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Westchester Packers Kick0ff Season September 8
Posted on Friday, August 09 @ 01:22:52 EDT by jfbailey
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WPCNR Press Box. From Tom Rooney. August 9, 2003:Through the heat of summer, and the hurt of strenuous workouts, the 40
players who make up the Westchester Packers Semi-Pro football team have been preparing for the upcoming 2002 football season since July 20. This is the 26th year the Packers have taken to the gridiron in the
city, and as their prior history of success would indicate, expectations for the upcoming season are high.
Affectionately known as the “Green and Gold”, they will be put to the test on September 8 when they take on the Brooklyn Cardinals at 1:00pm at Lincoln High School located at Kneeland Avenue in Yonkers, New York.
The Packers, who play in the 8-team North East Football Association (NEFA) won the league championship in 1997, 1998 and 1999. They play teams from Bridgeport and Stamford, CT, Brooklyn, the Bronx and New Jersey.
Head Coach George Davis has led the Packers on the sidelines for the 26 years the team has played in Yonkers.“It doesn’t seem possible that it could be 26 years already, but that just illustrates how much fun I have had coaching this team,” said Davis. “We have had some really good years with the team, and it is very rewarding to watch the guys grow as players and men.”
Despite being called a “semi-pro” team, the team is nothing close to a pro team, talent or budgetwise. There are no NFL scouts, although a handful of players in the league have managed an Arena Football League game or two. At practices, the players change in their cars, the practice field is not lined, and the place kicker boots the ball between two trees which barely resemble a field goal post.
“There is no pay, in fact, the guys all pay over $250 per man a season
to play, so they really have to enjoy the game,” Davis explains. “The $250 doesn’t get you anything close to a top-of-the-line uniform or a bus ride to away games, but we manage, barely.”
In 2001, the Packers received sponsorship help from 2 Yonkers businesses, Beck Chevrolet and Westchester Greenhouse Farms. “We are truly thankful for the help of those businesses, without their help, we would not have been able to make it through the year.
Insurance, field permits, and referees are not cheap. I hope between now and the start of the season we can find a couple of businesses to help us out,” said Davis.
On the field, the Packers, in a rebuilding situation last year, were 4-4-1, and qualified for the playoffs, but Davis said with a little luck, the team can be a lot better this season. “We have many young guys at
the skills positions. If they continue to work hard in practice to get better, we should be able to improve on last year’s record.”
The entire Packers roster is comprised of players from Westchester
County. If your interested in football and want to get involved
with the Westchester Packers in playing, coaching, sponsoring, or providing other assistance, call Head Coach George Davis at (914) 693-4493.
To learn more, e-mail the Westchester Packers and visit the official Westchester Packers web site.
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