubbed off on the many people who come in contact with the Foundation over the course of the year.
"Canon got involved a couple of years ago as part of our philanthropic goal of supporting youth at risk," said Pam Leeds, Canon's director of public affairs. "I can't think of a greater risk than CF."
"I'm so impressed with the sense of urgency that people in the Foundation bring to finding a cure," she continued. "They are literally racing against time."
It's a message that Esiason and the coaches share with the all-start players during the eight days of practice that precede the game. "This is a pretty sharp group of kids, and they understand what CF is all about," said Ed Gardella, defensive line coach for the New York City team. "This game means a lot to them personally. It's also a chance for them to help youth football and stop CF -- to show a different side of New York City kids than the label they sometimes get."
Before and during the game, players on both sides displayed the type of sportsmanship and class that reflects proudly on football and a mission as important as Cystic Fibrosis. A clean but hard-hitting game brought fans to their feet for every play in the last few minutes of Long Island's 23-18 victory.
"Down to the last two minutes, just like last year," said Andrew Rothstein, manager of marketing programs for Newsday, which is in its second year of sponsorship. "It's a great event, and it really brings the Long Island community together."
Community, athletics, and an important cause are why Chase Manhattan also is a major sponsor for the second year, said Chase's Bill Presti, vice president of business relations. "I came to this game as a fan three years ago, and when I saw how exciting it was and how well run it was, I called Boomer and said that Chase wanted to be involved," said Presti. "We're delighted with the program, and we plan to be involved in a bigger way in the future."
Presti also has learned about the Foundation's sense of urgency to cure Cystic Fibrosis. "I think we're getting close to a cure," he said. "I think of it as a freight train going a hundred miles an hour towards a cure. If Chase can shovel a bit of coal and help it go faster, that's great."
Hofstra University, which has hosted every Empire Challenge, "welcomes this game, and we hope to continue to be associated with it for many years," said President James M. Shuart, Ph.D., who was on hand to watch eight of this year's football recruits play their final high school game. "It's really Boomer's game, and we admire him and everything he's doing - it's from the heart." In the End, Game Brings Friendship
Kevin Adler
Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge - New York City vs Long Island All-Star Football Game
200
B Armstrong RoadGarden
City Park, NY 11040 US Telephone: 516-746-0077
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday
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