Local Coaches Visit with Oakland Raiders

As a reward for their participation in the 2002 Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge and the successes they’ve enjoyed in high school football, each head coach was invited by Oakland Raiders’ owner Al Davis to spend time with the Raiders as they prepared for the 2002 NFL season.

Fred Snyder (Sheepshead Bay) and Keith Sachs (Wantagh) were named the first recipients of the Al Davis Coach of the Year Award and so won the coveted invite from the Raiders’ owner who has roots in Brooklyn and graduated from Erasmus High School.

Snyder and Joe Cipp, Jr. (Bellport) - who filled in for Sachs - hung out with the Raiders for four days. They spent an afternoon at practice at the Raiders’ training facility in Napa, Calif., joined the team for dinner and then traveled to Dallas with the team for a preseason game against the Cowboys.

While in Dallas, the coaches observed the team’s walk-through along with a simulated game-day strategy rehearsal and sat in on a defensive meeting. On game day, they were part of the Raiders’ motorcade to Texas Stadium and watched the game with the coaches.

The experience was truly unforgettable - and a well-deserved treat - for Snyder and Cipp.